Compliance Recruitment
Selin Legal helps companies and organisations recruit compliance leaders and specialists for permanent roles. We use a search-based approach and assess candidates against what Compliance actually requires: integrity, sufficient mandate, an appropriate reporting line and relevant regulatory experience.
Compliance is not the same as Legal
Legal and Compliance often work closely together, but their remits differ. Legal provides legal advice and supports the business on legal matters. Compliance can be an independent control function that monitors, tests and reports on how the business follows external and internal rules.
A head of compliance therefore faces different requirements from in-house counsel, particularly around independence, mandate and reporting to management or the board. Reporting lines vary between organisations and regulatory frameworks. Compliance works with Legal, Risk and internal audit, but responsibilities need to be clear from the outset.
Many compliance roles do not require a law degree. Depending on the role, the right background may be in law, economics, finance, audit or supervision. We define the background the role actually needs together with you.
Roles we recruit
- Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Compliance – responsibility for the compliance function and dialogue with management and the board.
- Senior Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer – specialists responsible for compliance, controls and advice.
- Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Compliance – code of conduct, anti-corruption, whistleblowing and compliance culture.
- AML, Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance – money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions.
- Data Protection Officers and data protection specialists – data protection roles, where applicable with the independence requirements that follow from the GDPR.
- Regulatory Compliance – licensed businesses and dialogue with supervisory authorities.
When the need arises
- The company is applying for a licence or becoming subject to new regulation.
- The compliance function is being set up for the first time or separated from Legal.
- A supervisory authority, auditor or the board has identified shortcomings.
- The company is growing internationally or through acquisitions.
- A head of compliance leaves and the role needs reviewing before it is filled again.
- The company needs more specialist capability in AML, sanctions or data protection.
What we assess
Together with you we build a role profile. We then assess each candidate on:
- Independence and integrity – how the candidate has acted when compliance and commercial wishes have conflicted.
- Mandate and reporting line – experience of reporting to management, the board or committees and of having their findings acted on.
- Regulatory experience – which regulations, supervisors and types of business the candidate has worked with.
- Working with other functions – how the candidate has worked with Legal, Risk, internal audit and the business.
- Putting rules into practice – policies, controls, training and advice that work day to day.
Specialists in Legal and Compliance
Selin Legal specialises in executive and specialist recruitment within Legal and Compliance. Our understanding of corporate legal and control functions enables us to assess both specialist expertise and how a candidate's experience fits the role's mandate, reporting line and regulatory environment.
How the process works
We work with a structured search process adapted to each assignment:
- 1.Needs analysis – We review the role, mandate, reporting line and role profile.
- 2.Search and mapping – We map the market and identify relevant candidates, including people who are not actively looking for a new position.
- 3.Selection – We approach candidates discreetly and hold initial conversations.
- 4.In-depth assessment – We conduct in-depth interviews focused on independence, integrity and regulatory experience and, in line with the agreed process, reference checks.
- 5.Presentation – We present a limited number of carefully selected candidates with our assessment, once the candidate has given consent.
- 6.Client interviews and final candidates – We keep the process together, support the candidates and assist you in the evaluation.
- 7.Agreement and follow-up – We assist until an agreement is reached and follow up after the start date.
We can normally present relevant candidates within three to four weeks. The timeline depends on the role, the market and the circumstances of the assignment and is agreed at the outset.
Discretion
Compliance recruitment can be sensitive, for example when a function is being restructured or a supervisory authority has set requirements. We agree with you how the market should be mapped and approached. Candidates are contacted discreetly, and candidate information is shared with you only after the candidate has given consent.
Frequently asked questions about compliance recruitment
Not as a rule. Some roles require in-depth legal expertise, but many heads of compliance come from economics, finance, audit or supervisory backgrounds. The role and the applicable regulation determine what is needed.
Compliance is often a control function that requires independence and its own reporting line, while Legal provides legal advice and supports the business on legal matters. We therefore assess partly different qualities, including integrity, mandate and supervisory experience.
Yes. We recruit Data Protection Officers and specialists in AML, Financial Crime and Sanctions Compliance for permanent roles.
No. We recruit both for regulated businesses and for companies outside the financial sector, including industrial, technology, life science and energy companies that need Corporate Compliance, Ethics & Compliance or data protection expertise.
We agree with you how the market should be mapped and approached. Candidates are contacted discreetly, and candidate information is shared with you only after the candidate has given consent.
We can normally present relevant candidates within three to four weeks. The timeline depends on the role, the market and the circumstances of the assignment and is agreed at the outset.
Compliance
Looking to recruit in Compliance?
Tell us about the role and we will arrange an initial conversation about needs, mandate and role profile.