London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Chief Compliance Officer

Chief Compliance Officer

We are looking for an exceptional Chief Compliance Officer to play a pivotal role in strengthening governance, assurance and organisational culture at one of London's most ambitious and high-profile local authorities.

Tower Hamlets is like a city within a city. Our workforce of over 7,000 people serves more than 320,000 residents in the most densely populated and fastest growing place in the UK.

Millions of visitors come to our borough from across the world to experience our iconic destinations. We deliver the third largest economic output in the UK, with places such as Canary Wharf at the heart of our borough, alongside the City of London, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the River Thames.

Our population is one of the most diverse in the UK, and we face the challenges and opportunities that come from significant contrasts in wealth and poverty across the borough.

As Chief Compliance Officer and the Council's statutory Monitoring Officer, you will be at the centre of the organisation's leadership, ensuring the highest standards of governance, integrity and accountability underpin everything we do.

This newly created role reflects our commitment to strengthening governance and assurance as part of our wider improvement journey. Bringing together legal services, democratic services, elections, governance, compliance, audit, risk and counter-fraud within a single leadership portfolio, you will provide strategic oversight across a broad and influential range of functions that are fundamental to the effective operation of the Council.

As a key member of the Corporate Leadership Team, and a central part of the Council's leadership "golden triangle", you will work closely with elected members, the Chief Executive and senior colleagues to support sound decision-making, effective governance and a culture of transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.

This role includes:

Strategic governance and assurance leadership - leading and shaping the Council's governance framework, ensuring robust decision-making, effective oversight and strong organisational accountability.

Monitoring Officer responsibilities - acting as the Council's statutory Monitoring Officer, providing trusted advice to members and senior officers while promoting the highest standards of ethical governance and conduct.

Directorate leadership and organisational assurance – providing strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of governance and compliance functions, strengthening assurance arrangements and ensuring the Council is well equipped to manage risk, maintain high standards and deliver continuous improvement.

Organisational culture and improvement - embedding a culture where governance, accountability and assurance are integral to how the Council operates, supporting sustainable organisational improvement and long-term resilience.

Partnership and stakeholder engagement - building effective relationships with elected members, regulators, auditors, partner organisations and communities, acting as a credible and influential ambassador for the Council.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a newly redesigned directorate and lead a strategically important portfolio at a defining point in the Council's journey. The breadth of the role, its visibility and influence, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on governance and organisational effectiveness make this one of the most significant leadership opportunities in local government.

About You

We are seeking a highly credible, experienced and inspirational leader with:

• A strong track record of leading governance, legal, and compliance functions within a large and complex organisation.
• Significant experience operating as a statutory Monitoring Officer.
• A deep understanding of corporate governance, organisational assurance, risk management and ethical leadership, alongside the ability to translate these principles into practical organisational outcomes.
• A proven track record of leading complex service transformation, organisational improvement and cultural change programmes.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across political, organisational and professional boundaries.
• Strong leadership experience, including responsibility for people, budgets and organisational performance, coupled with a relentless focus on service quality and continuous improvement.
• Political awareness, resilience and sound judgement, with the ability to provide clear and confident advice in a complex and highly visible environment.

We welcome applications from both legally qualified and non-legally qualified candidates. What matters most is your experience as a senior leader and Monitoring Officer, your ability to lead across a broad governance and compliance portfolio, and your credibility as a strategic leader capable of operating at the heart of a large and complex public sector organisation.

You will be an engaging and visible leader who can inspire confidence, strengthen organisational capability and help shape a culture where good governance, accountability and high standards are embedded in everything we do.

Why Tower Hamlets?

This is an opportunity to lead services that residents interact with every day and to make a lasting impact across one of the most vibrant and diverse boroughs in the country.

Our Values

Our council is a beacon for diversity and inclusion. We want a borough where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive, and a council that works collaboratively to deliver the very best outcomes for residents.

That's why we look for leaders who embody our TOWER values of Together, Open, Willing, Excellent and Respectful

To download the job description, please click the link below:

JD/PS – Chief Compliance Officer

For further information about the council please visit: https://www.jobs.towerhamlets.gov.uk/about-us

For a confidential discussion, please contact our retained consultants at Penna:

• Rachael Morris at Rachael.Morris@penna.com or on 07840 711217
• Julie Towers at Julie.towers@penna.com or on 07764 791736
• Tom Niven at Tom.Niven@penna.com or on 07860 657044

Recruitment Timeline

• Closing Date - 23:59pm, 9^th November 2026
• Longlisting – 17^th November 2026
• Preliminary Technical Interviews - W/C 17^th November 2026
• Shortlisting – 25^th November 2026
• Final Interviews – 7^th December 2026

How to Apply

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
5. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
6. If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com to inform the Penna team.