Financial Compliance Officer

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

12/11/2024

The role

We are recruiting a Financial Compliance Officer to join our Finance 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 is a developing 2nd line function, responsible for five key areas; ensuring a robust financial governance framework is in place in all countries and risks are proactively mitigated; developing and updating financial policies across the international firm and monitoring policy compliance; maintenance, evaluation and reporting of financial risk registers, fraud governance and compliance with the Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) Accounts Rules.

Regular compliance reviews are undertaken on site in each country to evaluate high risk areas and to test controls, processes and compliance with group policies. The compliance reviews are a monitoring activity for the firm and provides assurance to the Audit Committee over the firm’s financial control environment.

This role will support the development of a strong compliance culture throughout the international firm. A key element will be to undertake compliance reviews and other monitoring activities to evaluate the firm’s processes and controls and recommend meaningful improvements. The ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with the country finance teams will be critical to being successful in this role.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Helping to develop a financial controls framework for the international firm, and a supporting repository of guidance and training tools designed to enhance the firm’s control environment
• Act as an advocate for the financial compliance function: work closely with Finance teams to raise awareness of financial controls, promote examples of best practise and provide trusted guidance on financial compliance issues
• Undertake financial compliance reviews across the international firm: including planning reviews, performing testing, chairing close meetings with senior stakeholders and formally reporting findings and recommendations for presentation to the Audit Committee
• Contribute to the development and implementation of supporting processes to effectively monitor and report on the financial compliance landscape across the international firm. Deliver clear, timely and compelling reporting on all financial compliance findings and drive change in process or controls to mitigate as needed
• Support in tracking known compliance issues and work closely with local offices and central functions to ensure these are remediated on a timely basis
• Collaborate effectively with the wider Finance team, and other 2nd line functions, to develop unified approach to financial compliance
• Support the compliance with Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) Accounts Rules regulatory requirements through the review of existing processes, procedures and controls, enhancing or implementing changes where required
• Support the focus and understanding of the firm’s financial compliance responsibilities through a rolling programme of training and communication including training for new joiners
  
  

About You

• Qualified Accountant (ACA / ACCA or equivalent)
• Ability to regularly travel internationally is essential
• External or internal audit background preferred, or experience in a 2nd line assurance function
• 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
• Analytical with strong excel skills; experience with Power BI, tableau is preferred, though not essential
• Initiative and tenacity to investigate areas of concern without just accepting management responses
• High energy with a clear focus on delivery
• Be comfortable operating in sometimes ambiguous situations, demonstrating a flexible and collaborative personal working style
  
  

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.