Senior Risk and Compliance Manager

Can consider part time applicants looking to work a minimum of 3 days per week.

The Firm Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service. We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service. Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us. Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them. Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

The Team The Partner - Risk & Compliance Director works with the General Counsel/COLP and a team including: the Senior Compliance and AML Manager; Risk & Compliance Manager; Compliance & AML Assistant; Senior Information Security Manager; Information Security GRC Analyst; Recoveries Manager; Senior Recoveries Officer; and Claims Consultant. The team works closely with other Business Services teams (such as IT and Finance) as well as Partners within the firm specialising in anti-money laundering and sanctions, conflicts, data protection, complaints handling and anti-bribery.

Scope The Senior Risk and Compliance Manager will assist the Partner - Risk & Compliance Director and the team with support of key programs, including new client onboarding, conflict of interest management, compliance queries and projects, and general regulatory risk oversight. They will have and maintain specialist expertise in applicable legislation and compliance requirements which apply to the firm and its members of staff.

Responsibilities Key responsibilities will include:

• Client Outside Counsel Guidelines – conducting analysis of existing contractual arrangements in place with clients and use of Intapp Open onboarding system to increase awareness and compliance with the same.
• Complaints handling – dealing with complaints received from clients involving: (i) a first review of the matter after the relevant Partner has attempted to resolve the complaint with the client; (ii) liaising with other stakeholders, such as the Recoveries team on costs matters; (iii) preparing materials and draft correspondence for review and approval by the Complaints Partner; (iv) assisting the Complaints Partner with any correspondence with the Legal Ombudsman; and (v) assisting the COLP with any correspondence with the Solicitors Regulation Authority if a Code of Conduct issue is involved.
• Conflicts of interest – first level triage of issues identified in the Intapp Open onboarding software and liaising with Conflicts Partner and Risk team to provide advice on SRA Code of Conduct requirements. Advising fee-earners on potential conflict of interest, disclosure and confidentiality issues which may arise.
• Discrete projects – assisting the Partner - Risk & Compliance Director and team with various projects and research as required.
• Document production – responding to document requests received from clients, third parties (including liquidators, the National Crime Agency, the Police and the Solicitors Regulation Authority) as well as file transfer requests from clients.
• General support – providing support on numerous queries which arise daily regarding the SRA Code of Conduct, the firm's engagement terms, professional standards, conduct and conflicts, ad hoc research and projects etc.
• Internal file review – continuous rolling file review across the firm to ensure consistent application of the firm's standards to client work.
• ISO9001 Quality Management System – ensuring continuing compliance and document review (and assisting with other ISO27001 and ISO22301 standards) and maintenance of the firm's Business and Service Standards documents and suite of risk management policies.
• Policies and Procedures - drafting and updating internal policy and procedure documents on topics such as Share Dealing, Conflicts of Interest, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, Insider Dealing, File Weeding and Ownership of documents.
• Responsible Business – assisting with the firm's Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme ESOS compliance obligations and working with the firm's third party suppliers.

Skills and Experience working knowledge of the SRA Code of Conduct and associated regulatory framework; working knowledge of issues such as AML, source of funds, sanctions, PEPs and data protection law would be beneficial; strong communications skills and the ability to deal with queries in a confident and assertive manner, whether with Partners, other fee-earners or Business Services teams; and ability to work autonomously and manage competing deadlines and pressures.

Education and Qualifications a law degree or equivalent qualification; qualification as a solicitor, barrister or equivalent foreign lawyer with an unrestricted right to practice; and 4+ PQE, ideally with at least a year of experience in a fee-earning or compliance department at an English law firm.

Special aspects Happy to talk flexible working. We are able to consider candidates looking to work a minimum of three days per week. This role is suitable for individuals looking to work part-time across any working pattern. Flexible working patterns will be considered within the firm’s agile working framework, including a minimum office attendance of 40%. The hours of work for this opportunity are 9:30am - 5:30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to client demand. Farrer & Co is an equal opportunity employer who welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We look to employ the best candidates regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.