A senior leadership opportunity has arisen for an accomplished Compliance professional to join a global financial services organisation in Dublin. This role carries PCF-12 (Head of Compliance) and PCF-52 (Head of Compliance with responsibility for AML/CFT) designations under the Fitness & Probity regime and will play a central role in shaping the compliance culture for the Irish business and supporting wider European and global compliance initiatives.
The Opportunity
This is a highly influential position, responsible for leading the compliance framework across multiple regulated entities in Ireland. You will oversee a dedicated compliance team, advise senior stakeholders, and act as a key point of contact for the Central Bank of Ireland.
In addition, you will serve as Country Head of Compliance, ensuring consistency of approach across the jurisdiction, supporting regulatory engagement, and contributing to regional and global compliance strategy.
The role offers exceptional visibility, leadership scope, and the opportunity to guide compliance standards for a major player in the alternative investments and fund services sector.
Key Responsibilities
Entity Responsibilities
* Lead and manage the Irish Compliance team supporting multiple regulated entities within the group.
* Oversee the compliance framework, including policies, procedures, monitoring plans, and regulatory reporting.
* Identify, assess and manage compliance and AML/CFT risks across all business activities.
* Provide day-to-day advisory support on AML, KYC, data protection, outsourcing, confidentiality and corporate governance.
* Conduct compliance monitoring reviews and report outcomes to senior management and Boards.
* Draft and maintain compliance policies, ensuring regular updates to reflect regulatory developments.
* Prepare high-quality reports for Boards and the Central Bank of Ireland.
* Attend Board and Committee meetings and support governance requirements.
* Analyse and escalate suspicions or unusual activities in line with AML/CFT obligations.
* Support new business initiatives and ensure appropriate oversight of outsourced activities.
* Deliver training and promote strong compliance awareness across the organisation.
Country Head Responsibilities
* Promote a robust compliance culture across the Irish business and act as a senior advisor to local leadership.
* Build and maintain strong relationships with regulators, auditors, external stakeholders and global teams.
* Shape and coordinate the tone, frequency and quality of regulatory engagement for the jurisdiction.
* Oversee consistency of compliance practices and monitoring approaches across Irish entities.
* Contribute to regulatory messaging and reporting for senior management and Boards.
* Maintain awareness of evolving regulatory developments impacting Ireland and guide implementation plans.
* Provide input into resourcing and hiring for the compliance function.
* Participate in the Senior Compliance Forum and support regional and group-wide initiatives.
* Escalate material issues to the Regional Compliance Officer and travel as required.
* Undertake additional responsibilities as required within the global compliance framework.
About You
Experience & Qualifications
* Minimum 7+ years' progressive experience in compliance or regulatory roles within financial services.
* Bachelor's degree required; Master's in Finance, Law, Business or related field preferred.
* Strong knowledge of the Irish regulatory environment, CBI requirements and relevant EU directives.
* Deep understanding of alternative investments (hedge funds, private equity, real estate, etc.) and associated compliance frameworks.
* Proven experience implementing regulatory change and managing complex compliance programmes.
Technical Skills
* Strong analytical and risk assessment capability.
* Skilled in compliance monitoring, regulatory reporting and policy development.
* Proven ability to interpret complex regulations and design practical control solutions.
* Strong project management experience, including leading regulatory implementation projects.
Leadership & Personal Attributes
* Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing capability at senior level.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including Board-level reporting.
* Experienced in mentoring and developing compliance professionals.
* Strategic thinker with strong judgement, resilience and attention to detail.
* Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively across global teams.
* Ethical, pragmatic and solutions-oriented, with a proven track record of driving issues to resolution.
Desirable
* Experience with cross-border regulatory requirements.
* Familiarity with emerging financial technologies and their regulatory implications.
* Experience leading compliance training programmes.
* Involvement in regulatory audits and examinations.