The Vacancy
Join Fieldfisher as a Client Onboarding Officer!
We are recruiting a Client Onboarding Officer for our Belfast team. This is a critical operational role within the firm’s Risk function. You will be responsible for the end-to-end inception process, acting as a primary gatekeeper for the firm.
We are looking for a candidate who is already competent in both Conflicts of Interest and AML/CDD. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to analyse complex corporate structures, identify regulatory risks, and apply judgment to maintain an excellent onboarding function.
Key Responsibilities
Conflicts Clearance
- Analyse complex conflict check results generated by the firm’s systems (Intapp), differentiating between administrative “false positives” and genuine legal or commercial conflicts.
- Investigate corporate relationships to determine if a conflict exists, utilizing internal databases and external corporate intelligence tools.
- Identify potential conflicts and escalate where necessary, liaising directly with stakeholders to resolve issues efficiently.
- Maintain clear and auditable records of all conflict clearance activity.
Client Due Diligence (CDD)
- Experience of detailed Due Diligence on high-risk clients, including unravelling complex ownership structures (Trusts, SPVs, Funds) to identify Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs).
- Advise on CDD requirements across multiple jurisdictions, tailoring guidance to local regulatory expectations.
- Perform risk assessments at client inception and during updates, identifying high-risk clients through screening and analysis.
- Investigate and assess adverse media, politically exposed persons (PEPs), and source of wealth/funds, preparing clear and concise reports for senior review.
- Collate all research and approvals in a structured and comprehensible manner for internal use.
Ad Hoc Support
- Respond to onboarding, billing, and file-opening queries from fee-earners, PAs, and business services teams.
- Assist the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) with research for suspicious activity reports.
Key Skills & Experience
- Experience in both conflicts checking and anti-money laundering (AML) processes.
- Familiarity with a multi-jurisdictional legal environment
- Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and communicate findings clearly.
- Manage a high-volume workload independently, prioritizing urgent matter openings without compromising on regulatory accuracy.
- Confident communicator, comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels.
- Self-motivated and collaborative, with a willingness to take on both complex and routine tasks as needed.
- Experience using Intapp and screening platforms.
Who are we looking for?
- We don’t have a type. We believe our differences are our strength; varied cultures, approaches and experience can only benefit us.
What do we offer?
- You can be yourself: It takes everyone to make us who we are. We’re a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.
- In the office or WFH?: We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home, so we operate a 60:40 rule.
- Beyond salary: We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more. Visit: Reward & Benefits Fieldfisher .
- Modern Office Space: Located at Adelaide Exchange, Belfast City Centre, with excellent commuter links and parking nearby.
- Nurturing your talent: Take a ‘build a career’ approach to your training. You’ll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something you’d like to study more closely.
- Funnel your interests: You have a life outside work, and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs, affinity networks, inclusive events, and pro bono/charity initiatives.
Why join Fieldfisher?
At Fieldfisher, we know people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves.
We invest in helping our people build fulfilling careers while maintaining a healthy balance with life outside work. From professional development opportunities and wellbeing initiatives to flexible ways of working, we’re committed to creating an environment where people can thrive.
As part of our People First approach, we offer a range of support for colleagues and their families. Find out more about our family-friendly approach .
Inclusion at Fieldfisher
We want everyone at Fieldfisher to feel respected, valued and able to succeed.
We’re committed to attracting, developing and retaining talented people from all backgrounds and creating opportunities for colleagues to grow and thrive. We believe that different experiences and perspectives strengthen our firm, our teams and the service we provide to clients.
Our Inclusion Networks, colleague-led initiatives, awareness campaigns and learning programmes help build community, encourage understanding and support an environment where everyone feels they belong.
Fieldfisher is proud to be an Opening Doors Employer with Business in the Community Northern Ireland. Through our inclusion and recruitment strategies, we are committed to broadening access to careers, attracting talent from diverse backgrounds, and creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Accessibility and adjustments
We’re committed to providing an accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments during your application or interview, please contact the Recruitment team in confidence at . We’ll work with you to understand what support you need and ensure you can participate fully in the process.
What to do next:
- Click ‘Apply Now’, complete an online application and upload a CV.
- Successful applications will be invited to a 20-30-minute introductory call with a recruiter.
- Every role recruits differently. But we’ll always let you know what to expect from the process, so you get no surprises.
- For hybrid opportunities, you’ll be invited to visit our offices for a face-to-face meeting.
- We try to make sure the process takes around 2-3 weeks only, but we can’t always promise that. We will work around everyone’s availability. You can contact us at .
We recruit on a rolling basis. Your application may be reviewed before the application deadline. We accept applications until we have filled the role.
To be considered for this role you will be redirected to and must complete the application process on our careers page. To start the process, click the Apply button below to Login/Register.
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