AML Associate

This is a full time, fixed term position for 18-months. The Law Society is the professional body AML supervisor of solicitors in Northern Ireland and is supervised in the discharge of its AML supervisory functions by the government established body, the Office for Professional Body AML Supervision (OPBAS). The post holder will support the Head of AML Policy and Head of Professional Conduct dealing with matters of the regulation and professional conduct of solicitors principally in relation to the Law Societys role as the AML Professional Body Supervisor (PBS) of solicitors in Northern Ireland under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.

The post holder will contribute to the development and implementation of AML policy which inputs to the effective discharge of the Law Societys AML PBS functions including its risk-based supervision, appropriate sharing of information and intelligence, provision of information and guidance to its supervised population, staff training, enforcement, record keeping/quality assurance and reporting. The main duties of the post include:
To support the Head of AML Policy and Head of Professional Conduct in the planning and delivery of AML policy, thematic and project work aimed at addressing the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing in the Law Societys sector and in continuing the Law Societys effective proactive engagement with OPBAS. To contribute to the Law Societys responses to HM Treasurys AML/CTF Annual Return, policy consultations, other information requests from Government and other external stakeholders, including other PBSs, supervisory authorities and law enforcement.

To contribute to the preparation of appropriate information, guidance, reports and communications issued by the Law Society including its publicly available Supervisors Annual Report AML published under Regulation 46A of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. To provide timely and appropriate policy, thematic and project work as required under direction of the Head of AML Policy and the Head of Professional Conduct, including, but not limited to: o Researching and analysing information from a wide range of sources to produce an evidence base for AML, financial sanctions or related policy development o Evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of AML supervisory and enforcement activity and/or the quality assurance of the Law Societys AML supervision o Identifying and reporting on trends arising from supervisory desk-based reviews (DBRs), onsite Inspections, reviews, information returns and assessments o Evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of solicitor firms compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 including review of solicitor firm wide risk assessments and relevant policies, controls and procedures, training, record-keeping o Providing and reviewing applicable statistics and management data as required o Producing analytical and evidence-based reports including recommendations as appropriate o Presenting reports to Senior Management and to relevant Committee(s).

To produce a wide range of well written reports consultation papers, policy documents and committee papers.

To apply a sound understanding of the operational consequences of policy proposals. To process relevant AML or equivalent registration/approval applications from solicitors to the Law Society and updating of records on an online Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system or equivalent in accordance with Departmental policies and procedures. To assist with the organisation, running and minuting of appropriate internal AML related risk review, monitoring and Departmental meetings, including the recording and progressing of outcomes as necessary.

To assist in the provision of ad hoc reports as requested concerning AML policy and supervision and other feedback. To respond in a timely and appropriate manner to external queries received on AML, the Law Societys AML supervision and regulations and communicate effectively with solicitors, members of the public and other stakeholders, both by telephone and in writing, in accordance with the Solicitors (NI) Order 1976 as amended and the Money…