Head of governance, compliance, risk

Allen Lane are supporting a not-for-profit organisation on their recruitment for a permanent Head of Governance, Compliance, Risk.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Support effective board and trustee governance, including succession planning, high-quality board meetings, and coordination of governance-related committees.
• Provide expert guidance on organisational and subsidiary legal structures, including overseas entities.
• Deliver clear, high-quality briefings with recommended solutions, drawing on external specialist advice where required.
• Develop and implement a robust enterprise-wide risk management framework, including risk registers and defined risk appetite.
• Foster a strong organisational compliance culture covering areas such as data protection, financial crime (including anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism), sanctions, fraud prevention, and safeguarding of funds.
• Ensure all statutory and regulatory filings are completed accurately and on time across relevant regulatory bodies to maintain compliance and avoid penalties.
• Oversee the delivery of an agreed internal audit programme, providing assurance over key controls and reporting into the relevant governance committees.
• Review and advise on key contractual arrangements, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, engaging external legal advisers where necessary.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, promoting collaboration, accountability, and continuous development.
• Set clear team objectives and encourage knowledge-sharing and innovation to maximise impact and delivery.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Professional qualification in law, law degree.
• Extensive experience (5+ years) in UK Charity and corporate governance, compliance, and risk management within complex organisations.
• Informed on legal, regulatory and sector developments
• Experience of working in global contexts
• Demonstrable expertise in managing legislative changes and interpreting regulations.
• Advanced understanding of legal frameworks (e.g. data protection laws), regulatory requirements, risk management principles, and internal audit processes.
• Exceptional analytical skills for interpreting legislation; ability to communicate technical information effectively to non-specialist audiences; negotiation skills for resolving disputes.