Compliance Officer

Job Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Compliance Officer to support global compliance activities, assess compliance-related queries, and help manage sanctions and corporate governance risks. The successful candidate will work closely with compliance leadership, internal stakeholders, external legal advisers, and service providers to ensure compliance standards are consistently applied across an international business environment.

This role offers an opportunity to contribute to compliance programme implementation, risk mitigation, corporate governance, and continuous process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Compliance Management: Review and respond to compliance-related queries from international offices, assessing proposed business transactions and providing timely, clear guidance to support informed decision-making and risk management.
• Compliance Programme Support: Assist with the implementation, monitoring, and ongoing development of the organisation's compliance programme.
• Training and Awareness: Support the distribution and reporting of employee compliance training completion results.
• Compliance Communications: Contribute to the preparation of compliance newsletters and other communications to promote awareness of compliance requirements across the organisation.
• Corporate Governance: Support the implementation of corporate governance standards and promote adherence to ethical principles and internal policies.
• Corporate Communications Approval: Assist with reviewing and approving internal and external corporate communications, including advertisements and press releases.
• Sanctions and Legal Liaison: Coordinate with external legal advisers and corporate service providers to obtain guidance on sanctions-related matters and other compliance issues.
• Risk Management: Identify potential compliance risks, highlight areas of concern to management, and contribute to appropriate risk mitigation measures.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate, organised, and up-to-date compliance documentation, programme records, and compliance query files.
• Systems and Process Improvement: Participate in compliance software projects, identify opportunities to improve existing processes, and contribute to operational efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Liaise with relevant internal teams, including Treasury, regarding payment-related matters arising from compliance queries.
• Additional Support: Provide assistance with legal, compliance, and corporate governance projects as required by management.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Previous experience in a legal, compliance, risk management, or related role would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of international sanctions and related compliance requirements would be beneficial.
• Professional qualifications in compliance, law, or company secretarial practice would be an added advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear and professional business correspondence.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage sensitive information accurately.
• Good analytical thinking, problem-solving, and risk assessment skills.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to take ownership of tasks and work independently.
• High standards of integrity, ethics, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and the ability to work with relevant IT systems and specialised compliance software.

Key Competencies

• Effective written and verbal communication
• Stakeholder management and interpersonal skills
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Proactive approach and accountability
• Ethical judgement and professional integrity
• Business correspondence and technical writing
• Problem-solving and risk awareness
• Organisation and time management

Working Arrangements

• Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Work Model: Office-based position, with regular communication and collaboration with local and international stakeholders.
• Site Visits: Occasional visits to operational sites may be required.
• Working Hours and Flexibility: The role requires flexibility in managing workload, responding to time-sensitive compliance queries, and meeting strict deadlines.
• Weekend and Public Holiday Coverage: Participation in a rotating compliance-query coverage schedule is required, approximately one weekend in every six weeks, as well as coverage on selected public holidays.
• Systems and Tools: Regular use of Microsoft Office, compliance software, and virtual communication tools.