Head of Risk & Compliance

The firm

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich, Sevenoaks and Bristol. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: property, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 5th best law firm to work at in 2024.

With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 40% of our partnership.

Purpose of job (based from any office, including London)

To provide effective support to the Risk and Compliance Director to ensure that the firm's compliance and regulatory regime meets current requirements, conditions, and client expectations.

The postholder will also be expected/able to cover the absence of the Risk and Compliance Director.

Accountabilities

• ·Management of the Risk and Compliance team on a day-to day basis (including line management of junior team members).
• Remaining abreast of changes in the statutory and regulatory framework. affecting the team’s function and liaising with the Risk & Compliance Director in relation to any changes required. ·
• Assessing the effectiveness of current processes and recommending and implementing changes as required.
• Allocation and completion of company audits.
• Reviewing and updating relevant policies, controls and procedures annually and when legislation/regulation changes. ·
• Creating training material and training junior colleagues in relation to specific areas of risk relevant to their role. ·
• Supporting junior colleagues, fee earners and secretaries with complex client due diligence requirements and additional ad hoc queries regarding source of funds/conflicts of interest etc.
• Annual review of software providers to the team.
• Creation and control of the team’s budget..
• Responsible for the firm’s Practice Wide Risk Assessment and ongoing update.
• Management of team recruitment.
• Responsible for ensuring own knowledge and training is kept up to date and requesting training when necessary. ·
• Generally, support the team with ad hoc tasks.

Qualifications/Experience

• Educated to degree standard or significant equivalent experience.
• Knowledge/experience of Lexcel (desirable).
• Knowledge/experience of the SRA Standards and Regulations.
• Knowledge/experience of AML regulations.
• Knowledge of InTapp software (desirable).

Skills

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of software (including Outlook, Excel & Word) and ability to learn internal IT systems.
• Can produce with with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Highly analytical nature.
• Initiative-taking, ability to use initiative and provide pro-active support to fee earners.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority and liaise effectively with other internal departments and external contacts. ·
• Adaptable and flexible.

Equal opportunities

At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits.