Senior AML Advisor

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.
 

Group overview

The Clearance Centre (Business Intake) is a central part of the firm's risk management function and reports, ultimately, to the firm's General Counsel.

Working in the Clearance Centre, you will be working as part of a team responsible for the intake of all business, including the day-to-day assessment of new and existing clients of the firm across Clifford Chance's global practice, including Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as supporting our team in the US.
 

Who you will work with

Your work will involve liaising with both partners and lawyers to ensure that Client Due Diligence is conducted on all new clients in accordance with the firm's policy and any applicable legislation. This includes completion of an AML risk assessment often in the context of matters which are highly complex transactions. Periodic assessments of high-risk clients must also be conducted.

You will also work with senior members of the Clearance Centre, including General Counsel, MLRO and/or the US General Counsel, where your work requires escalation.
 

What you will do

You will develop a multidisciplinary skill set
working with partners, lawyers and business professionals from all the firm's offices and practice areas, many of whom are experts in their field.

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

Your experience

Your primary responsibility will be to advise on whether new clients can be accepted by the firm. You will take into account legal/regulatory requirements, internal policies and strategies as well as reputational and commercial conflict implications.

The role includes the following:

• Assessing the risk profile of new and existing clients, in the context of current AML and other regulatory rules, as well as internal policies, across the full range of practice areas, sectors and offices within the firm and establishing information barriers when necessary.
• A focus on complex and urgent clients and supporting your colleagues as the first point of escalation, whilst managing high work volumes.
• Acting as a strategic business partner to the firm, facilitating risk-informed business decisions by providing nuanced, commercially aware advice on high-profile and complex matters and liaising to secure the appropriate buy-in from relevant stakeholders on commercial and strategic aspects, particularly in relation to non-standard approaches.
• Determining the nature and level of client due diligence required for anti-money laundering compliance purposes.
• Assessing the overall suitability of a client for the firm, having regard to regulatory, reputational and commercial considerations.
• Monitoring existing clients and updating relevant details.
• Determining any applicable conditions upon which clients can be accepted or continued.
• Analysing information contained in the firm's conflict management systems.
• Dealing with ad hoc questions/queries from Partners and lawyers relating to AML and other engagement risk issues and providing the first phase of non-standard advice to partners and lawyers.
• Contributing to the work of the leadership group, taking responsibility and supporting the Head of Client Acceptance (AML) – including some equitable out-of-hours support.
• One additional portfolio role, e.g. training, office/regional liaison, intra-team liaison - Providing guidance and training to the Client Acceptance team in conjunction with the Head of Client Acceptance on relevant updates and feedback relating to the application of the Firm’s policies and procedures.
• Playing a key role in supporting the Head of Client Acceptance in the preparation of the Firm ahead of audits and data gathering exercises by Regulators, including but not limited to the preparation of any requested documents and information.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of our documentation, processes and systems.
• Reflecting the firm's values and our Code of Conduct – leading others through modelling and promoting behaviours that foster team resilience, adaptability and a culture of continuous improvement, while supporting mental wellbeing within the team.
• Utilising and developing the firm’s AI tools in connection with day-to-day and ad hoc tasks to foster innovation and efficiencies.

Skills & experience

The role will provide opportunities to continually grow and develop your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on-the-job learning.

Skills:

• A sound awareness of commercial issues and the ability to resolve them pragmatically and to advise partners and lawyers.
• The ability to adapt quickly to new processes and technology and to contribute to and support change.
• The ability to form productive working relationships with others, both inside and outside of the Clearance Centre.
• Being commercially minded with good operational business acumen, and able to identify opportunities to continually improve our services.
• A willingness to embrace challenges and remain calm under pressure.

Experience:

You will have demonstrable experience in CDD and AML risk management within a law firm environment and an in-depth working knowledge of applicable AML rules, ideally gained in leading international law practice.

Experience will also include:

• Working knowledge of applicable anti-money laundering regulations.
• Previous experience of using AI applications to streamline tasks, enabling you to focus on delivering high-value work.
• Previous experience of gathering and analysing information and using it to solve complex problems in a methodical, practical way.
• A proven ability to lead and influence, both vertically and horizontally, across jurisdictions and functions, building consensus and driving best practice in AML risk assessments and CDD.
   

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.
 

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.