Description:
Are you a highly motivated individual with a keen eye for detail and a passion for compliance? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join one of the leading global law firms as a Compliance Assistant reporting to the Compliance Supervisor. Our client's distinctive market position is founded on the exceptional breadth of their practice, on deep industry knowledge, and on their 'one team' global approach. With over 40 offices in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States, they are well placed to provide excellent business-oriented advice to their clients locally and internationally.
As a Compliance Assistant, you will be responsible for conducting Ongoing Monitoring on existing clients of the firm and ensuring that the relevant AML (Anti-Money Laundering) policies and procedures are adhered to at all times. The role is based at our client's Global Business Services Centre in Sandton, which supports the global practice in various business services areas of the Firm.
The Compliance team is responsible for carrying out client due diligence (CDD) on new and existing clients of the firm, mainly by applying the most recent UK Money Laundering Regulations. This involves identifying and verifying who controls and owns the client entity and assessing the risk posed by the business relationship.
Our client values their employees and seeks to recruit and retain the most talented individuals in all regions of their global practice. This is an exciting opportunity for you to join a reputable international law firm and work with a highly skilled and dedicated team. If you have a background in compliance, a strong work ethic, and a desire to grow professionally, we encourage you to apply for this role
Please be advised that this position/employer is NOT offering articles, this position is a Compliance Assistant position as per the spec below.
Location: Sandton, Johannesburg
Salary: R 313 946 CTC pa
Benefits:
- Discovery Medical aid subsidy – R 26 712 (Annually).
- Pension fund 7.5% / 8% split.
- Annual leave days 18 days, 1-day accrual yearly capped at 23 days for this role
Working Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm but additional hours may be required
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Matric or equivalent
- BCom, LLB or equivalent (at least in final year of studies)
- Previous work experience, including any part time work
- Compliance/AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED
- Knowledge of a centralised/ shared services environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong organisational, administrative and time management skills
- Commercial awareness
Key Accountabilities of the Performance Areas:
Client Research:
- Conduct a degree of personal research from public sources including:
- Familiarisation with a wide array of potential sources such as company registries, stock exchange websites, financial and legal regulators' websites, company search providers and external databases.
- Liaise with legal staff, support staff and research teams to obtain any outstanding CDD (Customer Due Diligence) information.
- Liaise with the Firm’s support departments, notably the Finance, Research, Conflicts and also Personal Assistants.
- Where appropriate and where asked to, liaise directly with the firm's clients regarding CDD requirements.
- Assist those conducting CDD on new clients when required.
- Conduct risk rating reviews on clients taking into account the information gathered during the CDD process including research relating to ongoing investigations (adverse press) against certain clients and determining whether a risk level of a client may be lowered or should be raised.
- Utilise external subscription databases to screen existing clients, their directors and shareholders in order to identify PEPs, influential persons, presence on Sanctions lists, criminal activity and adverse press. Escalate these issues where appropriate
Reports and Database Administration:
- Review the CDD held on existing clients of the firm by updating CDD held for clients registered since the implementation of the UK Money Laundering Regulations.
- Ensure that CDD is updated to the appropriate standard, including an enhanced level of due diligence where required.
- Document the evidence obtained during the CDD process in a clear and concise manner.
- Where it becomes clear when conducting Ongoing Monitoring or CDD that certain details of the client have changed since it has been registered as a new client, such as the client’s registered name, the parent group or the registered address, take appropriate action to update this on the 3E client database and communicate these changes to the respective stakeholders.
- Assist in maintaining the firm's PEP databases.
Advisory and Projects
- Provide advice and guidance to partners, fee-earners and support staff in relation to the requirements of Compliance legislation and the interpretation and application of the firm's AML/CDD policy.
- Participate in administrative projects under the supervision of more senior Compliance Officers, specifically relating to Ongoing Monitoring
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Must be able to handle pressure, setbacks and a high level of stress
- Must be able to work to deadlines
- Must be able to maintain strict adherence to confidentiality policies
- Must have clear criminal and credit records
- Ability to handle queries efficiently with diplomacy and tact
- Ability to follow instructions precisely
- Adapting and responding to change
- Strong work ethic with an inherent sense of urgency
- Delivering results and meeting business expectations
- Working with others
- Delivering through others
Requirements:
- Discovery Medical aid subsidy – R 26 712 (Annually).
- Pension fund 7.5% / 8% split.
- Annual leave days 18 days, 1-day accrual yearly capped at 23 days for this role
- Matric or equivalent
- BCom, LLB or equivalent (at least in final year of studies)
- Previous work experience, including any part time work
- Compliance/AML (Anti-Money Laundering)
- Knowledge of a centralised/ shared services environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong organisational, administrative and time management skills
- Commercial awareness
- Conduct a degree of personal research from public sources including:
- Familiarisation with a wide array of potential sources such as company registries, stock exchange websites, financial and legal regulators' websites, company search providers and external databases.
- Liaise with legal staff, support staff and research teams to obtain any outstanding CDD (Customer Due Diligence) information.
- Liaise with the Firm’s support departments, notably the Finance, Research, Conflicts and also Personal Assistants.
- Where appropriate and where asked to, liaise directly with the firm's clients regarding CDD requirements.
- Assist those conducting CDD on new clients when required.
- Conduct risk rating reviews on clients taking into account the information gathered during the CDD process including research relating to ongoing investigations (adverse press) against certain clients and determining whether a risk level of a client may be lowered or should be raised.
- Utilise external subscription databases to screen existing clients, their directors and shareholders in order to identify PEPs, influential persons, presence on Sanctions lists, criminal activity and adverse press. Escalate these issues where appropriate
- Familiarisation with a wide array of potential sources such as company registries, stock exchange websites, financial and legal regulators' websites, company search providers and external databases.
- Review the CDD held on existing clients of the firm by updating CDD held for clients registered since the implementation of the UK Money Laundering Regulations.
- Ensure that CDD is updated to the appropriate standard, including an enhanced level of due diligence where required.
- Document the evidence obtained during the CDD process in a clear and concise manner.
- Where it becomes clear when conducting Ongoing Monitoring or CDD that certain details of the client have changed since it has been registered as a new client, such as the client’s registered name, the parent group or the registered address, take appropriate action to update this on the 3E client database and communicate these changes to the respective stakeholders.
- Assist in maintaining the firm's PEP databases.
- Provide advice and guidance to partners, fee-earners and support staff in relation to the requirements of Compliance legislation and the interpretation and application of the firm's AML/CDD policy.
- Participate in administrative projects under the supervision of more senior Compliance Officers, specifically relating to Ongoing Monitoring
- Must be able to handle pressure, setbacks and a high level of stress
- Must be able to work to deadlines
- Must be able to maintain strict adherence to confidentiality policies
- Must have clear criminal and credit records
- Ability to handle queries efficiently with diplomacy and tact
- Ability to follow instructions precisely
- Adapting and responding to change
- Strong work ethic with an inherent sense of urgency
- Delivering results and meeting business expectations
- Working with others
- Delivering through others