Legal & Compliance Officer

Level: VP

Client: Global Private Equity Firm

Location: Hong Kong

Description:

About the role:

The firm is seeking an experienced Compliance practitioner to be a member of its Legal & Compliance team, based in the Hong Kong office. This position represents a unique opportunity to support the firm globally in the context of a rapidly expanding and maturing, dynamic investment manager, working under the direct supervision of the Partner – Enterprise Compliance and closely with the Head of Portfolio Company Compliance, who are both based in the UK. The candidate should have a solid understanding of compliance and regulatory considerations for an internationally regulated investment manager, with a focus on Hong Kong and PRC rules (SFC, AMAC, CSRC). Familiarity with UK and US regulations (FCA, SEC) as well as broader Asia compliance requirements is a plus.

The Job

Key Responsibilities:

Enterprise

  • Drive the development and implementation of the firm HK Compliance Programme, covering all areas of advisory and monitoring work falling under the Enterprise Compliance pillar (to include SFC Type 1 license requirements, Code of Conduct, Financial Crime / AMLO, Data Protection / Privacy Ordinance, Third Party Risk, Conduct Risk).

  • Assist with monitoring the firm’s China focussed teams and operations and engaging with PRC advisors to ensure compliance with the firm’s local regulatory posture, until such time as the firm’s China branch has appropriate local Compliance personnel in place

  • Identify and interpret areas of regulatory change to impact the firm’s HK and PRC operations, proposing enhancements to the Compliance Programme to observe those new requirements

  • Build strong relationships with local and regional investment teams and other functions to promote compliance culture and initiatives

  • Represent the firm and the compliance team with the SFC, HK and Mainland authorities, auditors, vendors and other third-parties

  • Work with Compliance colleagues in other offices to design and implement global standardised Compliance practices across those offices, where appropriate

  • Establish and implement a global training programme, incorporating classroom & on-line sessions

  • Provide support in relation to the ongoing oversight of a local and international corporate governance arrangements (Directors, RO’s, MIC’s, various committees)

  • Provide support to information and document requests from the firm and its internal audit, risk and control teams as well as external audits

Transaction

  • Oversee and refine/enhance target company compliance/regulatory due diligence process comprising reputational, financial crime, conflicts of interest, data protection, cybersecurity, conduct, and ESG risk assessments.

  • Develop close working relationships with corporate intelligence firms, outside counsel, and consultants to increase the quality and efficiency of our due diligence process

  • Negotiate and build relationships with target companies for protective operational measures and contractual provisions

Portfolio

  • Develop a post-investment portfolio monitoring program, through which Compliance periodically oversees the regulatory and reputational risk profile of the platform of Vision Fund portfolio companies

  • Engage with Portfolio Company management, legal, and compliance teams to gain visibility on operations and risk areas and proactively provide support and guidance

  • Work across Portfolio Companies to develop a compliance ‘ecosystem’ for best practices, problem solving, pooling expertise

  • Monitor and transition Pre-Investment Committee regulatory due diligence, and assist Portfolio Company with compliance covenant implementation

About You:

Requirements:

  • Previous experience in compliance in financial services; ideally private equity or venture capital

  • Experience applying for & working in a Type 1 licensed company. Familiarity with the SFC/SFO.

  • Experience investigating and addressing a wide range of corporate and operating company risk issues, particularly financial crime, data protection, cybersecurity, conduct, and ESG

  • Experience of dealing with outside counsel on regulatory and investigative matters

  • Excellent organisational, time and project management skills, with the ability to work tight deadlines and build strong cross-functional relationships

  • Record of working independently, issue spotting, problem solving. Hands on approach critical;

  • Composure to represent Compliance in front of the firm’s senior management team and to present Compliance training sessions

  • Business fluent English and Mandarin. Cantonese useful. Legal qualifications a plus but not compulsory

  • Travel – regular trips to other offices and to visit Portfolio Companies