Compliance Assistant

Osborne Clarke; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm seeks a Compliance Assistant to manage client matter inception procedures. The role involves reviewing client intake for accuracy, conducting conflict checks, and ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations. Ideal candidates have a strong eye for detail, experience in compliance or administration, and a Bachelor's degree. This position offers a full-time permanent role based in Bristol, with a supportive team environment and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous benefits

Supportive team culture

Qualifications

• Experience in an administration or compliance-based role.
• Fluency in English (C1 or higher) essential.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritize tasks.

Responsibilities

• Review client intake requests for completeness and accuracy.
• Conduct internal and external conflict checks.
• Coordinate with international offices for conflict clearances.
• Assist in monitoring high-risk clients.

Skills

Detail orientation

Analytical skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree (legal education preferred)

Job description

Role profile

Due to continued growth, we have an exciting opportunity for a Compliance Assistant - internally known as a CMI (Client Matter Inception) Assistant - to join our Risk & Compliance team. This is a full time, permanent role based in Bristol, requiring office attendance four days per week.

The team

A positive and supportive team culture is a vital part of both the CMI and the wider Risk & Compliance Team. Working together is at the heart of everything we do. It enables us to deliver a professional, high standard of service to the business within a happy and collaborative environment. We believe in nurturing each person's strengths, supporting them when they need it and encouraging them to progress through personal development and training. We are a progressive and ever‑adapting team where diversity of opinions is always valued.

What you’ll do

Reporting to the Deputy CMI Manager, the main purpose of this role is to undertake all tasks associated with the firm’s CMI procedures to ensure compliance by the firm with its regulatory obligations.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Reviewing intake requests to ensure completeness and accuracy of client and matter information.
• Conducting internal and external conflict checks, including analysis via OC’s conflicts database and external databases.
• Reviewing high‑level ownership structures to ensure no red flags before progressing to the anti‑money laundering (AML) team for full review.
• Coordinating with International OC offices to obtain conflict clearances.
• Supporting AML refresh processes for existing clients and monitoring high‑risk clients in line with a risk‑based approach.
• Assisting in reviewing engagement letters, outside counsel guidelines, and confidentiality terms (if required).
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring data is entered and managed in accordance with firm policies.
• Identifying and resolving confidential information issues.
• Coordinating with other team members to meet deadlines, time‑sensitive issues and other challenges.
• Assisting in client and matter maintenance.

You may also be required to provide relevant support and training to fee earners within the UK and associated Osborne Clarke international offices, to business support teams and, where required, to the wider Risk & Compliance team, to ensure the efficient operation of the compliance processes.

To facilitate this you will need to develop and maintain internal client relationships across the organisation to allow for delivery on key objectives.

What we’re looking for

You will have previous experience within an administration or compliance‑based role, and have a strong eye for detail and a genuine interest in the legal profession.

Also required

• Bachelor’s degree required (legal education preferred).
• Fluency in English (C1 or higher) is essential due to international communication.
• Ability to comprehend the commercial concerns arising from the underlying advice provided by a global law firm.
• Methodical and organised approach to work and strong prioritisation skills, with the ability to work efficiently under pressure, priorities and deliver work to a consistently high standard and to deadlines.
• Ability to make decisions and remain calm while under pressure, particularly when dealing with challenging situations.
• Excellent analytical, research, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong client service mindset, professionalism and ability to work in a global, multicultural environment.
• An interest in developing your career within the legal profession, either as a lawyer or as part of our talented business services team.

Salary and benefits

We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits. We value the health and wellbeing of our people and our wide range of initiatives and benefits support this.

Our recruitment process

Please note that although we include closing dates for our roles as a guide, we review and progress applications on a rolling basis. At Osborne Clarke we do not make any recruitment decisions using automated decision‑making.

We are committed to providing an environment where you can perform to the best of your abilities at every stage of your recruitment experience and beyond. If you require adjustments to be made during the application stage, interview process, or when working with us, please let us know in confidence.

About Us

Osborne Clarke is an international legal practice with over 330 Partners and more than 1,260 talented lawyers in 26 locations*. Our sector‑based approach enables us to help our clients tackle the issues they are facing today, and prepare for the ones that they will face tomorrow. Advising them both comprehensively and commercially. We love working closely with our clients on new deals, products and solutions that will transform their businesses, markets and even sectors. And our unique approachable culture is not an added extra, it is fundamental to our success.

At Osborne Clarke we value difference and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We want everyone to feel that OC is a place where you can be yourself and belong, and our range of interest groups and diversity networks – not to mention our great teams – are a part of making that a reality.

*Services in India are provided by a relationship firm