Senior Compliance Manager

Walkers; Guernsey (WY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Walkers is seeking a Senior Compliance Manager in Guernsey to lead AML/CTF/CPF and sanctions compliance, serving as MLCO and Deputy MLRO. The role includes implementing the firm’s financial crime controls, coordinating with the Board and regulators, and delivering targeted training across jurisdictions.

The successful candidate will manage SAR processes, oversee risk assessments, and report to senior management.

Qualifications

• Experience in Compliance and AML/CTF/CPF roles within law firms or financial services.
• Knowledge of local AML/CTF/CPF regulatory requirements and guidance.
• Ability to communicate clearly with partners, fee earners and regulators.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and oversee AML/CTF/CPF and sanctions policies and procedures.
• Discharge statutory MLCO responsibilities with proper governance and controls.
• Ensure senior management and Board understand AML/CTF/CPF obligations.
• Maintain BRA and ensure risk assessments reflect firm risk profile.
• Perform risk-based monitoring and ensure compliance with AML/CTF/CPF requirements.
• Deliver compliance reporting to local senior management and Group Compliance.
• Design and deliver jurisdiction-specific AML/CTF/CPF training for staff and partners.
• Act as primary contact with local regulators and manage regulatory examinations.
• Manage SAR receipt, assessment and external reporting under local laws.
• Maintain SARs register and ensure proper filing and retention.

Skills

AML/CTF compliance

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Education

ICA

ACAMS

AML qualification

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Teams

iManage

Job description

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We are a leading international law firm for global corporations, financial institutions, capital market participants and investment fund managers. With a global presence spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we advise on the laws of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey.

We treat everyone as the intelligent professional they are. Our approach is to trust and empower our people to deliver consistently, and enable them to succeed. Diversity is our secret weapon – it’s the sheer breadth of Walkers people that makes us who we are – gathered from across the globe and fluent in languages, jurisdictions and cultures that help us to mirror our clients and keep our own thinking in tune with the world in which we operate.

Overview of role

Office: Guernsey

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior compliance professional to join the Compliance department as Senior Compliance Manager for Walkers in Guernsey. The role has a functional reporting line to the Director of Financial Crime, with a local reporting line to Senior Management in the relevant jurisdiction(s).

The role holder will be the designated and accountable Money Laundering Compliance Officer for Guernsey. They will be responsible for the effective implementation and ongoing oversight of the local AML/CTF/CPF and sanctions framework in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This includes oversight of policies, procedures, risk assessments, reporting, training, and monitoring activities, as well as acting as the primary point of contact with local regulators. The role holder will be accountable to the Board and senior management for the effectiveness of the firm’s financial crime control framework in those jurisdictions.

In addition, the successful candidate will act as Deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer (DMLRO) for the jurisdiction(s) covered. In this capacity, they will have formal responsibility for the receipt, assessment, and external reporting of suspicious activity, in line with local statutory requirements and internal policies.

Duties, Responsibilities & Person Specification

• Developing, maintaining, and overseeing AML/CTF/CPF and sanctions policies and procedures in line with Walkers Group standards and applicable local laws and regulations
• Discharging the statutory responsibilities of MLCO, including ensuring appropriate governance, controls, and escalation processes are in place
• Ensuring senior management and the Board understand and meet their AML/CTF/CPF and sanctions obligations
• Maintaining the Business Risk Assessment (BRA), ensuring that the methodology remains appropriate and that the assessment is current and reflective of the firm’s risk profile
• Performing and overseeing risk‑based monitoring to ensure compliance with AML/CTF/CPF requirements, including CDD, EDD, SAR, and record‑keeping obligations
• Delivering regular compliance reporting to local senior management and Group Compliance, escalating material issues where required
• Designing and delivering jurisdiction‑specific AML/CTF/CPF training and awareness programmes, including training for Partners and key persons
• Acting as the primary point of contact with local regulators, managing regulatory examinations, requests for information, and submissions
• Acting as the key compliance contact for the office and escalating matters to Group Compliance where appropriate
• Receiving and reviewing SARs in accordance with the internal policy and procedures and where it is determined that a SAR is to be externalised, submitting the SAR to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) within the required timeframe
• Maintaining the SARs register, ensuring that all SARs received are logged and assessed appropriately and that all supporting records are filed and saved appropriately
• Acting as the main point of contact for the FIU, ensuring that all communications, including requests for consents and the management of the consent process with the FIU, and their information requests are handled efficiently and in a timely manner

Education, Skills & Experience

With law firm and/or finance sector experience, you will have experience in performing Compliance and AML/CTF/CPF roles and possess:

• An AML or other professional qualification or be studying towards such a qualification; such as, ICA, ACAMS
• A sound knowledge of local AML/ATF/CPF regulatory requirements and industry guidance
• Full awareness of your own obligations
• Leadership ability with excellent communication skills. You are self-motivated and capable of prioritising workloads as required
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate with partners, fee earners with confidence
• Have the flexibility and adaptability to undertake a variety of tasks at short notice if required
• Good working knowledge of Windows – Microsoft Word – Microsoft Excel – Outlook – Teams – iManage
• Able to prioritise competing demands
• Excellent time management and organisational skills

#LI-LQ1

Walkers global is an equal opportunity employer. Equality and diversity are key to our global identity and an integral part of our goal to continue being an employer of choice. We are committed to a work environment that supports all individuals irrespective of gender, ethnicity, nationality, race, religion, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. We make every effort to ensure that employment opportunities are open and accessible to all purely on the basis of personal ability.