Risk & Compliance Director - #2177286

Risk & Compliance Director - Executive Leadership Opportunity

Upto £90,000 DOE
Hybrid Working
Glasgow or Edinburgh

A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Risk & Compliance leader to join a highly respected professional services organisation as its Risk & Compliance Director.

This is not simply a technical compliance role.

This is an opportunity to operate at executive level, influencing business strategy, culture, governance and regulatory excellence across a complex and evolving organisation. Reporting directly to the Managing Partner, you will become one of the most influential leaders within the business, shaping how risk, governance and compliance are embedded throughout the firm.

As the senior regulatory lead, you will have responsibility for developing and enhancing the organisation's risk and compliance framework while acting as the key point of contact with regulators. You will play a pivotal role in protecting and strengthening the firm's reputation, ensuring regulatory excellence whilst supporting commercial growth and innovation.

Why This Role Stands Out
This opportunity offers far more than regulatory oversight.

You'll join a business where compliance is viewed as a strategic enabler rather than a back-office function. The leadership team recognises the importance of strong governance and actively seeks input from senior compliance professionals when making key business decisions.

You'll have:

• Direct access to executive leadership and senior decision makers.
• Significant influence over organisational strategy and governance.
• Ownership of the firm's compliance vision and future direction.
• Responsibility for driving a culture of ethical conduct and consumer focus across the business.
• The opportunity to develop and mentor an established compliance function.
• A highly visible role with genuine organisational impact.
• The ability to shape regulatory best practice across multiple business areas.
• The autonomy to challenge, influence and improve organisational decision making at the highest level.

The Opportunity The successful individual will lead all aspects of risk and compliance strategy, ensuring robust governance arrangements are maintained whilst supporting the firm's continued growth objectives.

You will:

• Provide strategic leadership for the firm's entire risk and compliance framework.
• Hold senior regulatory responsibilities and oversee compliance across FCA-regulated business areas.
• Act as the principal relationship holder with regulators.
• Drive and embed Consumer Duty principles across the organisation.
• Lead regulatory change initiatives and future-proof the organisation against evolving requirements.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to identify risks and opportunities.
• Deliver meaningful regulatory insight to support informed business decisions.
• Oversee governance reporting and management information at executive level.
• Work closely with legal, financial crime, data protection and governance specialists across the organisation.
• Influence major business decisions by ensuring risk is considered as part of strategic planning rather than after decisions have been made.

Career Impact For the right individual, this role presents a genuine opportunity to leave a lasting mark on an established organisation.

You'll step into a position where your recommendations will shape policy, governance and operational practices across the business. Rather than maintaining existing frameworks, you'll have the platform to enhance, modernise and strengthen them while helping to support future growth.

This is the type of role that offers visibility, influence and the chance to become a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Who We're Looking For This role would suit an established Head of Compliance, Compliance Director, Risk Director or Senior Regulatory professional looking for a broader leadership position where they can influence strategy as well as regulation.

You will bring:

• Significant experience operating within an FCA-regulated environment.
• Experience holding senior compliance responsibility.
• Strong working knowledge of SMCR, Consumer Duty and FCA requirements.
• Experience engaging directly with regulators and senior stakeholders.
• A commercially minded approach to compliance and risk management.
• The ability to balance regulatory excellence with business growth objectives.
• Proven leadership capability with experience developing teams and influencing senior decision makers.
• The confidence and credibility to operate at Board and Executive level.

Why Consider a Move? Many senior compliance roles focus heavily on maintaining existing frameworks.

This opportunity is different.

You'll be joining a business that genuinely values the contribution of its Risk & Compliance leadership team and sees regulation, governance and risk management as critical to long-term success. You'll be given a seat at the table, trusted to influence decision making and empowered to drive meaningful change.

For ambitious compliance professionals seeking a role with real authority, strategic influence and the ability to shape the future direction of an organisation, opportunities of this calibre do not come to market often.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please get in touch.

Rob Wallis