Assurance Assistant

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

The Quality & Risk Directorate develops the firmwide policies and procedures which are implemented to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements and best practice. Regular reviews identify any regulatory or legislative changes and appropriate recommendations are made to the Executive Compliance Committee for actions. The Q&R Directorate implement those changes in conjunction with other business support functions, ensuring the relevant changes are implemented and staff are informed of the changes together with revisions to procedures and policies.

Following the evaluation and re-structure of the firm’s Risk and Assurance requirements, this new role will be instrumental in driving forward the firm’s approach to risk management.  The role offers the successful candidate great exposure to the Senior Leadership Teams and provides an exciting opportunity to enter the world of risk management. The role will have a reporting line into the Assurance Manager and have unfettered independent access to the COLP/Chairman.

We consider this to be a competency level 1/2 role.

• Assist in developing and implementing the Internal Audit / Assurance plan;
• Take a lead role in planning and day-to-day management of reviews undertaken;
• Preparation of internal audit / Assurance reports for management;
• Working cross firm to ensure that business areas operate to a consistently high standard;
• Work collaboratively with the risk team to drive improvements in the firm’s control environment;
• Address risk and quality issues raised by senior management;
• Identifying potential issues and incidents to manage risk across the business and to assist with risk register maintenance;
• Follow up and tracking of assurance issues raised;
• Undertake ad-hoc special investigations; and
• Assist in firm-wide projects as required, commensurate with the level of the post.

We are looking to hear from bright candidates who can demonstrate an appetite to learn new skills together with a passion for quality, risk and compliance. An awareness or ideally, previous experience of Data Protection requirements, Anti Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of crime Act and Money Laundering Regulations is also required. 

In addition, candidates will need to demonstrate:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of stakeholder;
• Analytical thinking, and competence to assimilate large amounts of information to extract key information for high level reports;
• High level organisation skills to manage multiple responsibilities effective whilst maintaining attention to detail and accuracy;
• Proven ability to tailor own style, think independently, and engage with and influence colleagues at all levels;
• Self-motivation to manage conflicting priorities and work either with own initiative or cross unit interaction;
• Ability to maintain enthusiasm when faced with new challenges;
• Positivity to manage change, adopt new practices and cope under pressure;
• Ability to recognise when to escalate and seek assistance;
• Commercial acumen and a pragmatic approach to work
• Excellent MS Office skills; and
• Experience of working in the legal or professional service sector would be advantageous, as would any prior knowledge or experience of Corporate Governance and Risk Management.

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted.  These checks will include employment references covering the last 5 years, proof of ID, proof of address covering the last 5 years, a social media check, Personnel Vetting credit search (which will only highlight insolvency or County Court Judgments - should any adverse data show on the Personnel Vetting search then any offer of employment made will be withdrawn), Terrorism Check (against data supplied by the Bank of England) and a DBS check previously known as a Criminal Records check. 

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.