Head of Regulatory Affairs
- locations: London, United Kingdom and Brussels area, Belgium
- posted on: 14 Oct 2025
- job requisition id: 2025-14929
About Us
We are SWIFT—the world's leading provider of secure financial messaging services, connecting over 12,000 banks and financial institutions in 200+ countries. Headquartered in Belgium, we are the essential infrastructure that moves global value, ensuring the precision, pace, and trust demanded by the global economy. Five decades on, we remain fiercely committed to innovating diligently, testing exhaustively, and implementing fast—all while maintaining the security that underpins the global financial ecosystem. Join us to be instrumental in shaping the future of global commerce.
The Role: Strategic Leader, Regulatory Visionary
The Head of Regulatory Affairs is a critical senior leadership role within our Legal & Compliance function. This is an unparalleled opportunity to shape a newly consolidated global regulatory affairs function that unites crucial areas: data protection, financial sanctions, payments, and cybersecurity.
You will act as a proactive, strategic advisor to the business, anticipating regulatory impact and influencing decision-making at the highest levels. This role leads the organization's strategic regulatory interpretation, positioning, and global policy engagement, working in close partnership with the Public Affairs and Regulatory Compliance teams.
This is a chance to move beyond mere compliance and become the centre of excellence for regulatory insight that guides a critical global organization.
Core Responsibilities
As Head of Regulatory Affairs, you will be expected to:
Define and Deliver Strategy: Establish a forward-looking, global regulatory affairs strategy across all relevant jurisdictions.
Monitor and Assess Global Developments: Proactively track and evaluate worldwide regulatory changes spanning payments, data protection, financial sanctions, cybersecurity, operational resilience, and emerging digital and financial technologies.
Provide Strategic Advice: Identify key regulatory trends, assess potential challenges and opportunities, and provide timely, business-focused analysis on the strategic impact of regulatory change across key global markets.
Lead Policy Engagement: Direct the organization’s global approach to engaging with policymakers and regulators on emerging policy and regulatory interpretations, collaborating closely with the Public Affairs team.
Drive Operational Alignment: Partner with the Regulatory Compliance team to ensure global regulatory insights are effectively translated into consistent enterprise understanding and operational implementation.
Lead and Develop Talent: Inspire, mentor, and build a high-performing, globally oriented regulatory affairs function, positioning the team as a trusted strategic partner.
Key Qualifications
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Experience: More than ten years of experience in regulatory affairs, legal, or policy roles within financial services, FinTech, or financial infrastructure.
Education: A degree in Law is required.
Expertise: Deep knowledge across multiple key regulatory domains impacting financial infrastructure, including: data protection, financial sanctions, payments, cyber resilience, and the evolving regulation of digital assets and technologies.
Track Record: A proven history of analyzing complex regulatory developments and advising senior business leaders on high-impact strategic issues.
Leadership & Collaboration: Demonstrated success in leading teams and collaborating effectively with legal, compliance, and public affairs teams to align regulatory strategy with overall business objectives.
Strategic Acumen: Proven ability to anticipate regulatory shifts and translate those insights into clear, actionable business strategies.
Why Join SWIFT?
This is an exceptional opportunity to join a critical global organization where your work truly matters.
Influence: You will advise the business at the highest strategic levels and directly influence global policy engagement.
Impact: Be instrumental in positioning the newly consolidated Regulatory Affairs function as a high-impact centre of excellence.
Growth: We put you in control of your career and help you perform at your best.
Culture: We offer a competitive package and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone’s voice counts and you have the freedom to be yourself.
Apply Now
If you are excited about this role and are dedicated to bringing your full self and ideas to our team, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every single qualification.
If you believe you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us to request accommodation.
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