The role:

We are looking for a Business Acceptance Advisor to join our Business Acceptance department in London, Bristol or Dublin.

The role will involve supporting the Business Acceptance Director and Business Acceptance Manager in ensuring compliance with the firm’s legal and professional requirements relating to Business Acceptance. This involves analysis on day to day issues, advising/assisting partners and fee earners in relation to the management of issues relating to conflicts of interest, risk and AML whilst also supporting on relevant wider projects and more junior team members on training and queries.

What will you do:

Carry out checks in the Business Acceptance system and analyse results to ascertain whether prospective new business could give rise to any conflict (legal, commercial or confidential information), risk, AML, sanctions or reputational issues. If so, engage with the business to discuss and explore potential resolutions.
Be a subject matter expert for conflicts/confidentiality/AML/risk issues, providing proactive advice and guidance on whether work can be taken on under the respective rules/legislation/guidance and/or whether any steps need to be taken before proceeding, and providing assistance with those steps (e.g. client consent wording, erection of information barriers, additional approvals from management, MLRO, MLCO etc).
Regularly liaise with partners and senior stakeholders to answer their queries, and act as an intermediary between them where necessary (i.e. for confidentiality reasons) to resolve conflicts, AML, risk or reputational issues.
Support the design, testing and implementation of new systems, policies, controls and procedures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the team and the Business Acceptance function.
Support the drafting, creation and maintenance of business facing policies relevant to the Business Acceptance function.
Act as a point of escalation for Business Acceptance issues from more junior members of the team.
Train staff members on the relevant Business Acceptance rules, policies, controls and procedures, including supporting a full training programme for more junior members of the Business Acceptance team from a technical perspective.
Conduct risk assessments on new clients and matters and escalate to management as needed.
Assist with lateral hire checks from a conflicts and broad risk perspective and liaise with sponsoring partners to support the lateral programme.
Assist with international regulatory audits and support developments as a result of feedback from these.
Support in proactive business outreach opportunities to promote the Business Acceptance function and ensure the department is seen as a trusted business advisor.

What we are looking for:

A strong and developed understanding of relevant rules around conflicts (legal and commercial), AML and Sanctions and experience of applying them in a law firm as part of a client/matter onboarding process. We are open to applications from experts in just one or multiple areas. Legal qualification is not required but lawyer level understanding is expected.
Broad IT skills, in particular, experience of using a workflow tool (e.g. Intapp) and of interrogating external commercial databases and free resources.
Good business research skills (e.g. establishing and understanding the legal nature and ownership structure of the firm’s client base and the type of work involved in typical matters).
Articulate with excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Experience of dealing with partners and assisting them to resolve Business Acceptance issues.
Ability to organise workloads, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
Strong sense of teamwork.
Flexibility with working hours as required and willingness to work extra, and on occasion unsociable hours, when required.

Career Level:

The career level assigned to this role is level 4. The career level framework provides a formal structure for the business services functions at the firm. The framework, which ranges from level 1 to level 7, clearly defines the responsibilities, skills and competencies required at each level.

Here at Simmons & Simmons:

At Simmons, we are proud of our collaborative, open and non-hierarchical culture, where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and the wellbeing of our people is paramount. Our dynamic minds work as one integrated team, partnering with leading organisations on inspirational and thought-provoking projects that matter. From day one, irrespective of job title, qualification or background, everyone’s voice is heard, and you are encouraged to have an enquiring mind and share ideas that drive the firm forward. Through innovative learning and development opportunities, you will have a platform to excel, exceed your career ambitions, and achieve things you never thought possible.

Some key information:

We offer a competitive package including bonuses dependant on role/level, private medical insurance and pension contribution.
Our global skills academy provides our people, regardless of their role and location, with excellent learning opportunities (including live workshops, podcasts, short videos and practical learning experiences).
We have adopted a hybrid working approach with a requirement for a minimum of three days in the office with flexibility dependant on role/team/client demands.
We are proud to rank as a Times Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality, a Stonewall Top Global Employer, and a Top 75 Employer for Social Mobility.
We have a range of social and sports committees, summer and winter parties and monthly get togethers.
We have a range of diversity networks to connect people and celebrate our differences which is integral to our inclusive culture.
All UK offices have their own artwork collections – including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin pieces in the London office. We have a long-standing history in supporting the art community especially up-and-coming artists.
We have recently introduced a Strategic Advisory Council which is a mix of associates and business services who will propose strategic initiatives that align with our firm's mission and support the delivery of our business plan, shaping the future of our next-generation law firm.
Our in-house generative AI tool, Percy, won the ‘Innovation in Automation and AI Tools’ category at the 2024 FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards. This achievement highlights our commitment to technological innovation and client service.
We have been commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2026 across three categories: construction, employment, and intellectual property. Our profile is highly positive, highlighting our sector specialisms and notable case and transactional work.

Equal opportunities:

We are committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion within our firm and to ensuring equal employment opportunities. We believe that this commitment creates a vibrant and rewarding work environment. We are therefore committed to:

Upholding equal opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity, marital status, or pregnancy, including maternity and paternity. This commitment extends to addressing any instances of perceived or associative discrimination and harassment. We also ensure fair treatment during recruitment and selection processes for those who are serving or have served in the armed forces, along with their families.
Accommodating requests for flexible working arrangements whenever possible. We encourage you to discuss your needs with us if this is something you require.
Making our roles accessible to individuals with diverse abilities. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know so we can meet your needs.
We offer a range of employee networks to support our colleagues. More information about these networks can be found in the D&I Information booklet that candidates are sent when invited to interview.

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. We are looking for individuals who are passionate and eager to learn and grow with us. Your unique experiences and perspectives could be a great addition to our team.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this position, please contact the Recruitment Team. To apply for the role, click on the link at the top of the page or visit our careers page for more details.

Business Acceptance Advisor

Benefits

Job Description