London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Director of Compliance

Director of Compliance

Strengthening governance, assurance and organisational confidence

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is one of the UK's most ambitious and high-profile local authorities, delivering services to a diverse and fast-growing population at the heart of East London. As we continue our improvement journey, effective governance, accountability and assurance are critical to maintaining public trust and delivering sustainable performance.

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Compliance to provide corporate leadership for compliance, risk and assurance across the organisation.

Reporting to the Chief Compliance Officer, this strategic leadership role will act as the Council's principal interface with auditors, inspectors, regulators and government bodies, ensuring robust governance arrangements and confidence in the Council's ability to meet its statutory and regulatory obligations.

About the Role

This is a pivotal role focused on organisational oversight, assurance and continuous improvement.

You will coordinate the Council's response to external audit recommendations, inspection findings and regulatory reviews, ensuring learning is embedded and translated into lasting organisational improvement. Working closely with statutory officers, senior leaders and Members, you will help strengthen assurance maturity and create a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.

This role includes:

Corporate Governance and Assurance - Providing stewardship of the Council's compliance, governance, risk and assurance framework.

Regulatory and External Engagement - Leading relationships with auditors, inspectorates, regulators and improvement bodies.

Risk and Compliance Leadership - Ensuring effective oversight of organisational compliance and assurance arrangements.

Organisational Improvement - Driving learning from audits, inspections and investigations to strengthen corporate performance.

Strategic Advice and Challenge - Providing authoritative insight and challenge to Members and senior leaders on matters of governance, risk and assurance.

About You

We are seeking an experienced and credible leader who can operate confidently in a complex and politically accountable environment.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in governance, compliance, assurance or risk.
• Experience working with auditors, regulators or inspection bodies.
• A track record of strengthening organisational governance and assurance frameworks.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• The confidence to influence, advise and challenge at executive and political levels.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• A commitment to integrity, organisational learning and continuous improvement.

Why Tower Hamlets?

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the governance and assurance landscape of one of London's most ambitious councils and play a key role in supporting long-term organisational excellence.

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 – Director of Compliance

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:

• Andrew Tromans at Andrew.tromans@penna.com or on 07805 226301
• Julie Towers at Julie.towers@penna.com or on 07764 791736
• Kelly Ridley at Kelly.ridley@penna.com or on 07709 512415.

Closing Date: 23:59pm, 20^th November 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.