Senior Manager (Legal)

Job Description
Job vacancy: Senior Manager (Legal) within Financial Crime Compliance at Grade 5
Job code: FCC/003/2022

About Financial Crime Compliance:
Financial Crime Compliance is a dedicated AML/CFT Supervisory Function established to strengthen the MFSA's role in preventing the use and involvement of Licence Holders in money laundering and financing of terrorism. The function is split into two focused teams; Onsite & Offsite. The Onsite Team operates alongside the FIAU in conducting AML-related supervisory inspections on Licence Holders. The Offsite and Risk Analysis Team is dedicated to mitigating and detecting risks through constantly monitoring authorized persons.

The Role:
The Senior Manager (Legal) will act as the gateway for the MFSA’s Group Legal function and provide analysis and interpretation of legislation applicable to AML and Sanctions compliance. The role itself will act as a cross-function expert serving all teams within Financial Crime Compliance as well as a conduit to other law enforcement and government agencies regarding the application of the law.

The duties of the Senior Manager (Legal) shall primarily support all parts of Financial Crime Compliance. The main purpose is to provide legal subject matter expertise to ensure that the level of compliance with the applicable AML/CFT law, regulations, and FIAU Implementing Procedures is adhered to. The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Manager (Legal) shall include:

• Assisting Head and Deputy Heads of function
• Acting as a reference point for the legal interpretation of Financial Crime Compliance and the wider FSA requirements
• Provide legal interpretation, for adherence, to all applicable rules and regulations in Malta and when necessary, laws and Regulations that have an element of extra-territoriality
• Provide Financial Crime Compliance timely legal review on all onsite reports and letters that are issued. This includes support in the review of post-visit work including visit reports and findings letters.
• Coordination with other supervisory functions especially when it comes to Authorisation reviews and MEMOs and Applications.
• Coordination with Subject Persons
• Reviewing ad hoc Court Orders, Investigation Orders, and Requests for Information issued by the Courts of Justice and the Police Corps respectively
• Participate in internal and external working groups
• Representing the MFSA externally and at the NCC level
• Among others, attending FIAU, SMB, and law enforcement meetings
• Delivering training
• Leading and coordinating projects as required
• Coordinating collection of supervisory information for statistical purposes
• You will also be expected to undertake any other duties that may arise depending on the exigencies of the Financial Crime Compliance and the Authority.

About You:
We are looking for a qualified, ideally warranted Lawyer with a solid academic background in financial services/accountancy/law/risk or in another related background. Sound knowledge of anti-money laundering legislation and other financial services legislation and familiarity with the financial services regulatory framework would be considered an asset.

The role calls for an academic qualification in a relevant field of study at National Qualification Framework Level 6 or better, duly certified by the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC) or a widely recognised professional qualification at a comparable level.

You will demonstrate depth and range of experience in the area of financial services ideally with experience in AML/CFT and Sanctions compliance, anti-bribery and corruption, anti-tax evasion and financial services compliance environment or in law.

The applicant should also possess a minimum of eight (8) years of working in a related area, ideally in the financial services sector.

If you do not have the necessary academic or professional qualifications but you have at least fifteen (15) years within compliance or within the financial services environment, we would still be interested in speaking with you.

How to apply or query further information:
Candidates are to forward a copy of their Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) and an accompanying covering letter providing the motivation for the application. 

Other important information:
The MFSA is an Equal Opportunities Employer as certified by the NCPE (National Commission for the Protection of Equality) and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will take care to avoid any form of discrimination in its recruitment procedures. The MFSA reserves the right to withdraw this call at any time and not to select any of the Candidates. It is the responsibility of applicants in possession of qualifications awarded by Universities and other similar institutions outside Malta to produce a recognition statement on the comparability of qualifications issued by the Malta Qualifications Recognition Information Centre (MQRIC). Applicants should do so preferably at the application stage or otherwise at the preliminary interview should an applicant be selected for such interview. Details can be obtained by accessing the National Commission for Further and Higher Education website under the MQRIC heading. The MFSA shall ensure that any processing of personal data is in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation), the Data Protection Act (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Malta) and any other relevant European Union and national law. For further details, you may refer to the Data Protection Policy on the MFSA webpage. Candidates are to note that the submission of any false statement/s or omission, even if unintended, may lead to the cancellation of their application and may render the candidate's appointment liable to termination. Furthermore, please note that candidates may be asked to submit any documentation in support of the information provided, including but not limited to, proof of qualifications and Police Conduct Certificates.

*Jobsplus Permit No: 395/2022

Malta Financial Services Authority:
The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) is the single regulator for financial services in Malta. It was established by law on 23 July 2002 taking over supervisory functions previously carried out by the Central Bank of Malta, the Malta Stock Exchange and the Malta Financial Services Centre. The Authority is a fully autonomous public institution and reports to Parliament on an annual basis.