Head of Compliance UK

Saxo Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Saxo Group seeks a Head of Compliance UK (SCML) to shape the compliance agenda and lead the UK team within Saxo’s European Management Team. Based in London, you will ensure local regulatory needs align with global standards and coordinate with the Group Compliance function across Europe.

The role covers oversight of monitoring programmes, advisory services, and regulatory reporting, with responsibility for SM16/SMF17. Strong leadership, independence, and stakeholder engagement are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in Compliance or AML within financial services or consulting.
• Deep understanding of UK and European financial services regulations.
• Proven ability to lead, influence and engage stakeholders across groups.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning and execution of compliance activities, monitoring programmes and reporting.
• Lead UK Compliance team and collaborate with Saxo Group Compliance.
• Hold SM16 & SMF17 senior management functions and manage regulatory reporting with local regulators.
• Maintain liaison with Group Compliance and other European teams for alignment.
• Stay updated on regulatory developments and provide proactive compliance guidance.
• Contribute to regular compliance and AML reporting to the CEO and key stakeholders.

Skills

Compliance leadership

MiFID II

AML

Regulatory reporting

Stakeholder management

Job description

London, United Kingdom Join Saxo in a key leadership role as the Head of Compliance for Saxo Capital Markets (UK) Ltd (SCML). In this role, you will help shape our compliance agenda and partner with compliance leaders across the Saxo Group to support responsible business growth. Saxo offers a leading online trading platform, connecting investors and traders to global financial markets. SCML is an important entity in the Saxo Group. The position is based in London and is part of the Group Compliance European Management Team.

About the job

As the Head of Compliance UK, you will have a broad scope of responsibility, influencing the strategic direction of the Group Compliance function, while leading a collaborative team of three. You will also have the opportunity to serve on the UK leadership team. Group Compliance is a critical function within Saxo; in this role, you will ensure both the global and local regulatory needs are properly met.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the planning and execution of all compliance activities, including monitoring programmes, advisory services and management reporting
• Lead, manage and support the UK Compliance team while collaborating closely with the broader Saxo Group Compliance team
• Hold the SM16 & SMF17 senior management functions, taking full responsibility for regulatory reportings and communications with local regulators
• Maintain close liaison with Group Compliance and other European compliance teams to ensure alignment
• Keep abreast of evolving business and regulatory developments, providing proactive advice on compliance matters
• Contribute to regular compliance and AML reporting to the CEO and other key stakeholders

Your profile:

We are looking for a strong compliance professional with a positive attitude, a collaborative and proactive approach, and deep experience in key technical domains such as Financial Crime, MiFID, MAR etc. You bring a comprehensive background in compliance, risk, and control. In addition, you have minimum 10 years of experience within a Compliance or AML Function inside a financial services environment or consulting firm. Your expertise includes a deep understanding of UK and European financial services regulations, alongside proven, hands‑on experience in dealing with regulators. Additionally, you possess a broad knowledge of diverse compliance risk areas and have demonstrated strong stakeholder engagement skills. You aspire to become a leader and, while prior team management experience is not required, you can demonstrate clear instances where you have showcased your leadership skills. Additionally, your strong sense of independence ensures that the Compliance function consistently meets all local and group regulatory requirements.

If you are ready to take on a visible compliance leadership position in an international organisation, combining local UK regulatory responsibility with close collaboration across Saxo’s European compliance setup, we would like to hear from you.

Please note that the start date for this position is the 1st April 2027.

We get curious people invested in the world

When you work at Saxo, you become a Saxonian and part of a purpose-driven organisation, where good ideas are always taken seriously, and where you can make a true impact. We are invested in your development, and you can expect a robust career from day one when you join Saxo – no matter which role you take on. You will join 2,500 other ambitious colleagues across 11 countries and become part of an international organisation. Working in Saxo, you will get to meet colleagues from many different cultures and backgrounds, and you should know that we value diversity and inclusion and see it as a genuine source of strength to drive growth, foster innovation and position us for long-term success. We encourage an open feedback culture and supportive team environments enabling employees to grow and fulfil their career aspirations. When you bring passion, curiosity, drive and team spirit, your learning journey will be dynamic and your career opportunities in Saxo will be immense. At Saxo we don’t just offer a job – we offer an opportunity to invest in your future!

About Saxo Bank

Support our purpose We believe access to global capital markets is not only for the privileged few. Our vision is to enable people to fulfill their financial aspirations to make an impact. That’s why we use the power of technology to deliver clients what they need, when they need it in a user-friendly and personalised experience. We aim to deliver the world’s most user-friendly and personalized trading and investment platform experience, which gives our clients exactly what they need to make more informed investment decisions.

Be part of a unique journey. Do you want to work for an extremely ambitious organisation at the cutting edge of banking and technology? You’ll be joining a company that:

• Continuously strives to improve the Saxo Experience and exceed our clients’ expectations.
• Always invests in the future
• Builds unrivalled platforms for seasoned and experienced investors and wholesale clients that provide real-time access to global capital markets.
• Consistently wins the highest accolades for our platforms, products and services.

Own your future

So, if you’re up for the challenge of breaking down barriers in global financial markets, we’re always looking for ambitious and enthusiastic people who share our passion for clients, technology and innovation and can bring new perspectives to our diverse team.

For more on our story, culture and identity, please read the Saxo Bank Foundation, written by our CEO and founder Kim Fournais. More about Saxo Bank