Chief Compliance Officer / Chief Regulatory Officer

About the role

This is a senior leadership role sitting within our CFTC-regulated business unit, with responsibility spanning Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) operations. You will serve as the CCO of our DCO and CRO of our DCM - two distinct CFTC designations, one role. This is a founding build: our licensing applications are in-flight and you will own the remaining process through to go-live, then design and operate the compliance programme from the ground up. You will be the most senior compliance voice in the business, working directly with the CEO and board with the support of the Smarkets UK team behind you. About You Senior compliance and legal leader with 7+ years senior leadership experience, preferably in a compliance team or in-house legal department of an international corporation. 4+ years of hands-on experience within a DCM or DCO in the United States, with direct responsibility for CFTC Core Principles compliance - not advisory or supporting experience. FCM background considered where combined with strong CFTC examination ownership. Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven track record working in a small scale fast-paced creative work environment. Deep expertise across the CFTC regulatory landscape, including knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, particularly Parts 38, 39, and 40, familiarity with exchange rulebooks, market surveillance programs, and self-regulatory organization (SRO) obligations. Proven experience owning CFTC interactions end-to-end: examinations, rule submissions, ongoing reporting, and authoring annual CCO reports covering conflicts of interest, resource adequacy and remediation of non-compliance - not just reviewing them. Strong understanding of the broader compliance remit, including AML/KYC, trade surveillance, data protection, corporate governance, and commercial contracts. Experience partnering with the CEO and COO on regulatory strategy, board-level governance, and investor reporting - including engagement with regulators at an institutional level.