Risk & Compliance Specialist

Schillings is a multidisciplinary advisory firm with expertise in reputation, privacy and security.

We work with UK and international clients to successfully manage high-stakes opportunities and threats, using a unique combination of capabilities: legal; intelligence; communications; security and diplomacy.

We believe everyone has a right to fair treatment of their reputation, to a reasonable expectation of privacy and to feel safe.

Our experts sit within their specialist team but day-to-day work in multidisciplinary teams solving client problems. They are supported by our business services teams: Clients and Markets, HR, Finance, Risk and Compliance, IT and Client Services. 

Because we are a growth business, opportunities appear in all areas and at all levels.   We have the largest team of specialist media lawyers in the world, an expanding Intelligence & Investigations team, a growing Critical Risks unit, an evolving Digital Resilience practice, and a new communications agency – Schillings Communications – that will grow significantly in the next three years. 

Schillings is a collaborative, fun and welcoming place to work, with a positive culture, strong values and a developed service ethic.  We require commitment, diligence, agility and professionalism, and in return provide competitive packages and incredibly stimulating and interesting work.  We are committed to sharing learning and creating development opportunities so you can progress your career with us. Our people’s career trajectory and longevity at Schillings is a good example of this: a third of our people have been at the business for over five years. Join us and become part of our story.

Job Title: Risk & Compliance Specialist 

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Reporting to: Risk & Compliance Manager

Job Purpose:

Growth of our business both in the UK and internationally, as well as expanding the services we provide to our clients, necessitates an increasingly specialised and professional risk and compliance function.  The risk and compliance team protect the interests of Schillings, while also ensuring business can operate effectively within a regulated environment. This role will work closely with the Risk and Compliance Manager to support day to day compliance function. 

Day to day this role will oversee team members conducting client and matter due diligence as well as supplier onboarding.  You will also support in investigations, insurance claims processes, data subject access requests and investigate client complaints to resolution.  

You will also provide in-house advisory support giving commercial risk and compliance advice to internal stakeholders, consulting with internal and external legal advisors as appropriate.

Role Accountabilities:

• Overseeing day to day risk and compliance activities, including client and matter onboarding, supplier engagement, risk assessment and due diligence (KYC/CDD, AML). Escalating issues and/or more complex matters to Risk & Compliance Manager as appropriate.
• Providing advice and recommendations to management and staff on a range of risk and compliance matters, acting in accordance with established policies and procedures, legislative requirements and professional standards.
• Working with the Risk & Compliance Manager to keep the firm’s risk and compliance programme under review, ensuring that it continues to meet all relevant standards and legislation. This includes supporting with:
• Developing, maintaining, and revising policies and procedures covering all areas of compliance and business risk.
• Delivery of training as required, promoting awareness of internal controls and policy requirements and ensuring employee engagement and commitment to best practice.
• Keeping abreast of regulatory developments and understanding how the firm may be impacted – this may involve being proactive in updating colleagues on relevant regulatory changes and industry news.
• Collaborate with other departments to direct risk and compliance issues to appropriate existing channels for investigation and resolution.
• Identify and implement improvements across all areas of the risk and compliance function, including technical and systems improvements, consulting with stakeholders across the business as appropriate.
• Work with team members to deliver projects, including project planning, identifying key actions, milestones and KPIs, and updating stakeholders.
• Ad hoc cover and overflow support for other members of the risk and compliance team.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Essential:
• 5 years’ experience in a Risk & Compliance function in a regulated law firm
• Demonstrable knowledge of SRA and AML/CTF regulations, particularly around KYC/CDD, conflicts of interest and sanctions compliance
• Unflappable and confident interacting with colleagues across the business, able to manage various stakeholder expectations
• Excellent problem-solving, negotiation and communication skills
• Proven record of delivering solutions and focusing on the end goal, seeking to identify and resolve process inefficiencies
• Ability to demonstrate a hands-on, commercial and strategic approach to work
• Methodical, highly organised and excellent attention to detail
• A good team player who is proactive and flexible in approach to work.
• Desirable:
• Knowledge and experience of third-party risk management and data protection compliance
• Experience in training and developing junior employees
• Familiarity with compliance and due diligence databases and systems, including but not limited to Legl, World-Check, Factiva and Companies House.

Life at Schillings

Given our audacious (and successful) business strategy, it is not surprising that Schillings has a very strong culture. The atmosphere is highly collaborative and focused on excellence. We have worked hard over the years to develop a coaching culture and are remarkably non-hierarchical, especially given our roots as a law firm. Schillings has adopted a set of values to put at the heart of this change and they reflect the intention and tenor of our ambitious plans. They are: ‘Innovative; Bold; United; and Excellent’. Our client list speaks for the outstanding results that have been delivered over many years and the task now is to grow without losing any of the commitment to delivering for clients or the service ethos. Finding people who share our values and can thrive in this environment is key to our success.

It takes a unique mix of people to create something truly great. We appreciate that diversity of thought, background and culture creates the best environment to truly innovate, solve problems and achieve our goals. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds – if you are driven and want to achieve your best then we will give you the platform and support to succeed.

Please let us know if there are any extenuating circumstances we should consider, or any adjustments we may need to make to our selection process, when making your application.

Find our candidate privacy notice here, Candidate Privacy Notice (schillingspartners.com)