Risk & Compliance Manager in Ipswich

About us

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face. Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.

The team you will join

Our Risk and Compliance team sits within our wider Business Services Division and is responsible for ensuring that the firm retains accreditation against the Law Society’s Lexcel and Conveyancing Quality Scheme Standards, and manages the internal audit processes to ensure this. They also provide support to other internal audit functions within the firm through assessing upcoming regulation and high-risk corporate issues.

The work you will be doing

We are seeking an experienced Risk and Compliance Manager to join the firm’s central Risk and Compliance (R&C) team. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the firm meets its regulatory obligations while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and operational efficiency.

• You will work closely with the other Risk and Compliance Manager and Head of Risk and Compliance to manage a team of compliance colleagues.
• The role will require a strong technical expertise, excellent judgment and a proactive approach to developing and embedding best practice across compliance, risk management and business/client onboarding.
• You will help to lead a high-performing team in a culture that values professionalism, innovation and collaboration.
• Assist the Head of Risk and Compliance to lead and manage the firm’s R&C team, providing day-to-day supervision, mentoring and professional development.
• Oversee and advise on regulatory compliance under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations 2019, including conflict checks, confidentiality and due diligence.
• Manage client and matter onboarding processes, AML compliance and adherence to professional standards.
• Use and develop systems within Intapp for conflict management, business intake workflows and continuous improvement of compliance processes.
• Provide guidance on financial crime compliance and other regulatory issues.
• Act as a senior point of contact for risk and compliance queries from partners and fee-earners, providing pragmatic, business-focused advice.
• Support and enhance the firm’s policies and procedures relating to conduct, client engagement and terms of business.
• Support the Head of Risk and Compliance on the response to internal audits, external audits and external regulatory reviews, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Promote best practices across the firm, ensuring an integrated approach to regulatory compliance, professional ethics and commercial delivery.
• Contribute strategically to the firm’s risk management framework and play a key role in R&C team training, policy development and implementation.
• Responsible for ensuring own knowledge and training is kept up to date and requesting training when necessary.
• Overview of the R&C team inbox and Intapp to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Assist with staff quarterly reviews as required.
• Assist with annual review of software providers to the R&C team as required.
• Identify improvements to policy and process, assess effectiveness of current policies and processes, make recommendations to the Head of Risk and Compliance, and implement approved required changes.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

What we are looking for

Birketts are interested in those with a variety of backgrounds suitable for this role, including: Qualified Solicitor / Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (gained in a UK law firm) OR those with relevant experience.

• Essential experience includes:
• Knowledge / experience of AML regulations and the sanctions regime.
• Demonstrated compliance and risk management experience, preferably within a law firm’s R&C team or in-house legal function.
• Proficiency with Intapp systems and strong working knowledge of client/matter onboarding processes including AML, sanctions screening and conflict checking.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of software (including Outlook, Excel & Word) & DMS.
• Proven experience of managing and developing a team, with excellent leadership and delegation skills.
• Strong understanding of the SRA Standards and Regulations, Code of Conduct, financial crime regulations and sanctions regime.
• Self-motivated, ability to use initiative and provide pro-active support to fee earners and other colleagues.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority, with other internal departments and external contacts and advise confidently.
• Highly organized, commercially astute, and detail orientated with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Proactive, resilient and collaborative, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Hybrid Working

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 40% working from home and 60% office days per week with weekly commitment to Ipswich office. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile, and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.

Benefits

As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus Scheme
• Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid CSR Day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Subsidised gym membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy

Inclusivity and Culture

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.

If you require this advert in an accessible format, please visit https://diversityjobsgroup.com/company/birketts/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

At Birketts, we recognise the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and recruitment. We welcome innovation and understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we expect all applicants to use AI responsibly and ethically.

Our expectations regarding AI use in applications:

• Your application should reflect your own voice, experiences, and insights. AI may assist in structuring or refining your responses, but it must not replace your personal input.
• Do not use AI to misrepresent your qualifications, experiences, or skills. Any form of exaggeration or fabrication may result in rejection from the process.
• If you have used AI tools to assist with your application, be prepared to discuss how and why you used them during the interview process.
• Do not submit content generated by AI tools that may include personal or sensitive data not intended for public disclosure.
• AI-generated content should be reviewed and edited by you to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the role and our firm’s values.

We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. The use of AI should enhance, not compromise, your application. We encourage candidates to demonstrate critical thinking, commercial awareness, and a genuine interest in our firm.

If you have any questions about our expectations or the use of AI in your application, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team via talent@birketts.co.uk