UK Compliance Executive

Company Description

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.
 

Job Description

The role

Our central Risk, Legal and Compliance teams provide advice on a range of regulatory and compliance issues.  The teams lead our thinking on risk management and legal and regulatory compliance. They are central to ensuring that the firm and our people maintain the highest standards of legal and regulatory compliance.

Who you will work with

The Compliance Executive reports directly to the HRC and collaborates with regional and international risk and compliance teams, where appropriate, as well as other relevant business professionals in the UK. The Compliance Executive will also work closely with the UK Data Privacy Manager. The Compliance Executive may from time to time be requested to take on additional responsibilities.

What you will do

The Compliance Executive assists the HRC in implementing the firm's Compliance Framework throughout UK offices by offering support on a variety of risk and compliance matters as outlined below.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Assisting the HRC with implementing preventive monitoring mechanisms and controls in the UK, taking into account the compliance objectives set by the CR&CO.
• Assisting the HRC in raising awareness of Clifford Chance global policies and procedures.
• Support the HRC in identifying and analysing instances of non-compliance.
• Supporting the process of identification and assessment of regulatory and compliance risks for the UK.
• Assisting with the monitoring of the evolving compliance laws and regulations, which may have an impact on the operations of the firm and existing policies and procedures and inform the HRC of any such changes and their potential impact on the firm including through participating in horizon scanning.
• Together with the HRC, review periodic compliance reports and dashboards, ensuring appropriate follow-up by responsible stakeholders.
• Support the HRC with:
  • Implementing new standardised compliance processes; and
  • Activities to promote a strong compliance culture and raising awareness of compliance issues.
• Report promptly to the HRC on serious compliance violations that come to their attention.

In line with the needs of the UK offices, the Compliance Executive may be expected to take on the following responsibilities (with training if needed):

• Assist the HRC and members of the global MDR Compliance team with DAC6/UK MDR requests from fee earners in the UK, follow-ups, and monitoring MDR compliance.
• Assist the HRC from time-to-time in communicating with office management teams in the UK in connection with ongoing projects and follow-ups when management support is needed.
   

Qualifications

Your Experience

You will have demonstrable experience in compliance ideally gained in a leading international law practice.

Experience:

• Experience gained within a UK law firm or other SRA-regulated environment is essential.
• You will have previous experience as a compliance professional or other experience relevant to the role and its key responsibilities.
• Sound awareness of commercial issues and ability to resolve them pragmatically.

Skills:

• Experience operating within an SRA-regulated environment, with a sound understanding of the SRA Standards and Regulations and their practical application.
• Demonstrable experience of UK legal and regulatory frameworks affecting law firms, ideally including exposure to areas such as AML, conflicts, or wider compliance risk.
• Excellent attention to detail, keep accurate records and the ability to think critically.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to exercise initiative and manage a substantial workload, including prioritising competing time demands.
• Excellent communication skills, and an ability to build and maintain relationships with all members of the firm.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to exercise initiative and manage your workload, including prioritising of competing time demands. 
• Being commercially minded, with a good operational business acumen, and able to identify opportunities to continually improve our services.
• An understanding of anti-bribery and insider trading regulations.

Qualifications:

• Professional compliance qualification, legal qualifications or legal background will be considered favourably.

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.  You will be working with partners, lawyers and business professionals from all of the firm's offices and practice areas.

You will have exposure to work which often involves complex, high value matters that frequently headline in the financial and business press and also work involving emerging markets and technologies.

You will develop an unbeatable multi-disciplinary skill set as well as client-facing skills whilst working with some of the best-known market leaders in their respective practice areas.

We will provide the opportunity for you to develop as a recognised practitioner in the field.
 

Additional Information

Hybrid working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.
 

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site. 
 

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society. 

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.