Compliance Manager - Hybrid (Durham Office Base) in North East

EMG Solicitors is an award‑winning Legal 500 law firm with offices across the North of England and a national client base. We specialise in Court of Protection, Deputyships, Mental Health Law, Family Law and Mediation, Residential Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Employment Law, Education Law, and Wills, Trusts & Probate. Our mission is simple: To provide the legal support our clients require in order to achieve anything from their basic needs to their wildest dreams and everything in between.

We are currently looking to recruit an experienced Compliance Manager & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) to join our Quality, Risk and Compliance team. This is an exciting opportunity for a compliance professional with experience within the legal sector, or wider professional services environment, who is passionate about regulatory compliance, risk management and continuous improvement. You will play a key role in helping EMG maintain the highest standards of regulatory compliance while supporting our teams to deliver exceptional client service.

This role will be based from our Durham office, although occasional travel to our other office locations will be required. This is a full‑time role working 35 hours per week. At EMG Solicitors we work flexibly. It’s not a traditional 9 to 5 environment, but we do expect the work to be completed. How you achieve this can largely be agreed between you, your manager and the needs of the business.

As Compliance Manager & MLRO, you will lead and support our compliance, monitoring, audit and risk management functions across the firm. Working closely with the Head of Quality, Risk & Compliance, you will ensure that our anti‑money laundering (AML), regulatory compliance and risk frameworks remain robust, up to date and effectively embedded across all departments. You will act as the firm’s nominated officer under the Money Laundering Regulations and serve as the firm’s MLRO, providing expert guidance and leadership on compliance matters while promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

What will we expect from you?

• Compliance Leadership
  • Act as the firm’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and nominated officer.
  • Receive, assess and investigate internal suspicious activity reports.
  • Determine whether Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) should be submitted to the National Crime Agency.
  • Maintain secure and accurate records of SARs and associated decisions.
  • Lead the preparation and annual review of the firm’s Practice‑Wide Risk Assessment (PWRA).
  • Advise on client and matter risk assessments, enhanced due diligence and ongoing monitoring requirements.
  • Liaise with regulators including the SRA and other relevant bodies.
  • Promote and embed a positive compliance culture throughout the firm.
• Risk & Regulatory Management
  • Ensure compliance with the SRA Standards and Regulations and Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended).
  • Support legal accreditation requirements including Lexcel and CQS.
  • Monitor regulatory developments and implement required changes.
  • Handle compliance queries from colleagues across the business.
  • Support complaint handling in line with regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure client onboarding processes meet all compliance obligations.
  • Conduct file audits and provide trend analysis and reporting.
  • Identify areas of risk and recommend practical solutions.
• Training & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify compliance training requirements across the business.
  • Design, coordinate and deliver compliance training initiatives.
  • Lead compliance improvement projects and track progress against agreed actions.
  • Work collaboratively with Team Leaders, the Quality Manager and wider business teams to implement improvements.
  • Develop and maintain supplier contract management processes and reporting mechanisms.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

Essential

• Strong knowledge of the SRA Standards and Regulations and Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended).
• Experience carrying out risk assessments and implementing risk mitigation measures.
• Experience working within a compliance, risk, AML or regulatory role.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends and produce meaningful reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.
• A proactive, investigative and solutions‑focused approach.

Desirable

• Previous experience within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience acting as an MLRO, Deputy MLRO or compliance lead.
• Experience supporting Lexcel, CQS or similar accreditation standards.
• Relevant compliance, risk or AML qualifications.

At EMG, culture matters. We’re looking for someone who lives and breathes our core values:

• Cooperation - We proactively support our clients and each other.
• Courage - We are ambitious, challenge constructively and think big.
• Excellence - We strive to deliver exceptional outcomes in everything we do.
• Integrity - We are open, honest and transparent.
• Kindness - We value people, communities, wellbeing and having fun.

You’ll be someone who enjoys building relationships, influencing positive change and helping colleagues navigate compliance requirements in a practical and supportive way.

What you can expect from us

• Competitive salary
• Firm‑wide annual bonus scheme
• 4% employer pension contribution through Standard Life
• 25 days annual leave plus 3 additional days at Christmas
• Additional 5 days leave on your 5‑year anniversary (and every 5 years thereafter)
• Life Assurance providing a 3x salary death in service benefit
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free annual flu vaccination
• EMG Rewards through Vivup and Tastecard
• £50 birthday gift card and a late start or early finish
• £50 Christmas gift card
• Christmas office closure (subject to variation)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Fruit and refreshments in every office
• Complimentary family passes to Beamish Museum
• Opportunities to join our Green Team, Purpose Team, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Team and Social Impact Team
• Regular colleague engagement surveys and guest speaker events

EMG Solicitors is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Join us and help ensure EMG continues to deliver excellence, integrity and compliance while supporting clients to achieve anything from their basic needs to their wildest dreams and everything in between.