Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), a leading, innovative and client-focused law firm in Canada, is seeking a Specialist, Intake and Conflicts.

Purpose of the Role

The Specialist, Intake and Conflicts will support the Chief Risk Officer and Risk Department to ensure an appropriate program and process for conducting due diligence for all Firm potential and actual clients.

The Specialist will be responsible for conducting due diligence regarding individuals or entities being considered as potential clients of the Firm, reporting the results of the due diligence, and forming recommendations and opinions accordingly for the consideration of the Intake and Conflicts Team Leads, the Chief Risk Officer, and relevant lawyers in the Firm. The Specialist will conduct follow up work as may be required.

The Specialist will also be responsible for working with the Intake and Conflicts Team Leads and the Chief Risk Officer in developing the Firm’s client due diligence process, operating procedures, policies, and best practices – regularly reviewing them and enhancing them, as may be required.

Once established in the role, the Specialist will serve as a senior team member in the client due diligence area, being a resource for other team members with questions about client due diligence.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of this role are:

• Conduct due diligence regarding individuals or entities being considered as potential clients of the Firm.
• Analyze the information gathered through due diligence searches on potential clients.
• Provide clear, concise and thorough reports of the due diligence search results and analysis to the Intake and Conflicts Team Leads, the Chief Risk Officer, and relevant lawyer in the Firm, as appropriate.
• Provide recommendations and opinions regarding the appropriateness of the Firm taking on a potential client for the consideration of the Intake and Conflicts Team Leads, the Chief Risk Officer, and relevant lawyer in the Firm, as appropriate. Verbally discuss, as appropriate.
• Conduct follow up work to due diligence searches as may be required.
• Maintain risk data on clients.
• Make recommendations regarding the design of the Firm’s due diligence process, operating procedures, policies, and best practices – regularly reviewing them and enhancing them, as may be required.
• Ensure the documentation of the Firm’s due diligence process, operating procedures, policies, and best practices.
• Lead the management and administration of the Firm’s client due diligence, per guidance provided by the relevant Intake and Conflicts Team Lead(s) and the Chief Risk Officer.
• Serve as the Risk Team’s expert for client due diligence and Know Your Client questions, including serving as Risk Department liaison with Finance and other departments.
• Participate in project team discussions on new and existing technologies, enhancements, process and workflow.
• Stay up to date on relevant technology and tools that may be relevant to the Firm maturing and evolving its due diligence processes.
• Stay apprised of global events that may have an impact on business.

New Clients:

• Learn existing databases and processes to identify and assess to what extent a new client/file exposes the organization to risks (e.g. legitimacy, reputational, money laundering, terrorist financing, and/or illegal activity).
• Perform internet research on new clients and cross-reference them in the World-Check database.
• Work to eliminate false positives and set-up ongoing screening within the World-Check database.
• Where a true match is identified, develop a process that advises the relevant lawyer(s) prior to the client being formally opened in the database.
• Correspond with lawyers to establish what the risks are and how they may be mitigated.
• Field questions from the lawyers and coordinate with the Risk Team to make recommendations based on the validity and nature of the hit(s).

Back-Check:

• Develop new processes to review existing clients and set-up ongoing screening similar to that in place for new clients.
• Make recommendations regarding the design of the Firm’s ongoing client due diligence and monitoring process, operating procedures, policies, and best practices – regularly reviewing them and enhancing them, as may be required. Also assist with the development and implementation of a client risk rating system to drive ongoing monitoring.
• Collaborate with the Risk Team to develop processes to manage true matches for existing clients.
• Train Intake & Conflicts team members to facilitate these processes (1-2 individuals, as needed).

Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent knowledge and skills
• 5+ years of business experience
• Excellent strategic and logical deductive skills
• Ability to multi-task and exhibit strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Understanding of current events, international affairs, KYC/AML regulations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including:
  1. the ability to be clear, concise and thorough;
  2. tactful, strategic communication skills;
  3. the ability to be subtle;
  4. the ability to interact professionally with all members of the Firm, including senior management and C-suite.
• Strong technical skills, including, for example:
  1. broadly strong technology skills;
  2. ability to conduct, vehicle and registry searches;
  3. understanding of relevant industry applications and ability to use them effectively (e.g. search tools, different search languages).
• Established knowledge of Microsoft Office suite software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and CRM
• Impeccable professional and business ethical standards and judgment
• Professional maturity and broad understanding of business
• Understanding of risks to the Firm presented by client relationships, including matters such as financial, reputational, and legal
• Ability to take initiative
• Ability to work independently, with minimal oversight
• Flexible and enthusiastic self-starter
• Strong organization and multi-tasking skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong teamwork skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• A desire to continuously improve skills
• A strong focus on ensuring the highest levels of client service standards are delivered and maintained

How to Apply

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Everyone at BLG is required to carry out the duties of their role while upholding the important principles of our respectful workplace policies, and treating everyone with respect, regardless of position. At BLG, valuing diversity and inclusion is key to a respectful workplace.

BLG is committed to building and fostering a workplace that is reflective of our communities, where all firm members feel included, valued, and heard. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates but acknowledge the systemic and structural barriers that have, historically, marginalized and barred certain groups from accessing employment opportunities. As part of our commitment to removing barriers to employment, we strongly encourage applications from members of these historically marginalized groups including, but not limited to, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and women. Accommodations are available, upon request, in all aspects of the recruitment process.

* Please note that relatives of current BLG employees and partners are not eligible for consideration.