Risk and Compliance Solicitor

IBB’s Compliance team is part of the Operations section of the Business Support Group (BSG) which includes IT, HR, Facilities and the Document Management Centre. The wider BSG group includes the Finance and Marketing and Business Development teams. The BSG group is headed up by the managing partner.

IBB has been an ISO accredited quality organisation since 1995 which means that there is a well-established risk & compliance infrastructure in place. This is a new post within a key support function.

At a strategic level the role provides support for the IBB partners in attaining their objectives. The firm takes a “partner led” client service approach to client care and bases the IBB offering on the value proposition that work will be done at the right level. The risk and compliance team plays an important part in making sure the firm sets and maintains consistently high standards of client care in line with both Lexcel and the ISO quality standards.

At an operational level, the role requires the post-holder to assist with:

• managing complaints
• managing renewal of the firm’s professional indemnity insurance and investigating potential negligence claims
• managing the annual practising certificate and authorised body renewal process
• supervising administrative tasks including a comprehensive internal file audit programme
• delivering risk & compliance training.

The post-holder will also assist the Head of Risk and Compliance with embedding a compliance culture within IBB, with strategic risk management initiatives and with advising on AML issues and other discrete compliance issues as they arise. This is a very busy, “hands on” role. 

The purpose of this role is to assist the Head of Risk and Compliance with the implementation and management of risk within IBB, to support IBB’s partners in delivering exceptional client care and to manage IBB’s compliance function on a day to day basis.

The role will involve the following areas:

• SRA, AML and Lexcel/ISO quality compliance

• AML/OFR and other compliance legislation

• Assisting the COLP and the MLRO to carry out their statutory roles

• Professional indemnity insurance maintenance, renewal and policy claims

• Internal/external audits – Lexcel/ISO and SRA

• Complaints handling

• Creating, reviewing and updating risk management policies and procedures

• Creating, reviewing and updating the office manual

• Developing and delivering training and know-how

• To provide high quality compliance advice and support to IBB partners and staff to include assisting the Head of Risk and Compliance with:

• Ensuring effective and appropriate compliance and risk management policies and procedures are in place to meet legal requirements, best practice and IBB’s strategic objectives;
   
• Ensuring partners, line managers and staff receive effective and appropriate advice and support on the implementation, interpretation and impact of compliance and risk management legislation, policies and procedures;
   
• Preparing firm-wide communications on compliance issues to maximise buy-in and commitment from partners, line-mangers and staff; and
   
• Ensuring compliance learning and development (L&D) strategies are supported effectively and risk plans are tested and monitored.
   
• To contribute to and engage with the IBB strategy to build a reputation as a quality supplier in the markets we serve to include:                   

• Delivering a complete complaints service for IBB clients: assisting Group Heads and Team Leaders in the resolution of complaints; developing and applying appropriate policies; reporting to the partners regularly and providing benchmarking information and analysis; and

• Contributing to quality objectives for the firm based on client satisfaction data together with mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness of any firm/team improvement initiatives adopted.

• To actively participate and contribute to the profile of the BSG team by constantly renewing and developing personal and professional skills.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will:

• Have a degree (or equivalent) qualification.
• Be a qualified solicitor with a minimum of 2 years PQE, with strong academics, with experience from a central London or top tier regional firm.
• Preferably (but not essential) have some risk and compliance experience.

Skills and Experience

• Strong technical skills, ideally including regulatory, data protection or litigation matters, which will be demonstrated by your achievements to date.

• Experience and knowledge of the SRA Handbook and managed quality standards such as ISO and Lexcel.

• A commercial approach with experience of providing practical and commercial advice in relation to compliance issues.

• The ability to take a practical and risk-based approach to compliance.

• Experience of providing advice and explaining the cost/benefits of a proposed course of action in terms of reputational risk as well as being able to give legal advice on specific compliance issues.

• Flexible with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality standards, confidentiality and attention to detail.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral and a proven ability to communicate across all levels of an organisation.

IT literate and proficient using Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint and familiarity with other relevant applications.

Brand Values

As a member of staff in the Business Support Group you will be expected to demonstrate the One IBB brand values:

We are positive

• Self-motivated and solution driven

We are engaged

• Strong communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style to the relevant audience

We care

• Ability to follow instructions but able to use own initiative and adopt a flexible and proactive approach

We are united

•  Able to work effectively as part of a team