Senior Counsel, Global Compliance & Safety Practice Group

McDonald's; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

McDonalds UK and Ireland seeks a senior Compliance attorney to support its Global Compliance Program, with a focus on International Operated Markets in Europe. The role serves as a trusted advisor on compliance and ethics, leads investigations, risk assessments, and provides guidance on anti-corruption and sanctions compliance.

Collaborate with market and functional leads to strengthen risk management across jurisdictions, and partner with Legal and business stakeholders to develop practical,

Qualifications

• Qualified attorney in good standing with a license to practice law in the UK or EU jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of relevant legal and compliance experience.
• Experience with complex compliance investigations, preferably in the anti-corruption space.
• General knowledge of and experience with the FCPA, UK Bribery Act, OFAC/sanctions regulations, and related compliance frameworks.
• International market experience and strong cross-cultural acumen required.
• Prior in-house legal experience preferred.
• Travel internationally as required.
• Proficiency in multiple languages is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee complex compliance investigations involving alleged violations of the McDonald’s Standards of Business Conduct and other compliance-related concerns.
• Conduct compliance reviews and market risk assessments to identify, assess and manage compliance risks with potential legal, financial, operational or reputational impact to McDonald's.
• Develop and oversee mitigation strategies designed to address identified compliance risks and strengthen the overall control environment.
• Monitor emerging compliance risks, enforcement trends, and regulatory developments, and provide recommendations to strengthen compliance controls and program effectiveness.
• Manage outside counsel, consultants, and other third-party advisors, as appropriate.
• Provide legal counsel and practical guidance to market, segment and business functions on a broad range of compliance matters, particularly in anti-corruption, sanctions compliance, conflicts of interest, and third-party risk management.
• Advise on compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies, including FCPA, UK Bribery Act, sanctions regulations, and other relevant legal requirements.
• Partner with Legal and business stakeholders to develop practical, risk-based solutions that support business objectives while maintaining compliance standards.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with market, segment and global functions, and business stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.
• Plan and conduct compliance market and stakeholder engagement, training sessions, and other compliance initiatives tailored to diverse stakeholder groups to promote and strengthen McDonald's culture of compliance and integrity.

Skills

Legal experience

Investigations

Cross-cultural acumen

Project management

Communication skills

Multilingual (desirable)

Education

Qualified attorney (UK/EU)

Job description

Job Description:

About Us

McDonalds has run its business in the UK since 1974 and currently operates over 1500 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, serving almost four million customers each day. McDonalds is one of the UKs largest private sector employers, employing over 170,000 people.

Job Overview

This role supports the ongoing implementation and advancement of McDonald's Global Compliance Program, with a particular focus on International Operated Markets (IOM) in Europe. The position serves as a trusted advisor on compliance and ethics matters, leads complex investigations, designs and conducts compliance risk assessments, provides guidance on anti-corruption and sanctions compliance, and partners with market and functional leads to strengthen compliance culture and risk management practices across multiple jurisdictions.

Duties

Compliance Investigations & Risk Assessment

• Lead and oversee complex compliance investigations involving alleged violations of the McDonald’s Standards of Business Conduct and other compliance-related concerns.
• Conduct compliance reviews and market risk assessments to identify, assess and manage compliance risks with potential legal, financial, operational or reputational impact to McDonald's.
• Develop and oversee mitigation strategies designed to address identified compliance risks and strengthen the overall control environment.
• Monitor emerging compliance risks, enforcement trends, and regulatory developments, and provide recommendations to strengthen compliance controls and program effectiveness.
• Manage outside counsel, consultants, and other third-party advisors, as appropriate.

Compliance Counseling & Legal Advice

• Provide legal counsel and practical guidance to market, segment and business functions on a broad range of compliance matters, particularly in the areas of anti-corruption, sanctions compliance, conflicts of interest, and third-party risk management.
• Advise on compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), UK Bribery Act, sanctions regulations, and other relevant legal requirements.
• Partner with Legal and business stakeholders to develop practical, risk-based solutions that support business objectives while maintaining compliance standards.

Compliance Engagement & Strategic Partnership

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with market, segment and global functions, and business stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.
• Plan and conduct compliance market and stakeholder engagement, training sessions, and other compliance initiatives tailored to diverse stakeholder groups to promote and strengthen McDonald's culture of compliance and integrity.

Collaborate effectively with markets and global functions to develop, enhance, and communicate compliance policies, procedures, standards, directives, and guidance in One McDonald’s Way.

Qualifications

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Qualified attorney in good standing with a license to practice law in the UK or EU jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of relevant legal and compliance experience.
• Experience with complex compliance investigations, preferably in the anti-corruption space.
• General knowledge of and experience with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), UK Bribery Act, OFAC/sanctions regulations, and related compliance frameworks.
• International market experience and strong cross-cultural acumen required.
• Prior in-house legal experience preferred.
• Travel internationally as required.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Unquestionable integrity and sound judgment.
• Strong investigative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to operate independently in a fast-paced global environment across different time zones.
• Proficiency in multiple languages is highly desirable.

At McDonald's, we are People from all Walks of Life...

Company Vision and Culture

Our Global vision is to build a better McDonalds and in the UK and Ireland we are working hard to be the UK & Irelands best-loved restaurant company.

McDonalds is defined by its culture. Our culture shapes and informs everything we think and everything we do. Our culture influences the way we interact with each other, and how we interact with customers, franchisees and suppliers. Our culture motivates and inspires us to attract and retain great talent, creating positive, energising, exceptional working environment for us all.

Our values drive our culture and shape our beliefs, our priorities and our actions. They influence the decisions we make, how we treat one another and how we show up as a brand to the world.

Serve: We put our customers and our people first

Inclusion: We open our doors to everyone

Integrity: We do the right thing

Community: We are good neighbours

Family: We get better together

At McDonalds we are People from all Walks of Life...

People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonalds experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers gives us strength.

We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.

We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonalds or elsewhere.