Advisor - Corporate Finance and Research Advisory Compliance and Conflict Management

The Compliance & AFC function is an independent 2nd line of defence control function which seeks to protect Barrenjoey’s integrity, reputation and licenses to operate, in what is an increasingly complex, burdensome and litigious regulatory environment.

The Compliance & AFC function manages compliance and financial crime risks by promoting and enforcing adherence to laws, rules, regulatory expectations and the ethical standards that underpin the carrying on of a financial services business. Compliance risk is the risk of criminal or administrative action, financial loss or reputational damage arising from non-compliance with regulatory obligations and community expectations. AFC risk is similar and stems from failing to identify and manage financial crime risk in accordance with the law, related regulation and associated and expected standards.

• The Advisor will:

  - Assist the Head of Corporate Finance and Research Advisory Compliance and Conflict Management in regularly assessing and reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company Group’s conflicts of interest management arrangements (including first line of defence controls), including activity typically considered to be within the realm of conflicts clearing and control room teams

  - Assist the Head of Corporate Finance & Research Advisory Compliance and Conflict Management to manage, record, monitor and review Corporate Advisory, Research and Sales and Trading activity within the ambit of conflicts and reputational risk management, including via public and private side business arrangements, deal logging and clearing, research clearance, employee conflict disclosures and approvals (including personal account dealing), internal transaction and trading restrictions and all associated workflows

  - Actively oversee, monitor and review the Company’s information barriers and the passage of confidential information across information barriers

  - Advise the Corporate Advisory and Research businesses on their respective obligations under the law and related substantive guidance, market principles and internal policies, procedures and requirements

  - Liaise with the Surveillance team in relation to the identification, prevention and reporting of issues relating to the Group’s conflicts management arrangements, as well as the need for targeted and periodic reviews in support of these arrangements

  - Advise staff members across the Group on conflicts management arrangements and requirements, the Group’s policies and procedures and associated conduct expectations

  Be involved in regulatory matters insofar as the activities of the Corporate Advisory and Research businesses are concerned. This will involve collecting, collating, and preparing regulatory material to enable the Group to respond to related regulatory enquiries and matters

• Assist the Head of Corporate Finance and Research Advisory Compliance, in the design, implementation and maintenance of an adequate and effective information barrier and conflicts of interest management framework to support the integrity and prosperity of the Group
• Assist in the implementation and maintenance of adequate policies and procedures, suitable technology, best practice methods and high standards of integrity with clarity of ownership across the entirety of the organisation
• Undertake and be involved in the proactive and reactive management and escalation of all material conflicts of interest and Corporate Advisory and Research business related matters, in support of the Group’s integrity and risk culture
• Provide support to staff members in understanding and managing:
  • Compliance with relevant laws, regulations and associated guidance, as well as the Group’s policy requirements, across the conflicts of interest and market participation risk types
  • The recording, review, prevention and escalation of material conflicts, issues, incidents, breaches and suspicious activity relating to the Group’s management of conflicts of interest and Corporate Advisory and Research businesses
  • Employee conflicts of interest disclosures and related approvals and expectations
  • Corporate Advisory mandates and transaction approvals
  • Research clearance processes and arrangements
  • The implementation and ongoing delivery of processes and procedures designed to mitigate conflicts of interest and related reputational risk exposure
• Interact with and support other Compliance & AFC staff in relation to:
  • Management and oversight of internal conflict management arrangements via conflict clearing, control room and employee trading and outside business interest related processes
  • The prevention and escalation of issues, incidents, breaches and suspicious activity relating to Company’s actual, apparent and perceived conflicts of interest, information barrier arrangements, confidential information, internal and external communications, plus other internal matters and controls
  • With the Head of Corporate Finance and Research Advisory Compliance and Conflict Management, to the extent required, be involved in the confidential investigation of internal issues, incidents and breaches including matters raised by whistleblowers when relevant
  • Responses to regulatory notices and other matters
  • The implementation and ongoing delivery of processes and procedures designed to mitigate relevant risks
• Monitor industry and business developments to ensure the Company’s conflicts management arrangements remain efficient and effective.

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of Australia’s and New Zealand’s financial sector and related regulatory framework, the requirements of associated laws, regulations, rules and guidance, as well as importantly, the principles and expectations underpinning these obligations
• Good knowledge of Investment Banking products and services
• Knowledge and experience obtained in a Corporate Advisory, Research Advisory or conflicts management / control room
• Strong risk management aptitude and experience, with knowledge of the local regulatory environment and the activity of the industry’s regulators
• An understanding of the workflows associated with Corporate Advisory mandates and transactions and Research production and clearance, the dynamics of trading markets and conflicts management
• Written and verbal communications experience such that the incumbent can effectively and efficiently collect, consolidate and present relevant information to senior managers, regulators and other stakeholders

Experience / Qualifications

• Degree/post-graduate qualifications in a relevant discipline
• Preferably 4-6 years prior Compliance experience within a financial institution, including within Corporate Advisory, Research Advisory or conflicts management roles, preferably within an Investment Banking environment
• Knowledge of the principles and requirements related to managing conflicts of interest inherent within a business with both a Company Research and Corporate Finance/Capital Markets capability
• Leadership capabilities
• Track record and proven ability to work within a highly controlled environment

Skills

• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in independently managing tasks and projects in close collaboration with the business and other infrastructure functions – this will include identifying and implementing in an integrated way, systems and workflows, or changes to systems and workflows, to support Company’s conflicts management processes
• Proven problem solving and analytical skills
• Time management and prioritisation skills
• Self-starter, highly organised, able to work independently and take ownership
• Highly flexible and adaptable to change
• Attention to detail with a determined focus on output quality

Attributes / Behaviours

• Strong team player with a keen interest in team and organisational engagement and development
• Willingness to adjust core hours to support the research business coverage model
• Confident with an ability to liaise effectively and build ‘trusted advisor’ relationships with senior business and infrastructure staff
• Cross-functionally awareness with a willingness to contribute to the continuous improvement of the Compliance & AFC functions
• Persistent, objective and pragmatic problem solver