Head of Compliance in Manchester

Head of Compliance in Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
beqom

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead compliance strategy and governance for a high-growth B2B SaaS company.
  • Company: Join beqom, a market leader in pay equity and transparency solutions.
  • Benefits: Dynamic work environment, career growth, and the chance to drive meaningful change.
  • Other info: Collaborate with a diverse team and make a real impact globally.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of work while ensuring compliance in regulated sectors.
  • Qualifications: Experience in GRC, compliance, or risk management in tech environments.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Join beqom — where tech meets impact beqom is a high-growth B2B Saa S company that provides industry-leading tools for pay equity and transparency, compensation, and performance management.

Trusted by some of the world’s most respected companies, beqom enables HR and business leaders to navigate global compliance and make smarter pay decisions that attract, retain, and motivate top talent.

Founded in Switzerland and serving clients worldwide, our powerful, enterprise-ready products are fuelled by beqom pay intelligence.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced and pragmatic GRC Manager to build, own, and continuously strengthen beqom’s governance, risk, and compliance function.

This role will ensure that beqom operates with a robust, scalable, and commercially effective GRC framework across our international footprint — while meeting the expectations of enterprise customers in highly regulated sectors, including banking and financial services.

Reporting to the Head of Legal, you will own the company’s compliance governance model, working closely with Legal, Security, Product, Engineering, Finance, People, and Go-to-Market teams.

The role combines strategic ownership with hands-on execution, and will be central to reinforcing trust with customers, partners, auditors, and other external stakeholders.

  • What you'll be doing
  • Compliance Strategy & Governance
  • Design, implement, and evolve the company’s global compliance framework across all relevant jurisdictions.
  • Establish and maintain policies, standards, controls, governance forums, and reporting routines.
  • Lead enterprise-wide compliance risk assessments and maintain the compliance risk register.
  • Define monitoring, testing, and issue-management processes to identify, escalate, and remediate compliance gaps.
  • Provide regular reporting to the Head of Legal and executive team on compliance risks, incidents, trends, and remediation progress.
  • Privacy & Regulatory Compliance
  • Oversee the company’s compliance approach to data protection and privacy requirements — including GDPR and other applicable privacy obligations — in partnership with Legal and Security.
  • Ensure the organisation can demonstrate accountability through proportionate documentation, reporting, and governance.
  • Support regulatory-readiness activities and coordinate external inquiries where relevant.
  • Customer & Partner Assurance
  • Act as the senior GRC lead for customer due diligence, regulated-sector questionnaires, control reviews, and audit requests.
  • Support strategic deals by addressing compliance, governance, and assurance requirements from enterprise customers, especially in banking and other regulated sectors.
  • Partner with Sales, Solution Advisory, Security, and Legal to strengthen trust materials and compliance positioning.
  • Third-Party Risk & Resilience
  • Build and oversee the compliance aspects of third-party risk management — including vendor assessments, subprocessors, outsourcing controls, and ongoing monitoring.
  • Ensure the company’s control environment supports the expectations of financial-services clients regarding resilience, oversight, and risk management.
  • Partner with Security and Operations on incident governance, escalation, and post-incident remediation tracking.
  • Controls, Certifications & Audit
  • Oversee GRC readiness for external assurance frameworks and certifications, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, and related control programmes.
  • Coordinate internal and external audits and ensure effective follow-through on findings and corrective actions.
  • Maintain evidence, documentation, and policy governance required to support customer and audit assurance.
  • Business Partnership & Enablement
  • Provide compliance input into new products, AI-related use cases, commercial initiatives, customer contracts, and market expansion plans.
  • Deliver practical training and awareness programmes to embed a strong culture of compliance and accountability.
  • Advise leaders on how to balance compliance rigour with operational scalability and business growth.

Skills & Experience

  • What you'll bring
  • Proven experience in a GRC, compliance, risk, governance, or regulatory assurance role.
  • Experience in a B2B Saa S, fintech, regtech, payments, or other technology environment serving regulated customers.
  • Demonstrated success building or scaling a compliance or GRC function in an international company.
  • Strong working knowledge of privacy, control frameworks, policy governance, audit coordination, and third-party risk management.
  • Experience supporting enterprise customer due diligence and audits.
  • Strong judgement and stakeholder management skills — comfortable engaging at senior and executive level.
  • Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on.
  • Bonus points if you have
  • Experience working with banking, financial-services, or insurance-sector customers.
  • Familiarity with DORA, EBA outsourcing expectations, or equivalent financial-sector third-party governance requirements.
  • Experience with SOC 2, ISO 27001, and related assurance frameworks.
  • Experience across both Europe and the US.
  • Relevant certifications such as CIPP/E, CRISC, CRCM, CISSP, or ISO 27001-related credentials.

Why join us?

  • Your career, your design. Unleash your ambition in our dynamic, autonomous environment.
  • Drive meaningful change. Build a fairer future for every employee by joining a market leader that is improving the world of work.
  • Belong to something bigger. Collaborate with a passionate, diverse and talented team around the globe.

Head of Compliance in Manchester employer: beqom

At beqom, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and autonomous work environment where your career ambitions can flourish. Our commitment to meaningful change and pay equity not only empowers our employees but also allows them to contribute to a fairer future for all. With a diverse and talented global team, we offer unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and collaboration in the heart of Switzerland's thriving tech landscape.

beqom

Contact Details:

beqom Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Compliance in Manchester

Join Compliance Communities

Get involved in compliance and risk communities — both online and offline. Look for forums, LinkedIn groups, or even local meetups where compliance pros hang out. You never know who might drop a job opportunity your way!

Attend Industry Conferences

Keep an eye out for compliance and risk management conferences and workshops in your area. These events are a goldmine for networking, and they often have job boards or recruiters on-site looking for new talent. Plus, it’s a chance to learn what's trending in the field.

Leverage Your University Career Services

If you’ve recently graduated or are still studying, head over to your university's career services. Many companies, including those in compliance, actively recruit fresh talent through these services, so make sure you tap into that resource.

Showcase Your Knowledge Online

Start writing articles or blog posts about compliance topics that interest you. Share them on platforms like LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and passion. This not only builds your presence in the field but can also catch the attention of companies like beqom looking for candidates who are engaged and informed.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Compliance in Manchester

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
Compliance Framework Design
Risk Assessment
Data Protection and Privacy Compliance
GDPR Knowledge
Third-Party Risk Management
Audit Coordination

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Understanding of Compliance:In the compliance-risk field, it's super important to showcase your understanding of regulations and risk management frameworks. Highlight any relevant coursework, certifications (like ICA or AML), or even projects that demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to this area. We want to see how you can navigate this complex landscape!

Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, try to quantify your achievements. For example, if you've previously worked on a project that improved compliance metrics or reduced risk exposure, give us the numbers! This data-driven approach really stands out to hiring managers in compliance-risk roles.

Tailor Your CV to Reflect Relevant Skills:Make sure your CV highlights skills that are particularly relevant to compliance, like attention to detail, analytical thinking, and report writing. Ensure these are easy to spot – consider using bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements for maximum impact!

Craft a Motivating Cover Letter:In your cover letter, let us know why you’re excited about the compliance-risk role at beqom. Share what motivates you about compliance, and how you believe you can contribute to our mission. This is your chance to showcase not only your skills but also your passion for this important field!

How to prepare for a job interview at beqom

Master the Regulations

Brush up on key compliance regulations relevant to the industry you're applying to. Familiarising yourself with specific laws and frameworks used in your field will give you an edge during technical questions. Show that you’re not just aware of them but can also apply them—think real-life scenarios!

Show Your Analytical Skills

Compliance roles really focus on analytical skills, so be prepared for case studies or situational questions during the interview. We've got to demonstrate how we approach risk assessments or compliance audits, possibly drawing on examples from past experiences or university projects. Bring some thoughtful case scenarios to discuss!

Know Your Tools

Get comfortable with commonly used compliance software and tools. Familiarity with platforms like RSA or MetricStream can really impress during your interview, as it shows you're ready to hit the ground running. If you’ve had any experience with them, make sure to highlight that!

Align with Company Culture

Since it's a full-time position, show your long-term commitment and interest in the company’s mission and values. Dive into how your ethics and professional philosophy align with beqom’s stance on compliance. A shared vision can really resonate with interviewers looking for fit as much as skill!