Head of Compliance

Haggerty Jaques is delighted to be instructed on a sole agency basis to recruit a Head of Compliance for this innovative law firm. The Opportunity This is a senior, high-impact role at a particularly exciting stage of the organisation's growth. Operating at the intersection of legal services, risk management and digital innovation, the business supports a large and diverse client base across the UK. As it continues to scale, there is a clear focus on strengthening governance, enhancing operational discipline and ensuring a robust, forward-looking compliance framework. Reporting directly to the Director of Legal Services, you will take ownership of the compliance and professional standards function - hands-on initially but having a greater strategic focus as the business evolves. The Role You will lead and shape the organisation's approach to legal compliance, risk, and governance, ensuring alignment with a complex and evolving regulatory landscape. Key responsibilities will include:

• Setting the strategic direction for compliance and professional standards Developing and maintaining policies, procedures and guidance Overseeing compliance monitoring, audit frameworks and reporting Driving a strong risk culture and regulatory adherence Ownership of the Risk Register and wider risk management processes Managing regulatory obligations (including SRA compliance, breach reporting and PI claims) Overseeing complaints handling and conflicts processes Supporting training and development initiatives alongside L&D Leading and developing the Professional Standards team
Where a candidate is interested and has relevant experience, there is also scope to become the firm's COLP.

We are open to a range of backgrounds for this role. You may be:
• A qualified lawyer with experience in legal compliance / governance or regulatory law: or A compliance professional from a regulated environment (e.g. insurance or financial services).
You will bring:
• A strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, SRA requirements and governance Experience of designing or operating compliance frameworks, audit or risk programmes The ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders A commercial, pragmatic and solutions-focused mindset Confidence operating in a growing, evolving business environment The ability to communicate complex issues in a clear and accessible way Previous team leadership experience would be beneficial, but is not essential.