Head of Legal Compliance

MERJE; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

MERJE partners with a fast-growing law firm to appoint a Head of Compliance & Risk. This senior appointment leads the Compliance & Risk function and sits on the Senior Leadership Team, shaping strategy across the business from Manchester City Centre with some flexibility to work from home.

You will oversee AML/GDPR, SRA compliance, risk management and policy development, act as MLRO after probation, and build a high-performing team through collaborative, commercial leadership.

Qualifications

• Strong experience across legal compliance, AML and risk.
• Previous MLRO experience is preferred.
• Experience with GDPR/data protection matters and SRA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and manage the Compliance & Risk function.
• Take responsibility for AML matters and act as MLRO after probation.
• Manage compliance policies, processes, and risk registers.
• Oversee regulatory reporting and SRA requirements.
• Coordinate AML audit and firm-wide training.
• Produce compliance/risk reporting for senior management and Board.
• Identify process improvements and drive automation.
• Build relationships across the firm as a Senior Leadership Team member.

Skills

Compliance leadership

AML expertise

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

People leadership

MLRO experience

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

MERJE is exclusively partnering with an ambitious, fast-growing law firm to appoint a Head of Compliance & Risk.

This is a senior and highly visible appointment, offering the opportunity to lead and develop the Compliance & Risk function and become a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.

The firm is looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with genuine leadership capability. You will need to be personable, collaborative and commercially minded, with the ability to build trusted relationships across the business and lead, motivate and develop others.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, develop and manage the Compliance & Risk function
• Take responsibility for AML matters and become MLRO following probation
• Manage the firm's compliance policies, processes, protocols and risk register
• Lead on claims, complaints and associated insurer liaison
• Manage conflicts of interest, file reviews and compliance monitoring
• Oversee regulatory reporting and SRA requirements
• Coordinate the annual AML audit and firm-wide compliance training
• Maintain key compliance registers and logs, including GDPR/data breaches and PII notifications
• Produce regular compliance and risk reporting for senior management and the Board
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency and automation
• Build strong relationships across the firm and contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team

The responsibilities reflect the breadth of the client's specification, including MLRO responsibility, claims and complaints, conflicts, SRA requirements, AML audit, training and Board reporting.

About you

We are interested in speaking with experienced law firm Compliance professionals who can demonstrate:

• Strong experience across legal compliance, AML and risk
• Previous MLRO experience
• Experience of claims, complaints and GDPR/data protection matters
• Strong knowledge of the regulatory environment within an SRA-regulated law firm
• Leadership capability and the ability to inspire, develop and bring people with you
• A pragmatic, commercial and hands-on approach
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience within a predominantly B2B/commercial law firm environment
• Ideally, qualification as a solicitor, with the potential to become COLP in the future

A solicitor qualification is advantageous rather than mandatory in the formal specification.

This could suit an existing Head of Compliance, or an experienced Senior Compliance Manager/Deputy Head who is ready to take the next step and lead a function.

The position is based in Manchester City Centre with some flexibility to work from home.