Senior Financial Crime Adviser, Advisory

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

Primary Responsibilities

Assisting the Firm in its compliance with its financial crime obligations, including:

• Provide AML/CTF and sanctions advice to the Firm, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.

• Develop, implement and maintain the firm's sanctions compliance programme.

• Stay up-to-date with changes in sanctions laws and regulations and ensure the company's policies and procedures are updated accordingly.

• Provide advice and guidance to senior management and the global firm on complex clearances with particular focus on sanctions compliance.

• Understand the nature and impact of sanctions, both comprehensive and targeted, and advise the business accordingly.

• Provide advice, guidance and training to fee earners and business services staff on sanctions policies, controls and procedures.

• Support with developing sanctions compliance policies and procedures in line with the PCP global framework.

• Monitor and review the firm's activities to ensure adherence to sanctions regulations.

• Build knowledge within the New Business and Enterprise Risk department regarding sanctions compliance and develop the team's understanding of relevant laws and regulations.

• Support the Head of Financial Crime Advisory in providing advice to the firm in relation to all regulatory enquiries, audits and surveys across EMEA, UK and the US

• Advise stakeholders within the firm on complex financial crime and CDD queries, while building a strong understanding of the firm and the types of matters/transactions it undertakes.

• Prepare and present training to the internal NBI teams.

• Carry out research on clients by using a variety of different research tools including analysis of structure charts and other materials to establish the true beneficial ownership of the client.

• Liaise with the other New Business Intake teams to ensure a joined up and efficient process for the fee earners and PA's.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Candidates should be a lawyer with 3 to 4 years PQE working in Financial Crime or should have a degree (law degree advantageous but not required; 2:1 or above preferred) and have worked in a Financial Crime environment in the regulated sector, or with a regulatory body or law enforcement for more than 3 years. 

• Has the ICA AML Diploma or is willing to undertake it (sponsored by the firm).

• Good understanding of applying sanctions and AML laws, applicable in the UK and international sanctions and a desire to develop further in this area.

• Excellent research and analytical skills.

• Good commercial awareness.

• Ability to prioritise workload.

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to work autonomously and prioritise multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Excellent verbal, written and face to face communication skills.

• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines.

Competencies

• Personal Leadership

• Builds Authentic Relationships

• Collaborates with others

• Enhances the Client Experience

• Achieves Results

Team

Location

Contract type

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.