Trainee Compliance Analyst in Belfast

Your role is to provide support to the Client & Matter Inception teams part of a centralised team. This will include undertaking Anti-Money Laundering (AML) / Client Due Diligence (CDD) checks on new and existing clients, conflict of interest checks, on-going client monitoring, sanction and PEP checks and assisting with other risk management and on-boarding procedures. In this position you will be given the unique opportunity to gain the training, knowledge and experience required to develop a career in legal risk and compliance.

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

The risk & ethics directorate is responsible for all areas of compliance and risk management for Shoosmiths including developing firmwide policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory compliance requirements, and to promote best practice. The Central Compliance Unit is a core part of the firm’s risk strategy with overall responsibility for client/matter inception as well as offering guidance in other areas of risk and compliance.

Main Responsibilities

• Reviewing new client and matter information ensuring satisfactory details are provided by the Partners/Legal Advisors/PAs and asking for further information as necessary
• Reviewing the CDD and undertaking research or obtaining further information
• Analysing the CDD results and escalating AML issues to the Specialists/Team Manager as required
• Conducting conflict of interest checks using the firm's databases
• Analysing conflict of interest search results and escalating conflict issues to the Specialists/Team Manager as required
• Following up with practice teams or other employees when seeking information or conflict resolution from other stakeholders around the firm
• Ensuring that all client inception processes are carried out in a timely manner
• Recording information, as required, for compliance and auditing purposes

This job description encompasses the main duties expected of the role but the successful candidate may be involved in all areas of risk management from time to time according to the needs of the directorate. Core working hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm; however, working patterns may evolve as the team’s operational needs develop. A degree of flexibility will be required.

Skills And Qualifications

• Good written, numeracy and oral communication skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Able to prioritise, be organised and efficient
• Flexible and able to adapt to change, cope with new practices and cope under pressure
• Able to recognise when to seek assistance
• Able to work well within a team and able to work on your own initiative, where appropriate
• Friendly and helpful approach

Background Checks

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. These checks will include employment references covering the last 5 years, proof of ID, proof of address covering the last 5 years, Personnel Vetting credit search (which will only highlight insolvency or County Court Judgments - should any adverse data show on the Personnel Vetting search then any offer of employment made will be withdrawn). Terrorism Check (against data supplied by the Bank of England) and a DBS check previously known as a Criminal Records check.

Equal opportunities

Our approach to our people is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion and well-being. Our ambition is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents, and a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and has a strong sense of community between colleagues. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.