Mars Recruitment is partnering with an Australian financial institution to strengthen its risk and compliance capability and appoint an experienced Legal & Compliance professional to lead its internal legal advisory function and drive uplift across compliance, privacy, governance and regulatory change.

This is a senior, high‑visibility role with one direct report- ideal for someone who thrives in a values‑driven environment and wants to shape a modern, fit‑for‑purpose compliance culture and mentor junior talent.

• Act as the organisation's senior internal legal advisor, providing clear, practical guidance across corporate, regulatory, privacy, consumer and banking matters.
• Oversee legal risk management, including contract governance, legal reviews, dispute handling and coordination of external legal support.
• Maintain a strong compliance framework, ensuring obligations are well‑interpreted, owned by Line 1 and supported by effective controls.
• Lead compliance monitoring, assurance activities, thematic reviews and attestation processes to strengthen regulatory alignment.
• Drive regulatory change by scanning for upcoming reforms, assessing impacts, coordinating implementation and briefing senior leaders.
• Manage legal, compliance and privacy incidents, ensuring investigations are robust, remediation is appropriate and regulator notifications are accurate and timely.
• Maintain breach and regulatory registers, ensuring reporting to ELT, Risk Committee, Audit Committee and Board is concise and insightful.
• Provide Line 2 challenge on control effectiveness, investigations, remediation plans and adherence to policies.
• Support uplift of policy governance, ensuring policies remain current, consistent and aligned to regulatory expectations.
• Coordinate regulatory engagement, including responses to notices, reviews, data requests and consultations.
• Deliver training and capability uplift across legal obligations, compliance risk, privacy and breach reporting.
• Build compliance culture through coaching, communication and reinforcing Line 1 accountability.
• Lead and develop direct reports while contributing to broader Risk & Compliance strategy and maturity uplift.
• Represent the organisation in industry forums, working groups and external stakeholder engagements.

Key Requirements:

• Law Degree (LLB) and eligibility to hold an Australian practising certificate.
• 8+ years' experience in legal, compliance or regulatory roles within banking or a regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of APRA prudential standards, ASIC obligations, Privacy Act, AML/CTF and industry codes.
• Demonstrated experience managing obligations registers, compliance frameworks and regulatory change programs.
• Experience overseeing legal, compliance, privacy or regulatory incidents and breach reporting.
• Skilled in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial and financial services contracts.
• Confident engaging with regulators and preparing regulatory submissions or responses.
• Strong communication and influencing capability, including at ELT/Board level.
• Proven ability to uplift Line 1 maturity and embed compliance culture.
• Leadership experience managing or developing high‑performing teams.

This is a perfect for a qualified lawyer who's developed experienced compliance capability in smaller banking environments or ADIs and is ready to step into a senior role shaping legal, regulatory and governance strategy.

Reach out to Abbey Lynch for more information- abbey.lynch@marsrecruitment.com.au