Head of Compliance Hybrid

Head of Compliance – Legal Sector
Location: Manchester City Centre (hybrid working available)
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-time, permanent

Looking for a Head of Compliance role with a an award-winning and fast-growing boutique law firm? Ambitions to progress to a Board-level Compliance Director position?

MERJE is delighted to be supporting our longstanding legal client who due to contined growth are seeking an experienced and driven Head of Compliance to lead and develop its compliance function. This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic and innovative legal environment where collaboration, transparency and excellence are core values. The successful candidate will play a strategic role in the firm's continued growth and may progress into a Board-level Compliance Director position in time.

You will report directly to the firm’s co-founders and Head of Finance, becoming an integral member of the Central Support Team. As the firm’s MLRO (and potentially COLP if a qualified solicitor), you will take ownership of all compliance policies, procedures, and reporting structures.

• Lead, manage and continually improve the firm’s compliance and risk functions.

• Act as MLRO and, if eligible, take on the COLP role in the future.

• Maintain internal compliance processes, policies and risk registers.

• Produce board reports and risk trend analysis.

• Manage file opening procedures, SmartSearch contract, AML audits and file reviews.

• Handle claims, complaints, SRA renewals and PII notifications (with leadership support).

• Deliver onboarding compliance sessions and organise firmwide training.

• Maintain key registers and logs (GDPR, MLRO, conflicts, interests, etc.).

• Champion best practice and support business efficiency and growth.

• Experience leading compliance in a law firm, ideally as MLRO and/or COLP.

• Strong knowledge of SRA regulations, AML frameworks and GDPR.

• Qualified solicitor preferred but not essential.

• Personable, collaborative and solutions-focused.

• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work autonomously.

• Passionate about client service and working in a non-hierarchical, fast-paced firm.

• Opportunity to shape the compliance function in an award-winning and progressive firm.

• Long-term path to a Board position and Compliance Director title.

• Supportive, inclusive and forward-thinking culture.

• Genuine focus on autonomy, work-life balance and shared success.

Applicants must be located and eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship.

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