The Head Compliance Private Clients will oversee compliance activities for the wealth management division of a leading private bank with headquarters in Switzerland and operations across the European Union. This senior leadership role reports to the Head of Legal & Compliance Advisory and will lead compliance teams based in Switzerland and Germany and manage contractors in Italy and Dubai. The incumbent is responsible for both strategic guidance and business-as-usual (BAU) compliance functions, ensuring robust controls and fostering a culture of compliance within a global, dynamic environment

What would your role be?

• Lead and develop compliance teams in Switzerland and Germany, promoting cross-border collaboration and implementation of the Group Compliance framework
• Provide expert advice on Swiss, EU, and international regulations impacting wealth management and structured solutions (e.g., FinSA/FinIA, MiFID II, PRIIPs, EMIR, SFTR)
• Assess regulatory changes, advise Boards and senior management, and ensure policies, procedures, and cross-border activities remain compliant
• Act as compliance lead for structured solutions, including structured products, OTC derivatives, AMCs, tailored financing, and bespoke investment solutions
• Provide regulatory assessment on product governance and new product approvals
• Oversee compliance reviews of product documentation and marketing materials, ensuring accurate disclosures and adherence to suitability, investor protection, and cross-border rules
• Strengthen the compliance control framework through risk assessments, breach investigations, remediation, regulatory engagement, and reporting to senior management and authorities

What are we looking for?

• 8+ years’ experience in senior compliance leadership within international private banking, with strong exposure to Swiss/EU regulations and structured products
• Deep knowledge of suitability, product governance, conflicts of interest, marketing compliance, ESG, inducements, and cross-border regulations
• Strong understanding of FinSA, MiFID II, PRIIPs, EU Prospectus Regulation, and structured solutions compliance requirements
• Proven ability to design and maintain compliance frameworks, including policies, controls, risk assessments, and monitoring programs
• Experience partnering with structuring, sales, and trading teams to deliver practical compliance solutions for complex transactions
• Strong leadership, integrity, analytical, and stakeholder management skills, with experience leading multi-jurisdictional teams
• Advanced degree in Law, Finance, or a related field
• Fluent in German and English; French and/or Italian are a plus

What do we offer?

• Top Zurich location with collaboration spaces (including rooftop terraces) and free lunch
• Friendly, diverse team in an open-office space with dancing walls
• Agile environment in how we think, the way we work and our trust for each other
• Flat hierarchy with collaboration at all levels
• Campus feeling and a collaborative spirit
• We are looking for talented people, not just a CV that ticks all the boxes. Even if you do not have absolutely everything we have asked for, if this role sounds like a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply

At Vontobel, you are building better futures for our clients and society, as well as for yourself. As a family-owned and publicly listed company with over 2,000 professionals based in 28 locations globally and headquartered in Zurich, we’re committed to long-term thinking and sustainability

Asset Management

Patriot Act Certification

Deposit Insurance Scheme

configure your cookie and tracking settings