Compliance Analyst

About this role

Role Summary

We are seeking a Compliance Analyst to join our Internal Audit team in a newly created role focused primarily on financial compliance across the firm. This is a varied, analytical role offering the opportunity to shape how the firm monitors compliance, using data, technology and clear reporting to identify risk and drive improvement.

You will bring energy, curiosity and new ideas to compliance monitoring, undertaking targeted reviews, recurring monitoring and data-driven testing across key financial processes. Working closely with Internal Audit colleagues and stakeholders in Finance, Financial Systems, Data, the Legal Department and Financial Reporting, you will help build a stronger, more consistent compliance monitoring framework and improve the quality and usability of management information, including dashboards and exception reporting.

Initial areas of focus include travel and expenses, billing and write-off authorisations, payment and banking authorisations, and systems access controls (including timely removal or amendment of access for leavers and movers). The role may also extend to matter management compliance (Client Due Diligence, engagement letters, sanctions) and anti-bribery and corruption compliance relating to gifts and hospitality.

The role is based primarily in our Manchester office, with occasional travel to London; it is not expected to involve significant travel.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will

• Plan and deliver targeted compliance reviews and monitoring across financial compliance risks, including travel and expenses, billing, write-offs, payments and banking authorisations.
• Perform data analysis and exception testing, and develop data-driven monitoring techniques using analytics and automation, to identify non-compliance, control gaps and emerging risks.
• Perform periodic user access reviews and support assessment of information security and data protection controls, including access rights, segregation of duties and privileged access.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen compliance oversight and work with Financial Systems, Data and other reporting teams to improve dashboards, exception reporting and management information.
• Assess selected matter management compliance (Client Due Diligence, engagement letters, sanctions) and gifts and hospitality compliance under anti-bribery and corruption policy.
• Document findings, root causes and recommendations, and track and validate remediation actions arising from reviews.
• Build effective working relationships with Finance, the Legal Department, Financial Systems, Data and business stakeholders, and support wider Internal Audit assignments and ad hoc reviews as required.

What you'll bring

Essential

• Experience in compliance, financial analysis, internal audit, finance assurance, financial controls testing or a related discipline, ideally within professional services or a large corporate environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including data analytics and Excel proficiency, with confidence reviewing large volumes of data, identifying exceptions and investigating root causes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain findings clearly and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail, professionalism, integrity and objectivity, combined with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and follow reviews through to clear outcomes.
• A collaborative, enquiring and practical approach, confident working across teams (including Finance, Financial Systems, Data, Risk and Compliance) and focused on improvement rather than just checklist-following.

Desirable

• Experience within a law firm or similar professional services partnership, ideally including exposure to a global or multi-jurisdictional environment.
• A good understanding of financial processes and controls, with experience testing, monitoring or assuring policies, approvals, access controls or financial processes, and identifying compliance risks and improvement opportunities.
• Exposure to specific compliance areas such as travel and expenses, billing, matter management, banking, systems access, sanctions, Client Due Diligence, gifts and hospitality, or anti-bribery and corruption compliance.
• Experience using data analytics, dashboards (e.g. Power BI), KPI/KRI reporting, AI or other technology-enabled assurance techniques, and/or reviewing general IT controls (e.g. ISO27001, NIST, user access, segregation of duties, information/cyber security, personal data).

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.

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