Head of Compliance & Financial Crime (European Operations)

Overview

A leading international commercial insurer is seeking a senior compliance leader to join its European operations based in Dublin. This role will play a central part in maintaining a robust regulatory and financial crime framework across the European platform, ensuring the business operates effectively within complex cross-border regulatory environments.

Working closely with the Irish executive team and global compliance leadership, the successful candidate will help strengthen governance frameworks, maintain regulatory credibility with the Central Bank of Ireland, and ensure alignment between the Irish platform and the group’s wider international compliance infrastructure.

This is a strategic leadership role requiring deep expertise in commercial insurance regulation, cross-border distribution frameworks, and financial crime compliance.

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Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Leadership

• Provide senior compliance leadership for European insurance operations based in Ireland.

• Serve as a key regulatory interface with the Central Bank of Ireland and other European supervisory authorities.

• Support the Irish Board and executive leadership team on regulatory and governance matters.

Cross-Border Governance

• Oversee compliance frameworks supporting the cross-border distribution of commercial insurance products from Ireland into multiple European markets.

• Ensure regulatory adherence across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining alignment with group policies and global compliance standards.

Financial Crime Oversight

• Lead oversight of financial crime compliance across European operations, including:

  • Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

  • Sanctions compliance

  • Anti-Bribery & Corruption

  • Regulatory monitoring and reporting

• Work collaboratively with UK-based compliance teams supporting London and international insurance market operations.

Board & Executive Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with Board members and senior executives across the European business.

• Provide clear, authoritative regulatory advice on emerging compliance risks and governance issues.

International Collaboration

• Partner with global compliance leadership and regional teams across the wider organisation.

• Ensure consistent regulatory practices and information sharing across international compliance functions.

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Candidate Profile

Experience

• Senior compliance leadership experience within commercial insurance or specialty insurance markets.

• Strong understanding of cross-border insurance regulation within Europe.

• Experience interacting with senior regulators, ideally including the Central Bank of Ireland.

• Background in financial crime compliance and regulatory monitoring within a regulated financial services environment.

Industry Background

Candidates are likely to come from:

• Global commercial insurers

• Lloyd’s market insurers or managing agents

• International specialty insurance platforms

Experience within large corporate commercial insurance environments is strongly preferred over personal lines or consumer insurance.

Technical Knowledge

• Cross-border insurance distribution frameworks

• European regulatory regimes affecting insurance operations

• Financial crime compliance programmes (AML / sanctions / anti-bribery)

• Regulatory engagement and governance frameworks

Personal Profile

• Credible and confident in Board-level environments

• Strong stakeholder management across complex international organisations

• Commercially aware with the ability to balance regulatory discipline with business objectives

• Collaborative and capable of operating within a global insurance structure

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Location

Dublin, Ireland.
The role sits within a European insurance platform with close interaction with UK and international compliance teams.

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Market Positioning

This opportunity would particularly suit individuals who:

• Have gained London market or international commercial insurance experience

• Possess strong cross-border regulatory expertise

• Are currently working internationally and considering a move or return to Dublin

The Next Steps: