AML Manager - London, United Kingdom - GOODWIN

Description

Make an impact at Goodwin, where we partner with our clients to practice law with integrity, ingenuity, agility and ambition. We are in the business of building authentic, long-term relationships with our clients, who are some of the world's most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. Our immersive understanding of these industries – combined with our expertise across high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions – sets us apart. Our Global Operations Team – all business professionals of the firm – was named the "Best Business Team" by The American Lawyer.

The AML Manager, working with the Director, Anti-Money Laundering – Europe + Asia, is responsible for managing the AML Team (currently comprising two Senior AML Analysts, seven AML Analysts and one AML Assistant) and for compliance with the firm's legal and regulatory obligations in the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Singapore and Hong Kong. The AML Team conducts client due diligence checks on new and existing clients of the European and Asian offices of the firm and certain clients of the firm's US offices, notably in the crypto-currency space, as well as advising on sanctions and other relevant compliance issues. The AML Team is also responsible for providing relevant AML training.

The AML Manager works closely with the Director, Anti-Money Laundering – Europe + Asia as well as the Assistant General Counsels (Europe and Asia) and the Money Laundering Reporting Officers for the firm's offices in Europe and Asia, and with the firm's Finance and Conflicts teams.

The AML Manager should be capable of advising on potential suspicions of money laundering, dealing with any ad hoc AML queries from the business (including sanctions queries), and assisting with projects relating to the firm's adherence to its AML obligations in Europe and Asia. They should also be able to develop the AML Team in this regard as well as being able to deal with broader business intake issues, such as readdressing bills, file reviews, advice in relation to diligence on third party payers etc., to meet the needs of the business. They would be the first point of contact in the Director's absence.

What you will do:

• Conduct client due diligence on new and existing clients, particularly those which are high risk or otherwise complicated. Supervise completion of client due diligence checks by the AML Team and provide effective feedback and relevant training.
• Perform PEP and sanctions searches as necessary on natural persons, collecting personal identification and adhering to data retention guidelines. Supervise performance of these tasks by the AML Team.
• Support maintenance and development of the firm's AML policies and procedures, and provide guidance on an ongoing basis.
• Answer questions from partners, fee earners and staff at all levels relating to suspicions of money laundering as well as on the interpretation of relevant AML legislation, regulations and firm policies.
• Understand and ensure compliance with all relevant internal and external rules, regulations and procedures. Monitor new procedures, guidance and current best practice, including the Legal Sector Affinity Group guidance, other Law Society guidance (both UK and internationally), JMLSG guidance, FATF alerts etc.
• Attend AML conferences and seminars; report back to the AML Team and others (as relevant).
• Assist in maintaining and updating the firm's AML risk assessments on an annual basis.
• Manage the AML Team on a day-to-day basis including coaching and providing ongoing performance feedback in order to enhance the culture of coaching and continuous improvement for the AML Team.
• Promote a culture of inquisitiveness and openness within the AML Team to ensure risks are appropriately identified, discussed and mitigated.
• Track performance of individual team members over time to evaluate performance, learning and capability.
• Assist in recruiting and training new AML Team members, as needed.
• Assist in the development, implementation and revision of written policies and procedures as necessary.
• To be proactive in the identification of risk, providing solutions to mitigate risks.
• Work in conjunction with the MLRO (or relevant person), COLP, COFA, Assistant GCs and Finance team to ensure the firm is compliant with all SRA regulations (and equivalent in other relevant jurisdictions).
• Assume additional risk and compliance responsibilities as requested.

Who you are:

• Educated to degree level. Law degree or graduate diploma in law preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in AML compliance in a law firm environment, ideally with exposure to international offices.
• Experience managing a team.
• Comprehensive knowledge of applicable ethical rules and guidelines and related compliance issues applicable to international law firms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Prior use of Tableau (data visualization tool) would be helpful.
• Prior experience using Intapp (an automated business intake system) preferred.
• Detailed knowledge of the AML laws applicable in the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Singapore and Hong Kong. Detailed knowledge of related guidance from relevant Law Societies, the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group, and other relevant organisations in Europe and Asia.
• Excellent written and oral communication and strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with a broad range of people (both internal and external) in a professional manner.
• Strong research skills; strong analytical and problem solving skills; strong attention to detail.
• Ability to use initiative and judgment to accomplish results.
• Ability to organise and prioritise multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment; work under pressure and complete job assignments in an accurate and timely manner; respond appropriately to shifting demands.
• Work independently, but able to escalate and communicate issues in a timely and effective manner.
• Experience of contributing to building a culture that fosters performance and high engagement.
• Able to maintain professional composure in challenging or difficult situations; strong sense of humour.

The ideal candidate will possess confidence in their ability to deal effectively with staff at all levels, have an ability to persuade, be flexible in their approach, have a strong attention to detail and have a detailed understanding of anti-money laundering compliance. They will have a sound understanding of the nature of work in a multinational corporate law firm; demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of how a top City law firm works, its client base and markets in which it operates, and familiarity with the structure of matters it takes on.

Goodwin Procter LLP is an equal opportunity employer. This means that Goodwin Procter LLP considers applicants for employment, and makes employment decisions without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or other legally protected status.