Senior Compliance Manager, Americas

Walkers is a leading international law and professional services firm, providing legal, corporate and fiduciary services to global corporations, financial institutions, capital markets participants and investment fund managers. With a global presence across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we advise on the laws of key financial centres including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey. We take a pragmatic, empowering approach and value the diverse perspectives of our people. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced compliance professional to join Walkers’ Global Compliance Team as Senior Compliance Manager, based in the Cayman Islands with responsibility for both the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. The successful candidate will serve as AML Compliance Officer (AMLCO) for both jurisdictions, with accountability for the implementation and oversight of AML/CTF/CPF, sanctions and financial crime frameworks, including policies, risk assessments, monitoring, reporting and regulatory engagement. The role reports functionally to the Director of Financial Crime, with local reporting into senior leadership. In addition, the role holder will act as Deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer (DMLRO) for the Cayman Islands, with responsibility for the assessment and reporting of suspicious activity in line with regulatory and internal requirements. Key Responsibilities

• Serve as AML Compliance Officer (AMLCO) for the Cayman Islands and BVI, ensuring robust governance and oversight of AML/CTF/CPF, sanctions and broader financial crime frameworks.
• Develop, implement and maintain policies, procedures and controls in line with local regulations and Group standards, including ownership of the Business Risk Assessment (BRA) to ensure it remains current and reflective of the firm’s risk profile.
• Oversee risk-based monitoring activities, including CDD, EDD, SAR processes and record-keeping, ensuring effective compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Act as DMLRO for the Cayman Islands, with responsibility for the receipt, assessment and timely reporting of suspicious activity to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), including maintaining SAR registers and managing FIU engagement.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulators, managing inspections, queries and submissions, and acting as the key compliance liaison for the office and Group Compliance.
• Deliver regular reporting to senior management and Group Compliance, escalating material risks and issues as appropriate, and ensuring senior stakeholders understand and meet their regulatory obligations.
• Design and deliver AML/CTF/CPF training and awareness programmes for partners, staff and key stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Group Compliance and peers across jurisdictions to drive consistency, best practice and effective implementation of the firm’s global compliance framework.

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business or a related field (postgraduate or legal qualification advantageous)
• Professional qualification in AML or financial crime (e.g. ICA, ACAMS), or working towards completion
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in compliance or financial crime within a law firm or financial services environment with experience operating at a similar level.
• Experience performing AML/CTF/CPF roles, ideally in regulated positions such as AMLCO, MLRO or Deputy MLRO and full awareness of your own obligations
• Strong working knowledge of AML/CTF/CPF, sanctions and financial crime regulations, particularly within offshore jurisdictions
• Solid understanding of local regulatory requirements, industry guidance and personal compliance obligations
• Leadership ability, and strong influencing and communication skills including with the ability to engage effectively with partners, fee earners and senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing regulatory relationships and interacting with regulators
• Self-motivated, flexible and capable of prioritising workloads as required. Proven ability to design, implement and manage compliance frameworks
• Strong attention to detail, with a proactive and self-motivated approach
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to respond to changing priorities
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and document management systems such as iManage

Walkers offers a dynamic working environment with opportunities for career progression and an excellent remuneration package, including a discretionary performance-based bonus, pension and fully covered health insurance for employees and 5 weeks' vacation. Remuneration will commensurate with qualifications and experience. We invite applications from suitably qualified Caymanians or residents with Employment Rights. Please note that Walkers will not accept any applications received from agencies at this time.