Job Title: Head of Legal and Compliance
Location:
London, UK
Function:
Legal and Compliance
Reporting to:
Chief Executive Officer
Employment Type:
Full-time, Permanent
Overview:
An established and regulated UK-based institution is seeking a seasoned
Head of Legal and Compliance
to lead its Compliance, Financial Crime, and Legal operations. This is a
Senior Management Function
role, responsible for Compliance Oversight and Money Laundering Reporting.
This role sits at executive management level, with visibility to the Board, Audit, and Risk Committees. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all compliance frameworks, regulatory engagement, legal risk management, and financial crime prevention strategies across the bank's UK operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Compliance & Financial Crime Oversight:
* Develop and embed a strong compliance culture across the organisation
* Review and maintain compliance policies in line with evolving regulatory requirements (FCA/PRA)
* Conduct horizon scanning and implement necessary updates to meet regulatory change
* Develop and lead training programmes on compliance and conduct
* Oversee AML, KYC, Sanctions, Anti-Bribery & Corruption, and Fraud prevention frameworks
* Prepare and submit MLRO Reports, including Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessments
* Own the Compliance Monitoring Plan (CMP) and track implementation across departments
* Ensure timely reporting of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
* Liaise with regulatory authorities and internal stakeholders as the Compliance lead
* Maintain the management responsibilities map
* Review product governance, marketing materials, and policy documents for regulatory adherence
* Ensure appropriate accountability and performance tracking within the Legal & Compliance function
* Identify skill gaps and arrange targeted training
Legal Responsibilities:
* Review and manage legal agreements across the bank
* Provide legal advice in conjunction with internal and external counsel
* Maintain a panel of external solicitors and manage litigation as required
Skills & Competencies Required:
* Proven leadership in a regulated financial services environment
* Deep knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks (FCA, PRA, SMR)
* Strong experience in compliance oversight, AML/financial crime risk management
* Exceptional stakeholder engagement, including regulatory liaison
* Strong analytical, risk assessment, and decision-making capabilities
* Legal qualification or experience managing legal risk preferred
* Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
* Ability to lead and motivate teams through complex regulatory change
* Experience managing or interacting with Board-level governance structures
Qualifications:
* A recognised Degree and/or professional qualification in Law, Compliance, or Financial Services
* Minimum of 10 years' experience in compliance/legal within financial services, with at least 5 in a leadership or SMF role