Client Money Officer

The role

Our Platform, Your Opportunity

We are recruiting a Client Money Officer to join our Finance Compliance team based in our Sheffield office which supports DLA Piper’s operations and local finance teams in more than 30 different countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Middle East.  

The Financial Compliance Team functions as the 2nd line assurance function, tasked with establishing and overseeing adherence to a robust financial controls framework across all regions within the International Firm. Their primary focus is on proactive management of financial risks.

Within this, the chosen candidate will collaborate closely with the Senior Client Money Officer to ensure compliance with the Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) Accounts Rules in the UK, as well as equivalent regulations globally. This involves conducting regular assessments of key control procedures, such as residual client balance reporting and bank reconciliations.

A crucial aspect of the role involves expanding these duties to include implementing a structured training programme, updating client money policies, maintaining regular communication with various business units, and crafting a comprehensive client money control framework. As well as these, the key focus of the role will be supporting process improvements within existing compliance activities and challenging the established behaviours and practices.
The candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to the business and so it is essential that the candidate has detailed knowledge of the SRA Accounts Rules, and directly relevant experience. They should feel confident working independently to handle client money inquiries from employees and partners. Establishing and nurturing strong working relationships across the organization is essential for success in this position.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a trusted advisor to the firm on all matters relating to compliance with client money rules
• Work closely with local and central Finance teams to raise awareness of client money controls, promote examples of best practice.
• Help develop a Client Money assurance framework for the International firm, where key controls relevant to SRA compliance are defined and mapped to an appropriate control owner 
• Develop and deliver training internationally on client money rules and key hot topics identified in regular reviews or horizon scanning
• Undertake monthly review of international bank account reconciliations with a key focus on highlighting any client money issues
• Support applications for license renewals for the UK business
• Perform regular reviews of key client money processes and controls, including reviews of residual client balance reports, and local breach logs
• Support in the input of clear, timely and compelling reporting of compliance issues related to client money; including issues identified in international bank reconciliations, suspense balances and other reviews performed
• Support the Senior Financial Compliance Manager to research, document and implement a full suite of international client money policies
• Keep up to date with regulatory changes in the landscape ensuring knowledge is shared and documented where required
• Support and oversight on the SRA Accounts rules external audit
• Liaise with the Office of the General Counsel on relevant areas of client money compliance

ABOUT YOU

• Strong knowledge of the SRA accounts rule is essential
• A proven track record of compliance or finance operations such as legal cashiering in the legal sector Experience of developing a strong control environment with the legal sector
• Knowledge, and experience of working within, International Client Money rules is preferred, though not essential
• A clear, confident and concise communicator to stakeholders at all levels of the business 
• Ability to engage in open dialogue, provide pragmatic solutions, dealing with conflict as required whilst maintaining good working relationships
• Ability to write succinct and impactful reports
• Strong IT skills, particularly in excel and powerpoint
• Comfortable working collaboratively and independently

ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES
In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING
We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING
In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.