A rare and an exciting opportunity with work with an elite US law firm that are looking to expand their Middle East and APAC Risk & Compliance team. As the AML Compliance Analyst, you will be responsible for the implementation, development, and enforcement of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML); Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF) and Counter Proliferation Financing (CPF) policies and procedures and work in collaboration with global offices.You may also be asked to assist with similar matters for the APAC Offices (Singapore and Tokyo); though this is rare. Your primary focus falls on the internal systems and controls that the Firm has in place to help detect, monitor, and report ML, TF, and PF activities to the relevant authorities and to ensure that the Firm is not exposed to criminal risk and does not inadvertently facilitate financial crime. You will have a very good understanding of AML, CTF, CPF, Know Your Customer (KYC), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and other regulatory policies with the ability to apply regulatory concepts in the day-to-day job functions. Under general supervision, and according to established policies, you will provide compliance support to lawyers and support staff, while maintaining a positive contact with prospective, new, and existing clients, and observing the strictest level of confidentiality on all Firm matters, always.About the job:

• Assisting the Deputy MLRO with the request and collection of all KYC documentation when onboarding new clients or updating existing client matters.
• Responsible for performing KYC/CDD/EDD on new customers and during periodic account reviews and follow up and track all documents required to satisfy the onboarding process.
• Responding promptly to client contacts in relation to outstanding documents.
• Conducting screening of all new potential clients via the Firm's internal database (Accuity) and World Check One and reviewing the relevant reports to assist with assigning an appropriate risk assessment.
• Assist partners and support staff with the completion of the New and Existing Client Verification Forms for each new client and matter for the Middle East offices.
• Work directly with potential clients to obtain information to complete client verifications.
• Undertake all training and keep informed with anti-money laundering rules, procedures, and regulations of the Middle East offices, including attending outreach sessions hosted by the Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FSRA), the Dubai Financial Services Regulatory Authority (DFSA) and the Ministry of Justice, Saudi Arabia (MOJ).
• Maintain and update the standard form of engagement letters for the Middle East offices and enforce the use of the standard engagement letters by all lawyers.
• Assist with queries on the preparation of engagement letters (specifically the clauses on Client Verification and receipt of Third-Party Payments).
• Report any AML/TF non-compliance of any employee to the Deputy MLRO as soon as possible.
• Maintaining and updating the Middle East offices\' AML records which includes the desk site AML client folders for each new matter and maintaining the AML spreadsheets (UBO Database and Risk Rating Register).
• Inspecting client due diligence documentation periodically (based on initial risk assessment) to ensure that information is current and kept up to date - which includes conducting a routine review of active clients and carrying out a transaction monitoring exercise with all partners annually.
• Supporting the Deputy MLRO in connection with developing and maintaining the Singapore office's AML Business Risk Assessment and AML Policies, Procedures, Systems and Controls Manual.
• Acting as the initial point of contact to receive notifications from Middle East offices\' employees in relation to Suspicious Activity Reports and Transactions.
• Making Suspicious Activity Reports in accordance with the relevant AML laws of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, which includes filling the necessary notifications via the goAML platform, the FSRA, DFSA or MOJ and/ or any other relevant authorities such as the Central Bank of the UAE.
• Responding promptly to any request for information made by competent UAE and Saudi Arabian authorities.
• Receiving and acting upon any relevant findings, recommendations, guidance, directives, resolutions, sanctions, or notices issued by the United Nations Security Council; government of Singapore, the FATF, the UAE and Saudi Arabian enforcement agencies and the relevant Middle East regulators - the FSRA, DFSA and/or MOJ.
• Carrying out enhanced due diligence in connection with matters involving Politically Exposed Persons, High Net-worth/Ultra High Net-worth individuals and other higher risked clients to review and discuss money laundering and terrorist financing risks with the Deputy MLRO.
• Briefing and reporting to senior management on matters relating to internal AML compliance policies and procedures.
• Updating the lawyers and support staff of the Middle East offices with recent developments in AML/CTF, e.g., Media coverage, Latest version of Practice Direction / Guidelines from relevant regulators - the FSRA, DFSA, MOJ and the Firm.
• Conduct training for new hires on the AML/CTF policies, procedures, systems, and controls.
• Establishing and maintaining an appropriate AML/CTF training programme and raising adequate awareness on an annual basis or when required; for example, immediately after a shift in the law/legal framework in AML/CTF for Middle East offices and proximate region.
• Assisting the Deputy MLRO during AML Audit conducted by the FSRA, DFSA and MOJ.
• Carrying out internal AML/CTF audits to test the effectiveness of the Middle East offices\' current AML policies and procedures.
• Liaising with the relevant Billing Teams to screen incoming payments and carry out adequate due diligence on all Third-Party Payors; and liaising with the Conflicts team to update additional parties on existing files.
• Handle any other duties as assigned to assist with the effective administration of the AML and CTF Policies.
• Maintaining, always, the strictest level of confidentiality when handling client documentation and risk assessment of potential, new and existing clients.

About you:

• Undergraduate degree from a recognized institution (minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, Upper Second (II.1) or equivalent).
• Strong, concise communication and written skills.
• Native English speaker (or equivalent level of fluency).
• Able to work overtime, including weekends; as needed, some travel may be necessary.
• Background in English and/or U.S. law.
• International Law Firm experience.

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Madison Pearl