Business Acceptance Analyst

The Role

As a member of the firm’s Global Business Acceptance team, you will help manage the firm’s risk exposure. You'll provides advice to the firm on a range of legal and compliance issues relating to business acceptance (including conflicts, confidentiality, client due diligence, sanctions, reputational and commercial risk). The role requires a skilled analyst who will work autonomously as part of a global team to assess straightforward business acceptance requests.

The Team

The Global Business Acceptance team manages the firm’s risk exposure and provides advice to the firm on issues relating to the selection and clearance of new clients and matters across the multiple jurisdictions in which the firm operates. The team advises on a variety of risk and compliance topics including: conflicts of interest, client confidentiality, due diligence required for our clients, sanctions and reputational and commercial risks the firm may need to think about in relation to any given client or matter.  The team is part of the firm’s wider Legal Department and is truly global.

The team operates in a fast-paced, supportive and fun environment where collaboration, continual learning and communication skills are key elements to the team’s success.  It will therefore come as no surprise to hear that working in the team requires a blend of analytical, inter-personal and commercial skills. You will need to be able to identify potential risks and obligations to which the firm is subject to and devise appropriate solutions that help the firm and its clients to meet their commercial objectives while remaining fully compliant with relevant policies, rules and regulations.

Staff within the team have a number of different specialisms and roles based on seniority and background. To join us you need not be a qualified lawyer but you should have relevant experience and/or be able to demonstrate an aptitude for analysis and for resolving legal and regulatory issues in a collaborative manner.  If you have the analytical and communication skills that we need, and are enthusiastic about working in compliance, this is place where you can start to develop your career and gain key experience in this growing sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate the firm’s global client and matter acceptance processes, particularly by conducting analysis of potential client risks and collecting and analysing due diligence material required for client verification;

• Analyse and identify potential conflict (legal and commercial), confidential information, reputational risk and sanctions issues arising from potential and existing matters and, where appropriate, assist with drafting consent letters, erecting information barriers and other required steps;

• Assisting in client and matter maintenance, including updating of client due diligence and matter information;

• Answer queries from partners, fee earners and staff at all levels relating to the interpretation of relevant legislation, regulation and firm policies pertaining to conflicts of interest, regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering;

• Carry out other discrete projects and auditing as necessary;

• Understand (and keep updated as to) the types of work that Freshfields does in order to carry out their role effectively; and

• Contribute to a culture of process improvement.

Role Requirements

Essential

• Be (or be ready to become) familiar with professional bar rules and anti-money laundering and sanctions regulations applicable to the firm’s activities across a number of jurisdictions;

• Diligent with strong work ethic;

• Resilient and able to perform under pressure;

• Has initiative, is self-motivated and takes ownership within area of responsibility;

• Able to prioritise and multitask; works in an organised manner; recognises need for clear, concise and accurate communication; keeps detailed & timely notes of client interactions; prepares thoroughly before meetings and calls;

• Takes time to break down issues into component parts and asks appropriate questions to ensure understanding before embarking on a task;

• Able to converse with and build consensus among senior members of the business (including partners); sensitive to the need for a tactful approach to gain co-operation; Takes opportunities to be involved in tasks / projects / training; Displays initiative and adds value; Flexible in approach to work and clients and is open to change; Understands creative solutions provided by more senior colleagues and willingly contributes own ideas;

• Develops positive relationships with peer group, other colleagues and support staff;

• Identifies own development needs by proactively seeking feedback to improve performance; Proactively seeks opportunities to work on different types of matters to challenge existing knowledge and skills;

• Is an enthusiastic team member, readily assisting on tasks which may be repetitive/administrative where necessary; and

• Takes pride in team success.

• Undergraduate degree preferably in law (if undergraduate degree in an area other than law, must have completed conversion course).

Desirable

• LPC, BVC or overseas qualification, or equivalent.

• Employment experience in professional services role or comparable law firm;

• International experience (e.g. working/liaising across multiple offices, working in a business with a global presence);

• Significant transactional experience (e.g. working as part of a team on large, complex transactions such as financings, buying/selling businesses etc.); and/or

• Risk / compliance experience.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.