Interim Senior Risk & Compliance Manager

Contract: Interim, 6 fixed-term contract

Reporting to: Director of Risk & Compliance

Job Purpose

The Interim Senior Risk & Compliance Manager will work closely with the Director of Risk & Compliance to lead and deliver priority strategic projects. The initial focus will be the firm’s Internationalisation Project, including supporting the establishment of its current overseas capability, mapping and documenting the international risk and compliance framework, and developing a best-practice roadmap for establishing future overseas entities. The role will be expected to respond flexibly to changing business priorities and may pivot to lead or support other strategic risk and compliance projects as required. It will also provide senior-level support across the wider Risk & Compliance function where necessary.

Role Accountabilities

• Lead agreed strategic projects from scoping and planning through to implementation, embedding and handover.
• Work with the Director of Risk & Compliance to agree priorities, deliverables, responsibilities, milestones and resources.
• Coordinate input from stakeholders across the business and from external advisers.
• Identify legal, regulatory, operational and governance requirements and translate them into practical controls, processes and documentation.
• Maintain clear oversight of project risks, dependencies, decisions and actions, escalating material issues where appropriate.
• Provide concise progress reports, advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Support the establishment of the firm’s current overseas capability, including relevant regulatory, licensing, governance and operational requirements.
• Map and document the firm’s international risk and compliance framework, including responsibilities, reporting lines, escalation routes and minimum standards.
• Develop a proportionate and repeatable roadmap, supported by practical templates and tools, for establishing and overseeing future overseas entities.
• Review lessons learned and recommend improvements to strengthen the consistency and scalability of the firm’s international arrangements.
• Pivot to other strategic risk and compliance projects in response to evolving business priorities.
• Provide senior-level advice, review and support across other Risk & Compliance responsibilities where required.

The international work is expected to involve working with subject matter experts in the firm on areas such as licensing, cross-border operating arrangements, client engagement, data governance, AML and sanctions, information security, governance and insurance.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in a senior risk, compliance, legal or governance role within a regulated professional services environment.
• Experience of leading complex, cross-functional projects involving senior stakeholders and external advisers.
• Experience of supporting international expansion, overseas entities or multi-jurisdictional operations.
• Strong understanding of governance, regulatory compliance and operational risk.
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical and proportionate solutions.
• Excellent judgement, analytical, drafting and communication skills.
• Strong project leadership, organisation and stakeholder-management skills.
• A hands-on, commercial and delivery-focused approach.
• Ability to establish structure quickly, work independently and adapt priorities as business needs change.
• Experience within an international law firm or knowledge of the SRA regulatory framework would be advantageous.