Head of Risk

AJ FOX COMPLIANCE; Leeds; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AJ FOX COMPLIANCE is seeking a Head of Risk in Leeds to lead the operational management of the Risk & Best Practice function. You will work closely with the Director of Risk to deliver exceptional regulatory services.

The role requires an experienced risk lawyer or senior compliance professional, possessing excellent planning capabilities to handle significant regulatory and professional risks. This is a unique chance to shape the strategic direction of an expanding risk department.

Qualifications

• Experienced risk lawyer or senior compliance professional with a career in a law firm environment.
• Methodical professional with strong analytical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the risk teams for regulatory compliance.
• Deputise for the Director of Risk for Board reporting.
• Manage incidents, near misses, and data breaches.

Skills

Excellent planning and coordination skills

Ability to stay calm under pressure

Commercially focused solutions

Job description

We are working with a growing law firm to hire a Head of Risk. In this role, you will work closely with the Director of Risk to lead the day-to-day operational management of the Risk & Best Practice function, delivering a first-class regulatory service across all legal and business departments.

The firm is looking for an experienced risk lawyer or senior compliance professional who has advanced their career within a law firm environment. You should be a methodical professional with excellent planning and coordination skills, capable of staying calm under pressure and providing succinct, commercially focused solutions to senior stakeholders.

The responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing the daily operations of the risk teams to ensure seamless firmwide delivery of regulatory compliance.
• Deputising for the Director of Risk and supporting critical reporting for the Board and the Audit & Risk Committee.
• Acting as the senior escalation point for significant regulatory, ethical, professional liability, and reputational risks.
• Managing day-to-day incidents, near misses, data breaches, and the implementation of information barriers.
• Maintaining specialist governance over anti-money laundering frameworks, data protection requirements, and information security standards like ISO 27001.
• Coordinating internal audit planning and managing the firm's quality and environmental management systems.
• Leading the firm's professional indemnity insurance renewals, claims handling, and the administration of the complaints-handling process.
• Providing senior-level advice on client contracts, tenders, outside counsel guidelines, and complex ethical queries.
• Driving the performance, recruitment, capacity management, and professional development of the compliance team.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to shape the strategic direction of an expanding risk department while maintaining strong oversight of operational delivery.

Please submit your application today to start a confidential discussion.