Compliance Officer

Who are we?

Bird & Bird is a highly respected global law firm serving clients whose businesses are being transformed by technology and the digital world.  But that’s only part of the story.  We’ve built our international reputation not only on the delivery of exceptional legal expertise, but also on our ability to think beyond the details of law to meet our clients' needs.  We have over 1,700 lawyers worldwide working as a single, cohesive team across offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. In other parts of the world, we work with a network of trusted firms, giving us genuine global reach.

The firm offers excellent prospects for progression and our culture provides all our people with world-class support to achieve their ambitions and goals.

Our promise to you to you

Bird & Bird is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment. It is the policy of Bird & Bird to consider all candidates fairly, regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, age or disability. We support an agile working environment and are happy to discuss flexible working. 

The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Risk & Compliance Officer to join our Sydney office. This role is responsible for supporting and strengthening the firm's risk and compliance framework across Australia, including AML/CTF, ISO 27001, regulatory compliance, governance, data protection and risk management. Reporting to the Regional Head of Risk (APAC), with a local reporting relationship to the Head of Operations, you will work collaboratively with senior leaders across Australia and APAC to drive best-practice compliance outcomes.

Duties and responsibilities 

Risk & Compliance

• Collaborate with partners and other key stakeholders to create effective and prompt risk and compliance solutions for their teams.

• Proactively communicate changes to law or regulation, firm policies and procedures, and industry trends to relevant stakeholders across the Sydney office and to global risk as appropriate.

• Guide leaders through change initiatives, particularly in relation to risk management strategies including regulatory change, policy development and compliance frameworks.

• Coach all leaders regarding compliance issues and provide advice and guidance that is both technically correct and commercially relevant.

• Develop a strong profile, network and relationships across each practice, sector and functional team, and the broader firm to become a trusted business adviser.

• Elevate awareness, support and engagement of key strategic risk and compliance initiatives, programmes and projects.

• Have delivery responsibility for all aspects of risk and compliance administration in Sydney, supported by the Head of Operations and local Risk Partner.

• Maintain and periodically review the firm's suite of global and local risk and compliance policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with global policy frameworks and applicable Australian law and regulation.

• Maintain the local risk register for the Sydney office and facilitate regular risk reviews, reporting outcomes to the Regional Head of Risk and the Head of Operations.

• Prepare and deliver risk and compliance management information and reporting to the Regional Head of Risk and the Head of Operations on a regular basis, including timely escalation of material issues.

• Monitor the firm's ongoing compliance with its professional obligations and applicable Commonwealth and NSW legislation, including but not limited to the Legal Profession Uniform Law 2014 (NSW) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) in association with the global privacy team.

• Manage and coordinate the firm's conflicts of interest framework (including gifts and hospitality register), maintaining the local conflicts register and escalating identified issues to the relevant partners, Head of Operations and the Regional Head of Risk.

• Coordinate and deliver risk and compliance training for all Sydney-based staff, ensuring records of completion are maintained and audit-ready.

• Support & assist co-ordination of the firm's ISO programme and business continuity planning obligations for the Sydney office.

• Support other compliance frameworks as required, with policy development, adherence, audits and continuous improvements.

• Maintain compliance calendars and tracking frameworks to ensure no regulatory deadlines or reporting obligations are missed.

• Coordinate with the broader APAC and global risk and compliance functions to ensure consistency of approach, which may occasionally require hours outside of standard office hours (international working).

AML/CTF Specific:

The Risk & Compliance Officer is responsible for acting as the Australian AML/CTF Compliance Officer supporting the Sydney office leadership. The role is responsible for overseeing and coordinating day-to-day compliance with the firm's AML/CTF policy, processes and obligations. Specific responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and coordinating the firm's day-to-day compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth), the AML/CTF Rules and associated regulations.

• Overseeing the effective operation of compliance with the firm's AML/CTF policies.

• Providing reports to the Head of Operations (Senior Manager) for the risk committee review on AML/CTF compliance.

• Completing appropriate risk assessments as required.

• Maintaining sufficient authority, independence and access to resources to pass the required screening, ID verification and clearances required to perform the role effectively.

• Ensuring that compliance reports to the Heads of Country and Regional Head of Risk address the firm's compliance with its AML/CTF policies, the extent to which those policies appropriately manage and mitigate ML/TF risks faced in providing designated services, and the firm's compliance with the Act, Rules and regulations, ensuring audit readiness.

• Ensuring that reports, risk assessments or records of reports, are in writing and completed by the appropriate deadlines.

• Identifying and reporting on AML/CTF non-compliance, deficiencies or gaps in AML/CTF policies, and the steps required to remediate identified deficiencies, including progress against remediation.

• Escalating other significant matters that may affect the firm's AML/CTF policies or compliance, including resourcing issues, process backlogs, improvement activities and any updates or acting on feedback from AUSTRAC.

• Reminding the leadership team of AUSTRAC notifications and deadlines as well as any changes to the AML/CTF Compliance Officer position, including where the appointed officer leaves the business or becomes ineligible.

• Maintaining “fit and proper person” records demonstrating the appointment of an eligible AML/CTF Compliance Officer, including the name of the appointee, the period of their appointment, evidence of satisfaction of eligibility requirements and the basis for any reassessments and updated AUSTRAC as required.

• Facilitating periodic reassessment of the AML/CTF Compliance Officer's own eligibility to confirm ongoing fitness and propriety alongside HR.

• Ensuring that adequate arrangements are in place to cover the functions of the AML/CTF Compliance Officer during periods of absence, and maintaining continuity of communication with AUSTRAC.

• Conducting and documenting ML/TF risk assessments in connection with the firm's provision of designated services, and maintaining and periodically reviewing the firm's AML/CTF programme documentation.

• Delivering and coordinating AML/CTF training for all relevant staff and ensuring training records are maintained.

• Acting as the primary point of contact with regulatory enquiries and responding to any compliance reviews or audits.

Policy, Governance & Reporting

• Assist in the formulation and implementation of risk and compliance policies, in close collaboration with the global risk team.

• Support the Head of Operations in identifying operational risks and ensuring that appropriate best practice controls and escalation pathways are in place.

• Monitor the marketplace and regulatory landscape to ensure the firm's risk and compliance framework remains effective, up to date and competitive.

• Work closely with external parties where required, including regulators, auditors and specialist legal counsel.

• Ensure effective risk governance and organisational compliance to meet the growth and development plan of both the Australian office and the firm.

• Assist in the preparation of materials for internal and external audits, coordinating the provision of information and records as required.

Strategic Input

Working with the risk and compliance management team to develop the risk and compliance strategy, ensuring that it supports the firm-wide strategy and objectives. This includes:

• Revision and resetting of risk and compliance objectives for the Australian office.

• The development of management information systems and tools to support the strategic risk and compliance plan.

• A regular audit of risk and compliance systems and their contribution to client service, business objectives and performance, service delivery and continuous improvement.

• Occasional attendance at risk and compliance conferences to keep knowledge current.

Technical and professional qualifications:

• Minimum 4–5 years' experience for officer level (and 8+ years for Manager level) in a risk & compliance role in a legal or professional services environment, with demonstrated exposure to regulatory compliance, continuous improvement frameworks and AML/CTF obligations.

• Competence, skills, knowledge, diligence, expertise and soundness of judgement to properly perform the AML/CTF Compliance Officer role, together with the attributes of good character, honesty and integrity.

• Demonstrated understanding of, or willingness to develop expertise in, the AML/CTF regulatory regime and AUSTRAC's expectations of reporting entities.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in law, compliance, risk management or a related discipline are highly regarded.

• ICA, ACAMS or equivalent professional accreditation is desirable.

• Highly computer literate.

What will we offer you?

Company Culture

As an international commercial law firm, we encourage open communication and transparency, especially important as we are open plan allowing easy access to our senior leaders. We have many internal initiatives to support our warm culture.

Whether it’s hearing about firm updates during our regular whole-of-office morning tea celebrations, or catching up with colleagues during our monthly social drinks, team lunches, and other social events - we are a collaborative office. Whether you’re a classical musician, yoga practitioner, avid reader, crafty, ocean swimmer or keen team sportsperson, we support many activities here. You will also be a part of a wider international Bird & Bird network with active involvement in regional Asia-Pacific and international initiatives.

Health & Well-being

We care about our people. We provide many health and well being benefits such as ergonomic assessments, flu shots, well-being seminars and a fantastic EAP service with a digital support platform "The Resilience Box" providing tips, tools and strategies for mental, physical and financial well-being. We also have very successful lunchtime sporting teams as well as after work yoga classes and a swimming group with our own designer twobirds "Budgie Smugglers"!

Personal and Professional Development

All new starters receive extensive induction training. As your career develops, we ensure you are continuously upskilled with formal and informal programmes.

Corporate Social Responsibility - We encourage our team to be actively involved in our Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives and committees:

·         Diversity and Inclusion Committee;

·         Pro Bono and Volunteering Committee;

·         Social Committee;

·         Environment and Sustainability Committee;

·         Fundraising Initiatives.

We offer a competitive package, a friendly, flexible supportive culture, excellent modern offices in the CBD and great exposure to the firm and its clients globally. 

This job description is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time to ensure the smooth running of the operation.

This role is open to Australian residents, or those who hold a current visa providing the ongoing right to work in Australia along with strong English skills (both spoken and written). Successful candidates may be required to complete all necessary employment screening checks, in line with the Australian Standard 4811:2022 as part of our recruitment and onboarding process. Given the requirements of the AML/CTF Compliance Officer role, candidates will also be subject to enhanced background screening, including police checks, credit checks and reference checks, in accordance with the fit and proper person requirements under the AML/CTF Act 2006 (Cth).

We are a disability, neurodiversity and mental health inclusive employer and want to ensure that candidates have a barrier-free recruitment experience. If you need adjustments for any of your interviews or assessments, please email us for confidential advice.