Central Compliance Associate

William Blair • Chicago, IL

29d • Hybrid

About The Position

William Blair and Company, L.L.C. is seeking a motivated and detail‑oriented Associate to join its Central Compliance Control Room function. This role supports the management of material non‑public information (MNPI), conflicts of interest, and employee trading risk in real time, partnering closely with senior Compliance leadership and key stakeholders across investment banking, research, trading, and related business areas.
The Central Compliance Associate plays a critical role in executing Control Room processes, providing time‑sensitive compliance guidance, and supporting escalation of complex or high‑risk matters. This position offers meaningful exposure to live transactions and requires sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or advanced degree a plus
• 3–6 years of experience in a Control Room, transactional compliance, capital markets compliance, or investment banking advisory environment
• Demonstrate experience supporting MNPI, conflicts of interest, Restricted and Watch Lists, and wall‑crossing processes
• Apply a strong understanding of securities laws and regulations related to insider trading, conflicts of interest, and employee trading
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment under time pressure while handling highly sensitive information
• Communicate clearly in writing and verbally, with an emphasis on thorough documentation

Nice To Haves

• Administer workflows in MyComplianceOffice (MCO)
• Review employee personal securities transactions
• Support regulatory exams or audits
• Operate independently on assigned matters while collaborating closely with senior Compliance leadership and business partners

Responsibilities

• Maintain and administer the firm’s Restricted and Watch Lists to manage MNPI exposure across business lines
• Coordinate and document wall crossings, chaperone calls, and information‑barrier controls
• Review deal‑related, research, and transactional materials for MNPI and conflicts considerations
• Administer the firm’s conflicts management processes, including routing approvals and maintaining documentation
• Escalate potential conflicts or high‑risk matters to senior Compliance leadership as appropriate
• Review employee personal securities transactions in accordance with firm policy and regulatory requirements, and approve or escalate under supervisory guidance
• Monitor employee trading alerts and support investigations into potential conflicts or insider trading risks
• Coordinate with Compliance managers and firm supervisors on employee trading inquiries and escalations
• Provide time‑sensitive compliance advisory support on live deals, research publications, and trading activity
• Serve as an escalation point for urgent MNPI, conflicts, and employee trading matters in collaboration with senior Compliance leadership
• Provide after‑hours coverage for critical Control Room matters, as required
• Maintain, review, and update compliance policies and procedures to reflect regulatory requirements and business practices
• Document Control Room decisions, approvals, and escalations with clear and complete records
• Conduct e‑communications surveillance and support eDiscovery related to regulatory and legal matters
• Partner across Compliance on policy interpretation, surveillance enhancements, and regulatory responses
• Support regulatory exams, audits, and internal reviews related to MNPI, conflicts, and employee trading controls

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision coverage
• employer paid short & long-term disability and life insurance
• 401(k)
• profit sharing
• paid time off
• Maven family & fertility benefit
• parental leave (including adoption, surrogacy, and foster placement)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level