Head of Data Protection (DPO) / Compliance Manager

Job content

Reporting to the Head of Quality and Compliance/HoLP and working very closely with the heads of departments and teams across the Simply Group to inform, manage and protect the business from financial crime and data protection issues.With significant GDPR experience you will also have good experience of supporting AML compliance in a legal services firm, and be generally capable in compliance and audit processes to enable you to drive best practice standards and compliance across all business processes and departments.As the DPO your primary role is to ensure Simply processes the personal data of our colleagues, customers, providers, and any other individual in compliance with the applicable data rules. You will be responsible for advising on, and where required carrying out, staff training, data protection impact assessments, data transfer impact assessments, and internal audits. As DPO you will also serve as the primary contact for the relevant supervisory authority and individuals whose data is processed by the organisation.Supporting the MLRO you will oversee Simply’s compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, staying ahead of relevant developments in order to recommend any changes to operating procedures required in light of regulation orprocedural changes and when required, provide input into the development of newoperating procedures.In each area you will be responsible for the continuous development of our policies and procedures, auditing compliance with those policies and procedures and maintaining the firms risk registers in these areas to ensure excellence in our internal capability to manage these areas of business risk.This role will entail managing a wide range of stakeholders to shape Simply’s Data Protection, AML and anti-fraud strategies and you’ll ensure that data protection and AML processes and procedures are built into BAU across the business.Key Activities And Responsibilities

• Review of data protection compliance and practices to identify and assess risk
• Implementing measures and a privacy governance framework to manage data use in compliance with the GDPR and other relevant legislation, including developing templates for data collection, advising on and assisting with data mapping and records of data processing, and vendor management reviews.
• Serving as the primary point of contact and liaison for the relevant supervisory authority on all data protection related matters under the GDPR and other relevant legislation.
• Working with key internal stakeholders in the review of operations and projects and related data processing to ensure compliance with data privacy laws, and where necessary, advising on and monitoring data protection privacy impact assessments
• Serving as the primary point of contact for data protection queries in the business.
• Responding to and advising on data subject rights requests, including data subject access requests (DSARs) and other requests from individuals.
• Ensuring that the Company’s IT systems and procedures comply with all relevant data privacy and protection law, regulation and policy (including in relation to the retention and destruction of data)
• Taking responsibility for quality assurance and technical excellence in respect of GDPR issues, meeting and promoting quality standards and controls, ensuring consistency of output and appropriate record keeping.
• Providing constructive support to the business in respect of AML and KYC and acting as a key point of contact for our legal teams and the wider business in respect of AML issues
• Escalating issues to Head of Quality and Compliance / HOLP and Chief Legal Officer where appropriate.
• Working closely with teams and Managers across the Simply Group of companies to provide AML & data protection related operational oversight, guidance and support, promoting collaborative working and opportunities for continual improvement.
• Working closely with the training team to ensure all colleagues have appropriate technical knowledge and competencies, as well as promoting a culture of quality and compliance, across these key areas.
• Cascading technical knowledge and feedback from the business into the Quality & Compliance function, and contributing to bulletins, lessons learnt and feedback loops to support continuous improvement and best practice.
• Working with all stakeholders to enable a comprehensive audit process is embedded in the business to support AML & data compliance including clear and accurate audit trails to demonstrate steps taken in respect of AML/KYC and to evidence our decision making.
• Proactively building and developing relationships with other functions to ensure effective sharing of knowledge.
• Drafting communications to the business, using own initiative (with support from Head of Quality and Compliance).

This job description is not an exhaustive list due to the requirements of the role. Therefore, the job holder may be required from time to time to carry out other ad hoc tasks as requested.Key Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Significant experience of design and implementation of GDPR policies and procedures for a legal firm
• Good level of experience of AML regulation and the breadth of laws and regulations imposed on regulated firms to defend against financial crime and strong practical experience of converting them into reality.
• Experience of working in a scale legal practice (desired)
• Ability to demonstrate experience and educational attainment for theoretical knowledge of managing compliance elements, including (but not limited to) implementing, monitoring, or reviewing compliance processes and systems such as practice wide polices and understanding practice and matter level risk assessment.

Personal Attributes

• Proud and passionate about the work that they deliver
• Engaging, enthusiastic, hardworking, and tenacious
• Organised, structured and methodical
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong attention to detail and the ability to communicate at all levels
• Sets high standard for self and is a role model by leading by example
• Is a dedicated team player and interacts well and confidently at all levels whilst remaining professional
• Is a positive advocate for minority groups and driven by driving the highest equality and inclusion standards.

About us:Simply Conveyancing Property Lawyers (“Simply”) is one of the UK’s leading providers of residential conveyancing services to home movers. Through embracing technology and driving best-in-class client service, Simply has become one of the fastest growing conveyancing businesses in the UK.Most of our conveyancing instructions are referred by estate agents who trust us to deliver a first-class service to their customers. Each month, more than 300 estate agency offices refer business to Simply. This includes leading agency groups such as Dexters, Hunters and Property Franchise Group, amongst others; in each case Simply is the preferred conveyancing partner of these agencies.Our reputation for excellent customer service is underpinned by leading ratings on review sites such as Trustpilot (currently rated 4.7), feefo Platinum (5 out of 5) and Google (4.7 out of 5). We seek regular feedback from our estate agency partners and have scored an average of 97% over the last 12 months.The business employs some c. 300 staff from its headquarters in Daventry and satellite offices in London, Peterborough, Cardiff.As well as our relentless focus on providing the highest quality, best client service, our future growth will be driven by:

• Our ability to hire the best property lawyers and support teams
• Providing long and fruitful careers & having great technical skills across a wide range of residential conveyancing, and exemplary behaviours
• Being a great place to work for our people; and
• Improving internal processes to deliver increased operational efficiency.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please let us know in advance so that any support, aids or adaptations can be put in place to assist you in the application process, assessments (if required) and interview. Any disability related information you disclose to us for this purpose will not be used to determine your capability for the role, but purely for the purpose of making reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.If you require this job advertisement in a different format, additional support with your application, or need to discuss any reasonable adjustments please contact HR@simplypropertylawyers.co.uk.