Senior Compliance Officer

Senior Compliance Officer - High-Growth European FintechLondon | Hybrid - Up to £140K Plus Bonus & benefitsThis is an unusually broad opportunity for an experienced regulatory compliance professional who knows that good compliance is not about saying "no". It is about understanding the destination, protecting the business and its customers, and finding a responsible way forward.I am partnering with a rapidly growing European fintech that is building new products, expanding across multiple markets and progressing towards banking licences. As the business evolves beyond its payments heritage, it needs an accomplished Senior Compliance Officer to help shape that journey.This is a genuine number two position, reporting to the Head of Compliance. It will suit someone who wants senior-level influence, challenge and breadth without needing an immediate route to the top job. You will be a trusted sounding board to the Head of Compliance, bringing the confidence and depth to challenge constructively while remaining comfortable operating as part of a close leadership partnership.The opportunityYou will lead much of the regulatory compliance agenda within a wider Compliance and Financial Crime team of six. With the rest of the team weighted towards financial crime, you will bring deeper expertise in regulatory and product compliance.The remit includes:Embedding compliance into new products from the earliest design stagesAdvising Product, Legal, Risk, Operations and Credit teamsSupporting European expansion, licensing and market-entry activityContributing to the business's journey towards banking licencesLeading regulatory filings, disclosures and supervisory responsesStrengthening policies, procedures and control frameworksDesigning monitoring programmes, thematic reviews and targeted auditsIdentifying root causes and driving practical remediationTranslating regulatory change into clear business actions and trainingProviding senior-level challenge and acting as a sounding board to the Head of ComplianceThis is not a narrow oversight role. It offers exposure to new products, international growth, evolving regulatory permissions and the development of a second-line function inside an ambitious fintech.The personYou will bring substantial regulatory compliance experience from banking, payments, fintech, credit or another regulated financial-services environment. Experience spanning both a large, established organisation and a scaling or entrepreneurial business would be particularly valuable.You are likely to be someone who:Has the credibility to challenge senior stakeholders, including the Head of ComplianceIs confident in their expertise but does not need the title of number oneEnjoys being a trusted deputy, adviser and intellectual sparring partnerCan operate with structure and rigour without importing unnecessary bureaucracyUnderstands how to turn regulation into workable product and operational requirementsEngages early and asks, "How can we do this safely?" rather than defaulting to "We cannot do this"Is comfortable moving between strategic advice and hands-on deliveryCan work effectively where products, priorities and regulatory expectations are evolving quicklyWrites clearly and communicates complex requirements in practical commercial languageMaintains high standards while recognising that proportionality mattersThe business is not looking for someone who will allow controls to be diluted or risks to pass unchallenged. It wants someone who can identify the required regulatory outcome and help the business find the best compliant route to achieve it.Strong knowledge of UK and European regulatory frameworks is important. Experience of product compliance, regulatory engagement, licensing, monitoring or cross-border expansion would be especially relevant. Data and analytical capability, including Excel or SQL, would be advantageous.Why consider it?A genuine senior deputy role with meaningful influenceDirect access to and partnership with the Head of ComplianceBroad ownership of the regulatory compliance agendaSignificant new-product and product-governance exposureEuropean expansion and licensing workThe opportunity to support a fintech moving towards becoming a bankA chance to shape controls while the business is still evolvingConsiderable scope without an expectation that the current Head of Compliance will soon move asideThis role will particularly appeal to someone who values scope, intellectual challenge and business impact over hierarchy - an experienced compliance professional who is secure enough to challenge from the number-two seat and commercially minded enough to help innovation happen responsibly.Please contact me confidentially to discuss the business, leadership team and mandate in more detail.