Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

Chief Legal & Compliance Officer

UK | Buckinghamshire

An exciting senior executive opportunity has arisen for an experienced legal and compliance leader to join a growing, internationally focused organisation operating within a highly regulated environment.

The successful candidate will take overall responsibility for the Group's legal, regulatory, compliance, governance, licensing, AML and data protection functions, acting as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Board and Executive Committee.

This is a highly influential role that combines strategic legal leadership with hands-on commercial and regulatory oversight. You'll be expected to provide pragmatic, commercially minded advice while ensuring the organisation maintains the highest standards of legal, regulatory and governance discipline.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will lead the Legal & Compliance function and play a key role in supporting the organisation's continued growth, international expansion, new product development and strategic partnerships.

You will advise senior leadership on complex legal and regulatory matters while ensuring the business remains compliant across multiple jurisdictions.

The role will encompass everything from corporate governance and commercial contracts through to licensing, AML, data protection, regulatory approvals and major strategic projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the principal legal and compliance advisor to the CEO, Board and Executive Committee
• Lead and develop the Group's legal, compliance and governance function
• Provide commercially focused legal advice across insurance, corporate, commercial and operational matters
• Oversee the Group's regulatory compliance framework, policies, procedures and controls
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise senior leadership on their potential business impact
• Lead licensing and regulatory approval activities across multiple international jurisdictions
• Support new product launches, strategic partnerships and commercial transactions from a legal and compliance perspective
• Review, negotiate and approve commercial agreements, partnership arrangements and service provider contracts
• Provide legal and regulatory guidance on corporate structuring and major Group projects
• Oversee the Group's AML framework, risk assessments, monitoring and remediation activities
• Maintain oversight of legal, compliance, conduct and regulatory risks and ensure appropriate escalation
• Lead data protection, privacy and information governance across the Group
• Oversee data breach governance and regulatory reporting where required
• Develop and maintain legal, compliance, governance, AML and data protection policies
• Promote a strong culture of ethical behaviour, regulatory discipline and accountability
• Lead, coach and develop the Legal & Compliance team
• Manage external legal counsel and ensure specialist advice is obtained efficiently and cost-effectively
• Partner with senior stakeholders across the wider organisation to support commercial growth while protecting the business from legal and regulatory exposure

About You

We're looking for an accomplished legal and compliance professional who has operated at senior management or executive level within insurance, financial services or another highly regulated environment.

You'll ideally have:

• A recognised law degree or equivalent legal qualification
• Admission as an Attorney, Solicitor or equivalent legal professional
• At least 10 years' relevant legal, compliance or regulatory experience
• Significant experience within insurance, financial services or another regulated industry
• Proven experience advising CEOs, Boards and Executive Committees
• Strong knowledge of multi-jurisdictional regulatory frameworks, licensing and governance
• Experience across legal, compliance, AML, data protection and regulatory affairs
• Experience managing complex commercial contracts and strategic business projects
• Strong understanding of corporate governance and regulatory risk
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams
• Excellent commercial judgement combined with strong legal and regulatory discipline
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
• The ability to simplify complex legal and compliance matters and translate them into practical business decisions
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professional judgement

Additional qualifications or experience in compliance, governance, AML, data protection or financial services regulation would be highly advantageous.

What's on Offer

• £110,000-£120,000 per annum
• Pension
• Private Medical Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Company Long-Term Incentive Scheme
• Senior executive-level position
• Opportunity to influence legal, regulatory and governance strategy across an international organisation
• Significant exposure to the CEO, Board and Executive leadership team