We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our philosophy is ‘Expert Hand, Human Touch’ – something you’ll find in the way we work with our clients and how we support our teams. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We’re always looking to support our colleagues in working in a way that best works for them. Please speak to one of our Talent Acquisition Team to find out more information about our flexible working arrangements.

First impressions count and our team has a key role in setting the high standard of onboarding service that our clients expect of Irwin Mitchell.  The Client Onboarding Team provides a centralised client and matter onboarding service to fee earners who are engaging clients with the firm.

As part of the team, you will work very closely with colleagues who are conducting client due diligence and conflicts checks to onboard our clients, ensuring we meet all our legal and regulatory requirements.

As a Training and Competency Manager you will play a leading role in ensuring those completing onboarding activities and their team leaders, have a high standard of client due diligence and conflicts technical knowledge and are competent, to ensure we meet our legal and regulatory requirements.  

You’ll be responsible for leading a small number of Coaches who primarily deliver quality assurance checking, technical training, and competency accreditation to all existing and new all members of teams that are responsible for conducting checks across the LLP.

Leadership

• Provide leadership and management to a team of Expert Coaches in the Client Onboarding department.
• Provide leadership on all client due diligence and Conflicts quality, competency accreditation and technical training across the Client Onboarding departments.

Accreditation and Quality Framework

• Design, implement and maintain a client due diligence and conflicts competency accreditation scheme and quality framework, which using the results of quality checks and feedback, makes sure all individuals conducting client onboarding are signed off as competent and appropriately skilled and qualified where appropriate so that they can meet all policy and regulatory requirements. The competency accreditation scheme will also be a key enabler for career progression of team members.

Quality Assurance

• Personally, and with the Coaches, the role holder will prepare and undertake quality checking of CDD/ AML and Conflict files in line with the accreditation scheme and quality framework, with reference to the firm’s policies and procedures. Assessing compliance of client due diligence and Conflicts checks with regulations and controls through thorough review of records, reports, operating practices, and documentation.
• Preparing for / conducting quality assurance meetings with Team Leaders and the Head of Client Onboarding, creating detailed written reports at individual, team and departmental level summarising the outcomes, findings, and recommendations.
• Raising corrective actions against both process failure / regulatory failure and liaising with case handlers and supervisors to close any actions escalating where appropriate.
• Recommending improvements to internal operational process and control structures as required, supporting the onboarding team in implementing process / control improvements as required.

Technical Training

• Work very closely with the Head of Client Onboarding, Team Leaders and Senior Officer to understand the AML and conflicts technical skills in the teams, conducting regular technical training needs and gap analysis, ensuring that any quality checking issues identified are incorporated into the gap analysis and followed through with technical training.
• Providing periodic reports to show progress made towards actions identifies as a result of QA findings and/or technical gap analysis exercises. Work very closely with the Resource and Change Manager to identify and plan any training requirements and impact on the department's Competency Accreditation scheme.
• Design and deliver all new and ongoing training associated with CDD, AML and Conflict checking.
• Support the integration of new staff to the firm by identifying and implementing the right technical training plans for their needs.
• Work very closely with the Resource and Change Manager and General Counsel Team) to understand any policy or regulatory changes which will impact the client onboarding team and then design and deliver the required technical training to successfully implement the changes, pulling in other experts (including from GCT) as required.
• Work very closely with the Resource and Change Manager to coordinate and deliver technical induction programmes for team members.
• Build effective collaborative working relationships with all leaders in the client onboarding team and GCT to deliver agreed objectives in terms of technical training.
• Drive significant improvements in client due diligence technical skills and knowledge within the teams.
• Keep up to date with all relevant regulatory, legislative, and technical changes in respect of Client Due Diligence, as required.
• Achieve and promote high quality standards and controls, ensuring consistency and appropriate record keeping.
• Detailed understanding of IM Client Due Diligence AML and Conflict policies, controls, and procedures, and ensure consistent application through technical training across the teams.
• Proactively build and develop relationships with other functions, particularly the General Counsel Team, to ensure effective sharing of knowledge and promote collaborative working.
• Cascade technical knowledge and feedback, contribute to bulletins, lessons learnt and knowledge feedback loops to support continuous improvement and best practice.

Essential 

• In-depth technical knowledge, skills, and experience in client due diligence and Conflicts.
• A detailed understanding of the regulatory environment in which the firm operates for client due diligence and Conflicts for both domestic and international individual and business clients. This role is suited to someone with a significant AML background.
• Significant influencing and written/oral communication skills required in relation to staff at all levels across the business.
• Demonstrate experience of working autonomously and be able to make decisions within their sphere of responsibility.
• Experience of preparing and delivering training, both one to one and for large groups.
• Subject matter expert on SRA Standards and Rules relating to Conflicts and/or Financial Crime prevention rules and regulation.

Desirable

• Training qualifications or experience using different learning methodologies, but ‘Train the Trainer’ training will be provided where required.
• Knowledge of AML software such as Smart Search, World Check, or other software providers.
• Knowledge of 3e.

• Flexible working options - Make work fit around your life, not the other way around.
• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported to work in a way that best suits you.  This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over how they wish to work subject to role and client requirements.

We have recently been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2023! 

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim.  

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono. 

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, existing employees, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

Depending on the role you apply for we may carry out checks that will establish your eligibility to work in the UK, and criminal record check and financial checks ­with a credit reference agency will also be undertaken.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.