Head of Legal & Compliance Switzerland

• Lead Legal & Compliance in Switzerland and drive regulatory excellence
• Partner with senior leaders, the Board, and FINMA to make a meaningful impact

About Our Client

Our client is an international well-known asset manager based in Zurich.

Job Description

Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

• Serve as the designated Head of Compliance under Swiss financial market regulations and maintain accountability for the Swiss compliance framework.
• Act as the primary contact for FINMA, regulatory auditors, and internal audit on all supervisory matters, regulatory reviews, filings, and remediation activities.
• Oversee the implementation, maintenance, and continuous enhancement of the Compliance Management Framework, including risk assessments, policies, monitoring, training, and reporting.
• Act as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and lead the management of compliance incidents, investigations, and integrity-related matters.
• Monitor and assess regulatory developments and ensure timely implementation of relevant Swiss regulatory requirements.

• Act as a strategic partner to the business, balancing commercial objectives with regulatory and conduct risk considerations.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high performing Legal & Compliance team of 4 headcounts
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Support strategic initiatives, new business developments, and organizational change from a legal and compliance perspective.

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to Swiss business activities, providing pragmatic and commercially focused legal guidance.
• Review, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of commercial, regulatory, corporate, and financial services agreements, including investment management, outsourcing, distribution, licensing, vendor, and intra-group arrangements.
• Ensure global legal documentation, policies, and frameworks are adapted and compliant with Swiss legal and regulatory requirements.

The Successful Applicant

• Swiss law degree or equivalent
• 8-15 years of experience in legal and/or compliance roles within asset management industry in Switzerland
• Proven stakeholder management skills, advantage to have leadership experience
• Deep knowledge of Swiss financial market regulation, including FinSA, FinIA, CISA, AMLA, and FINMA regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of European financial services regulation, including MiFID, UCITS and related frameworks.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial and financial services agreements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior executives and Boards.
• Strong judgment, integrity, and ability to operate independently in a complex, international environment.
• Interest in technology enabled ways of working, including AI and process optimization initiatives
• Fluent in English and German.

What’s on Offer

• A highly visible leadership role with direct exposure to FINMA, senior management, and the Board.
• The opportunity to shape the Swiss Legal & Compliance strategy within a leading international asset manager.
• A collaborative, global environment with strong influence on governance, risk management, and business decisions.

Contact

Ceren Yilmaz

Quote job ref

JN-072026-7069175