Interim Senior Risk & Compliance Manager

Schillings handles high stakes opportunities and threats for an international clientele: successful individuals, businesses and high-profile organisations across the world. 

We support our clients to achieve their goals by developing winning strategies to protect their freedom to operate, and are the first port of call in a crisis, defending our clients from attacks on their reputations, privacy and security. Schillings’ offer is unique to the market, combining strategic communications with law, intelligence & investigations, digital resilience and security.

Schillings is a collaborative and welcoming place to work, with a positive culture, strong values and a developed service ethic.  We require commitment, diligence, curiosity, agility and professionalism, and in return provide competitive packages, stimulating challenges and interesting work.  We are committed to sharing learning and creating development opportunities so you can progress your career with us.  Our people’s career trajectories and average longevity at Schillings underline this.  

Join us and become part of our story.

Interim Senior Risk & Compliance Manager

Contract: Interim, 6 fixed-term contract

Reporting to: Director of Risk & Compliance

Job Purpose

The Interim Senior Risk & Compliance Manager will work closely with the Director of Risk & Compliance to lead and deliver priority strategic projects. The initial focus will be the firm’s Internationalisation Project, including supporting the establishment of its current overseas capability, mapping and documenting the international risk and compliance framework, and developing a best-practice roadmap for establishing future overseas entities. The role will be expected to respond flexibly to changing business priorities and may pivot to lead or support other strategic risk and compliance projects as required. It will also provide senior-level support across the wider Risk & Compliance function where necessary.

Role Accountabilities

• Lead agreed strategic projects from scoping and planning through to implementation, embedding and handover.
• Work with the Director of Risk & Compliance to agree priorities, deliverables, responsibilities, milestones and resources.
• Coordinate input from stakeholders across the business and from external advisers.
• Identify legal, regulatory, operational and governance requirements and translate them into practical controls, processes and documentation.
• Maintain clear oversight of project risks, dependencies, decisions and actions, escalating material issues where appropriate.
• Provide concise progress reports, advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Support the establishment of the firm’s current overseas capability, including relevant regulatory, licensing, governance and operational requirements.
• Map and document the firm’s international risk and compliance framework, including responsibilities, reporting lines, escalation routes and minimum standards.
• Develop a proportionate and repeatable roadmap, supported by practical templates and tools, for establishing and overseeing future overseas entities.
• Review lessons learned and recommend improvements to strengthen the consistency and scalability of the firm’s international arrangements.
• Pivot to other strategic risk and compliance projects in response to evolving business priorities.
• Provide senior-level advice, review and support across other Risk & Compliance responsibilities where required.

The international work is expected to involve working with subject matter experts in the firm on areas such as licensing, cross-border operating arrangements, client engagement, data governance, AML and sanctions, information security, governance and insurance.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in a senior risk, compliance, legal or governance role within a regulated professional services environment.
• Experience of leading complex, cross-functional projects involving senior stakeholders and external advisers.
• Experience of supporting international expansion, overseas entities or multi-jurisdictional operations.
• Strong understanding of governance, regulatory compliance and operational risk.
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical and proportionate solutions.
• Excellent judgement, analytical, drafting and communication skills.
• Strong project leadership, organisation and stakeholder-management skills.
• A hands-on, commercial and delivery-focused approach.
• Ability to establish structure quickly, work independently and adapt priorities as business needs change.
• Experience within an international law firm or knowledge of the SRA regulatory framework would be advantageous.

Life at Schillings

Given our bold and innovative business strategy, it is not surprising that Schillings has a very strong culture. The atmosphere is highly collaborative and focused on excellence. We have worked hard over the years to develop a coaching culture. Schillings has adopted a set of values to put at the heart of this and they reflect the intention and tenor of our ambitious plans. They are: ‘Innovative; Bold; United; and Excellent’. Our client list speaks for the outstanding results that have been delivered over many years and the task now is to grow without losing any of the commitment to delivering for clients or our service ethos. Finding people who share our values and can thrive in this environment is key to our success. 

It takes a unique mix of people to create something truly great. We appreciate that diversity of thought, background and culture creates the best environment to truly innovate, solve problems and achieve our goals. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds – if you are driven and want to achieve your best then we will give you the platform and support to succeed.

Please let us know if there are any extenuating circumstances we should consider, or any adjustments we may need to make to our selection process, when making your application.

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