Group Head of Compliance & Regulatory Strategy

• Lead the global compliance function
• Senior-level experience in international financial services required
• Attractive salary package + perks offered

Our client is seeking a senior, commercially minded Group Head of Compliance & Regulatory Strategy to lead the global compliance function and oversee the development, embedding, and continuous enhancement of the organisation’s regulatory operating model.

This is a group-level strategic role rather than a local execution position. The successful candidate will own group-wide compliance policy, frameworks, standards, methodologies, and regulatory strategy, while coordinating and overseeing compliance teams within regulated entities across multiple jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities:

Compliance Strategy & Governance:

• Define, evolve, and execute the group’s compliance and regulatory strategy in line with business growth and product expansion
• Ensure the effective governance, operation, and continuous improvement of the group compliance operating model
• Lead and coordinate the global compliance function, including functional oversight of local compliance heads
• Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, collaboration, and commercial awareness across the compliance organisation
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management across the compliance function
• Act as a senior advisor to executive management and boards on regulatory risk and strategy
• Represent the organisation in engagements with regulators, partners, counterparties, and other external stakeholders where required

Frameworks, Policies & Regulatory Oversight:

• Own and maintain group-wide compliance frameworks, policies, processes, procedures, and standards within which local entities operate
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application across jurisdictions to avoid fragmentation or local deviation
• Oversee compliance programmes covering areas including:
  
  • AML / CFT
  • Sanctions
  • Customer Due Diligence
  • Market Conduct
  • Regulatory Reporting
  • MiCA
  • VASP / VARA frameworks
  • Digital assets and tokenised products
  • New market entry and licensing
• Monitor global regulatory and legal developments and translate them into actionable guidance for the organisation
• Provide structured, forward-looking compliance reporting to senior management and, where required, entity boards

Technology, Surveillance & Regulatory Change:

• Act as a senior functional partner to the organisation’s RegTech and Technology teams, contributing regulatory expertise to the design and implementation of compliance technology
• Lead regulatory input into the design and implementation of new compliance capabilities, including transaction monitoring and trade surveillance, as the organisation expands into new products and markets
• Ensure effective and regulator-ready use of existing sanctions screening and KYC/onboarding tools, contributing to their ongoing enhancement
• Partner with technology, product, and operations teams to embed compliance into platforms and workflows
• Lead regulatory readiness for emerging regimes and new products, ensuring a proactive approach to regulatory change

Commercial & Strategic Partnership:

• Act as a strategic partner to Business Development, Product, and Commercial teams
• Advise on regulatory feasibility and structuring of new products and services prior to launch
• Balance regulatory integrity with speed to market and commercial objectives
• Ensure regulatory considerations are addressed early in product development, reducing late-stage rework and time-to-market risk
• Minimise unnecessary friction for low-risk clients while maintaining strong regulatory controls
• Support a consistent, high-quality onboarding and servicing experience across jurisdictions and booking entities

Role Requirements:

• Degree in Finance, Law, Business Administration, or a related discipline
• Professional certifications such as ICA, ACAMS, or equivalent
• Strong familiarity with FATF standards
• Senior-level experience in international financial services compliance within a multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional group
• Strong knowledge of:
  
  • AML / CFT frameworks
  • Global sanctions regimes (EU, US, UN, UK)
  • Financial services regulation
  • Risk-based compliance methodologies
• Experience within digital assets, trading, payments, or fintech environments is highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with technology and product teams
• Proven track record of building and leading distributed teams across jurisdictions
• Commercially pragmatic mindset with the confidence to exercise judgement in complex regulatory situations
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

What’s on Offer?

• A senior leadership position within a fast-growing international financial services organisation
• Direct influence over group strategy, operating model, and product expansion
• Exposure to innovative financial products and evolving global regulatory regimes
• Competitive compensation, performance incentives, and flexible working arrangements
• A collaborative, execution-focused culture with strong senior sponsorship