Anti-Money Laundering Officer in Portsmouth

We are recruiting for an experienced AML Officer to join the Legal, Risk and Compliance (“LR&C”) department. LR&C advises the firm on the full range of regulatory and legal issues which affect it as a business, playing a key role in risk and reputation management. It is made up of three core teams (business acceptance, information security and privacy and legal) and works in close collaboration with the practice and members of Business Services. The AML Officer works within the Business Acceptance team and ensures that all new clients and matters opened adhere to the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering and Client Due Diligence policies and procedures. They also provide support and guidance to all users in the firm, and in the Department, in relation to those procedures.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure all new clients and matters comply with the firm’s AML and CDD policies and procedures across all offices.
• Obtain, review and document CDD evidence.
• Conduct client screening and prepare client risk assessments.
• Propose enhanced monitoring and liaise with Compliance lawyers and Partners in relation to this.
• Assist with matter risk scoring and prepare matter risk assessments as required.
• Conduct regular enhanced, Politically Exposed Person (“PEP”), high risk third country and sanctions monitoring.

Monitoring and reporting

• Maintain accurate client and matter records in line with firm guidance.
• Compile statistics and reports and contribute to client monitoring reviews.

Collaboration and support

• Collaborate with the Compliance Officers on new business intake and client/matter maintenance procedures that affect teams.
• Monitor the AML Officer shared mailbox to ensure the timely distribution and resolution of queries.
• Proactively contribute to proposing improvements or changes to procedures or Intake workflows to improve efficiency.
• Use new digital AI tools and technology effectively, identifying opportunities to improve processes.
• Ensure the team’s guidance manuals are regularly updated to reflect current policies and procedures.
• Act as an ambassador for Legal, Risk and Compliance, fostering strong internal relationships.

Training and development

• Deliver training sessions and contribute to team meetings.
• Maintain professional knowledge through horizon scanning, webinars and attending internal training.

Candidate profile

• At least two years’ experience in CDD/AML within a professional services environment.
• Confident and articulate verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deal effectively with people at all levels and present complex procedures clearly and succinctly.
• Ability to make sound judgements and recommendations.
• Excellent online research skills.
• A willing and proactive approach to testing and using AI tools.
• Proven experience using Microsoft Word and Excel; experience using Intapp Intake (Open) would be beneficial.
• Ability to absorb, analyse and consolidate large amounts of information.
• A confident and proactive approach to managing workload and using own initiative.
• Strong attention to detail in own and others’ work.
• Experience working collaboratively in a team, supporting colleagues and sharing best practices.
• Experience delivering training, or a willingness to deliver presentations and training.
• A demonstrable interest in compliance and current affairs.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition. If you have any questions or require any adjustments to be made to one or both of the application or interview processes, please contact the Recruitment Team. We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who best meet the minimum or essential criteria for our Business Services roles. We welcome applications irrespective of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, belief or marital status.