Role: Head of Risk & Compliance (Law Firm Experience Essentail)
Location: London | Fully Office-Based
Salary: £140k - £150k
A leading law firm is seeking an experienced Head of Risk & Compliance to take ownership of its risk, regulatory and compliance function.
This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for ensuring the firm maintains a robust compliance framework across AML, sanctions, SRA regulations, financial crime, data protection and wider regulatory matters. The successful candidate will work closely with the Partners and senior management, providing authoritative advice and ensuring compliance is embedded across the business.
The role would suit an experienced compliance professional who has operated at a senior level within a law firm or professional services environment and has strong knowledge of the SRA
Standards and Regulations, AML and sanctions requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee the firm's risk and compliance function, working closely with Partners and senior management.
- Act as a key point of contact with the SRA and other relevant regulatory bodies.
- Provide guidance on regulatory conduct, conflicts, ethics, financial crime and accounts-related matters.
- Develop and maintain effective compliance monitoring procedures across the firm.
- Oversee sanctions compliance relating to payments and client matters, working closely with Accounts and fee earners.
- Lead the development and ongoing review of the firm's AML, sanctions and wider compliance policies.
- Draft and maintain firm-wide policies, procedures and training materials.
- Design and deliver training covering AML, sanctions, the SRA Code of Conduct and related compliance matters.
- Monitor regulatory and legislative developments and advise Partners and senior management on emerging risks and required changes.
- Lead internal investigations into compliance issues and provide recommendations to senior management.
- Act as the firm's primary contact for compliance audits, assessments and regulatory enquiries.
- Oversee regular file reviews and compliance monitoring across departments.
- Support the firm in maintaining appropriate procedures around client onboarding, matter opening and ongoing AML/sanctions checks.
Key Areas of Responsibility
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
- Sanctions compliance and reporting
- SRA regulatory compliance
- GDPR and data protection
- Anti-bribery and corruption
- Fraud prevention
- Conflicts and professional ethics
- Financial crime
- Compliance monitoring and risk management
Requirements
- Significant experience in a senior risk, compliance or regulatory position within a law firm.
- Previous experience acting as, or working closely with, a COLP, COFA, MLRO or equivalent senior compliance function would be highly advantageous.
- Strong, detailed knowledge of the SRA Standards and Regulations and SRA Code of Conduct.
- Comprehensive understanding of AML legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to law firms.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of sanctions compliance.
- Experience managing day-to-day compliance issues while also developing and implementing wider compliance strategies.
- Experience dealing with confidential, ethical and financial crime matters.
- Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the credibility to advise and challenge Partners and senior stakeholders.
- Ability to interpret regulatory developments and translate them into practical policies and procedures.
- A proactive and commercially aware approach to risk and compliance.