Senior Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Analyst
This role can be based from our Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness offices.
To support the continued growth and development of the Financial & Economic Crime Reporting Unit, ensure effective support is available to legal teams, and maintain strong team collaboration, this role will require attendance in the office three days per week.
Reporting To
Deputy Director of the Financial & Economic Crime Reporting Unit
Job Purpose
The Senior AML Analyst plays a key role within the Financial & Economic Crime Reporting Unit, undertaking and reviewing a broad range of AML checks and screening. This includes identification and verification, client due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence, client and matter risk assessments, quality reviews, analysis of complex client structures, and source of funds and wealth checks.
As a senior member of the team, the postholder will work closely with senior colleagues to provide day-to-day guidance, supervision, oversight and support to the AML Analysts, helping to ensure high-quality work, consistent decision-making and the effective application of the firm's AML policies and procedures. They will act as an escalation point for more complicated queries and higher-risk matters.
The Senior AML Analyst will also support AML-related projects and assist the team's management with operational tasks that impact the team, as required.
This role requires strong risk-based analysis, sound decision-making and the proactive collection and scrutiny of information needed to meet regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will have an excellent working knowledge of AML requirements in relation to new client and new matter creation. They will understand the firm's AML regime in practice and how the firm's policies and procedures should be applied.
The postholder will work with lawyers and colleagues to ensure the firm's requirements are clearly understood, helping to improve accuracy, efficiency and consistency in AML intelligence, data recording and compliance.
Core Tasks
Investigations & Risk Assessments
* Conduct investigations and prepare reports on high-risk clients or matters requiring further review or escalation, including matters involving politically exposed persons (PEPs), high-risk third countries, complex ownership structures or other elevated risk factors.
Supervision
* Provide senior‑level guidance, oversight and supervision to AML Analysts, ensuring high-quality work, consistent decision‑making and adherence to AML policies and procedures.
* Support the AML Analysts with day‑to‑day queries.
* Supervise the team inbox – dealing with complex or firm‑wide queries and ensuring that our operational support is adequately maintained.
Stakeholder Management & Communication
* Manage relationships with and act as trusted AML support to key internal stakeholders: legal colleagues, Executive Assistants, Finance and Client & Matter Inception teams.
Compliance & Quality Assurance
* Review internal files and advise on quality of CDD and risk assessment answers.
* Keep files updated following routine AML maintenance and internal reviews as required, e.g. update client and related party information, suspending and re‑activating matters, and communicate these actions where required.
* Act on reports / triggers to ensure AML compliance, particularly around risk assessment completion and source of fund documentation.
Client Due Diligence & Ongoing Monitoring
* Assist with more complex corporate AML refreshes, linked to unusually complex or unusually large clients.
* Assist with the AML Analysts caseload, when necessary, to include:
* Obtaining, assessing and verifying client and related party identification, making use of trusted industry sources and electronic platforms.
* Performing initial screening and ongoing monitoring in relation to PEPs, sanctions, adverse media and other financial crime risks. Assessing screening results, discount false positives where appropriate, and escalating potential issues as required.
* Analysing and assessing complex company, partnership, trust and other ownership structures, identifying beneficial ownership and control.
* Thoroughly documenting research and analysis of clients and/or matters in a manner suitable for audit internally and externally.
* Undertaking appropriate research to understand a client's business, ownership structure, related parties and matter context, identifying any red flags or unusual features.
* Obtaining and assessing source of wealth and funds evidence for clients and relevant third parties.
* Making decisions on the appropriateness and sufficiency of CDD gathered, liaising with the team, senior management and the MLRO where necessary.
Information Security
* Be aware of Brodies' information security policies and protect information assets from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference at all times.
Person Specification
* Have a high level of commitment and responsibility for managing own workload and ability to prioritise as needed.
* Excellent communication skills.
* Able to conduct peer training, and wider stakeholder training as required.
* Approachable and supportive to peers.
* Excellent attention to detail.
* Enjoy team working, but also able to work independently.
* Is personable and can build strong working relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
* Competent with IT systems, with an ability to adapt to, develop and learn, new systems quickly.
Experience
* A practical, working knowledge of AML, preferably gained from working within a legal firm or other AML regulated sector, with an aptitude for expanding their knowledge.
* Supervisory or senior level AML practical experience is advantageous.
* Experienced in using electronic verification tools is an advantage.
* Competence with Microsoft Office applications.
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