Head of Risk & Compliance

MERJE Ltd; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

MERJE Ltd. is partnering with a fast-growing law firm to appoint a Head of Compliance & Risk in Manchester City Centre with some flexibility to work from home. This senior role leads the Compliance & Risk function, becomes MLRO after probation, and reports to the Senior Leadership Team.

You will drive AML, GDPR, and regulatory reporting, build relationships across the business, and develop a high-performing team in a busy, B2B legal environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience across legal compliance, AML and risk.
• Previous MLRO experience is required or highly desirable.
• Experience with claims, complaints and GDPR/data protection matters.
• Leadership capability with ability to inspire and develop others.
• Solid understanding of an SRA-regulated law firm environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and manage the Compliance & Risk function.
• Take responsibility for AML matters and become MLRO after probation.
• Manage compliance policies, processes, protocols and risk registers.
• Lead on claims, complaints and insurer liaison.
• Oversee regulatory reporting and SRA requirements.
• Coordinate AML audits and compliance training.
• Maintain compliance registers and GDPR/PII notifications.
• Produce regular reporting for senior management and the Board.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and automation.
• Contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Skills

AML & risk

MLRO experience

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Stakeholder management

GDPR / data protection

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.