Head of Compliance - Australia

Job Title

Head of Compliance - Australia

Job Description

About the Opportunity
As Head of Compliance Australia, you’ll be the strategic compliance advisor to local leadership, driving a strong culture of integrity and risk management. You’ll lead the development and communication of the compliance vision, ensure alignment with internal and external regulations, and proactively manage emerging risks. As a member of the Australian Risk Management Leadership Team, you’ll champion consistency and best practice nationwide, while delivering timely insights to senior management and the Board. Your leadership will shape robust oversight, continuous improvement, and representation in global compliance forums.

What You’Ll Do

• Lead & Inspire: Oversee the Australian Compliance function, including AML/CTF and Privacy Officer responsibilities. Develop and mentor a future-ready team.
• Strategic Partner: Provide expert compliance advice to senior management and act as a key business partner.
• Frameworks & Reporting: Design, implement, and continuously improve the Compliance Management Framework. Deliver insightful reporting to the CRO, Board, and Management Committees.
• Risk Management: Monitor, assess, and escalate compliance risks, incidents, and breaches. Drive timely remediation and continuous improvement.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee obligations registers, regulatory change management, data quality, complaints handling, client remediation, and whistleblower processes.
• Uphold Values: Embody Rabobank’s values, code of conduct, and commitment to treating clients fairly.
• Regulatory Engagement: Build and maintain strong, transparent relationships with regulators.
• Project Leadership: Lead compliance-related projects, policy rollouts, and training programs across Australia.
• Collaboration: Work closely with regional and global teams to ensure alignment and share best practices.
• Culture Champion: Foster a strong compliance culture and risk awareness throughout the organisation.

What You’Ll Bring

• Experience: 15+ years in compliance within financial services, including 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Expertise: Deep knowledge of Australian regulatory frameworks (federal and state), ideally as a lawyer or senior compliance professional.
• Credibility: Proven experience engaging with Australian regulators and managing compliance reporting to Boards and Executive Committees.
• Leadership: Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and people leadership skills. Experience in a globally matrixed organisation is highly regarded.
• Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in Law (preferred), Accounting, Commerce, or related fields. MBA or postgraduate leadership qualifications are highly desirable.
• Mindset: Collaborative, influential, and able to challenge and support at all levels.

What we're proud to offer you:

• Rabo@Anywhere is our hybrid way of working at Rabobank and for Australia, that means we have a blend of time working between the office and home. 
• Wellbeing leave. These 2 extra leave days support greater work/life balance and is just another way we are helping our employees to lead happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
• Education Assistance Program. Rabobank values the development of its people and has a great Education Assistance Program to assist with professional development.
• Parental Leave that supports you and your family while giving you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy this special time (up-to 14 weeks paid leave)
• Bonus and Additional Leave. We realise sometimes 4 weeks Annual Leave isn't enough! At Rabobank we provide an incentive for eligible employees to receive 1 extra week Annual Leave and an option to purchase another 2 weeks Annual Leave.
• Extra Insurance. Rabobank recognises that employees need to protect their financial wellbeing, in the event of serious illness, injury, or even death. Rabobank provides eligible permanent employees with employer-funded Death, TPD and Income Protection Insurance.
• Rabo Workplace Giving program. As part of Rabobank's global Corporate Social Responsibility, Workplace Giving aims to encourage employees to contribute to our community. Rabo Workplace Giving program matches employee donations to selected Social Partners.

Our Values
Rabobank Australia values inclusion, belonging, and positive experiences for all. Our work environment, our benefits, and the way we live our values, “Client Driven”, “Responsible”, “Professional” and “Cooperative” make it a great place to work. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Please let our Talent Acquisition team know if you need any accommodations to make our opportunities more accessible to you.