Legal Officer

Location: Sydney - NSW, Melbourne - VIC
- Salary: $91,107 - $103,791 per annum + 15.4% super
- Ongoing

AUSTRAC’s regulatory function aims to ensure that banks, casinos, credit unions, remittance providers and various other ‘reporting entities’ understand and properly manage the money laundering and terrorism financing risks that may arise in the course of providing their services, and that they comply with their obligations under the AML/CTF Act including, but not limited to, the reporting of financial transactions and suspicious matters to AUSTRAC.

The Legal Officer role sits in the Legal Section in the Legal and Enforcement Branch. Led by a Director Legal/Principal Legal Officer, the Legal Section works as an enabler that assists different areas of AUSTRAC to achieve business objectives whilst managing their legal risks.

DUTIES
Under broad direction of the supervising Senior Legal Officer and the Director Legal/Principal Legal Officer, the Legal Officer will occupy an interesting and dynamic role and can expect to perform duties that:

- Support AUSTRAC’s regulatory, intelligence and corporate functions through the provision of legal advice on a broad range of regulatory, administrative law and public sector governance issues, including statutory interpretation, the exercise of regulatory powers and information management.
- Contribute to the development of AML/CTF policy, law reform, and guidance to reporting entities.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of legal training to uplift AUSTRAC staff members’ AML/CTF Act literacy and capability.
- Support AUSTRAC’s privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI) functions when required, including privacy impact assessments and advising on notifiable data breaches.
- Support AUSTRAC’s enforcement function and rules, exemptions and MOU functions by providing additional capacity on an as needs basis.
- Manage partner agency requests for affidavit and witness statements.
- Serve as a Customer Relationship Manager to specified business areas within the agency and ensure delivery of services according to Legal Section’s service level standards and in compliance with Legal Services Directions 2017.

Strong statutory interpretation, legal research and analysis skills, and good oral and written communication are essential. The successful applicant must be able to convey complex legal advice succinctly and develop solutions that are pragmatic as well as legally sound. In addition, the successful applicant must work well in a team environment whilst possessing the ability to operate independently under limited supervision. Strong organisational and time management skills, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure will be highly regarded.

Legal qualification (mandatory) - Admission on the roll of an Australian State or Territory Supreme Court or the High Court of Australia.

Must hold, or be eligible to hold, a practising certificate in the jurisdiction of your residence.

Legal experience -2 years PAE and demonstrated skills and experience in one of more of the following areas: statutory interpretation, administrative law, civil penalty or other complex civil litigation, regulatory compliance and enforcement, privacy and information law (including FOI), and contract and procurement.

**Contact: Gillian Stewart - (02) 6268 9935**

**Eligibility**
The successful applicant will be required to undergo a security assessment, maintain an ongoing security clearance and satisfy AUSTRAC’s pre-engagement checks.

To be eligible for assessment, applicants must be an Australian citizen.

**Further Details**

We are committed to providing flexibility in working arrangements to recognise the importance of balancing work commitments with family, caring and other personal commitments of employees outside of work.