European Head of Compliance - HFT/Algo Trading Firm

Coopman Search and Selection are delighted to partner exclusively with a leading global Trading firm who trade financial instruments across various asset classes, including equities, options, and futures. In this newly created role you will lead and oversee compliance activities across their European Trading entities. You will be a strategic partner to the business, whilst providing expert guidance to senior leadership and influence decision-making. You will lead a large team across Europe and will be given the opportunity to shape and lead compliance initiatives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive compliance strategy aligned with the businesses European and global objectives. Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing insights on regulatory developments and compliance risks. Maintain constant engagement with entity heads of compliance and other stakeholders. Ensure a tailored approach to compliance priorities by proactively coordinating and harmonizing the compliance agenda across Europe Trading entities and regularly reporting progress to all relevant stakeholders.
• Compliance Operations: Drive closer engagement and collaboration between trading leads, execution developers and the local compliance teams. Oversee the development, implementation, and harmonisation of European compliance policies, procedures, and controls. Lead compliance monitoring and risk assessment activities to identify and mitigate potential regulatory risks. Drive initiatives to maintain a robust compliance culture, including training programs and awareness campaigns.
• Team Management: Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing compliance team across Europe, including direct reporting lines from the compliance leads in the European Trading entities. Foster collaboration and communication between compliance and other business units to ensure seamless integration of compliance practices. Collaborate with our Compliance leads in our non-European operations to design and employ global standards.
• Regulatory Engagement: Maintain strong relationships with (European) regulatory bodies and industry groups, staying abreast of regulatory changes and ensuring the businesses proactive compliance. Oversee and coordinate regulatory reporting efforts ensuring timely and accurate submissions. Lead and manage the compliance audits across the European Trading entities.

Experience Required:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in European algorithmic trading compliance.
• A deep understanding of financial markets, trading strategies and products, with an excellent understanding of algorithmic trading compliance and surveillance.
• Strong understanding of European regulatory frameworks, including IFD/IFR, MiFID/MiFIR, MAR, SSR, EMIR, AML/CTF, REMIT and MICAR.
• Demonstrated management experience, including leading geographically dispersed teams across multiple locations.
• Strong project management capabilities to oversee compliance initiatives, compliance monitoring programs and coordinate efforts across European entities.

For a confidential discussion or for further information, please get in touch with chris.wood@coopman.uk.

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