JOB DESCRIPTION
As Head of Compliance, you will be responsible for establishing and leading IFU’s second-line compliance function, covering all aspects of non-financial risk across the organization. IFU’s compliance work is structured around four core areas, which together form the foundation for a professional and coherent compliance framework.
The first area is financial crime compliance, which will be a focus point in the role. This includes the further development and implementation of policies and procedures to prevent and mitigate risks related to anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CTF), anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), fraud, and sanctions. While there is already some first-line activity in this area, your role will be to strengthen the overall set-up and ensure alignment with relevant regulatory requirements and best practice.
The second area is traditional compliance. This involves maintaining and renewing internal policies and practices such as the code of conduct, conflict of interest and business ethics guidelines. Furthermore, you will potentially be working with policies and regulations within personal account dealing, GDPR, and the market abuse regulation. This focus area also includes testing and implementation of controls and the broader compliance advisory and oversight function.
The third area, regulatory engagement, covers the ongoing dialogue with IFU’s supervisory authority – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). You will be responsible for maintaining a transparent and constructive relationship, including coordination of inspections, information requests and general compliance communication as well as building a repository of all communication to and from the MFA.
Finally, operational risk will be part of your scope. This includes establishing a framework for identification and management of non-financial risks related to internal processes, systems and counterparties, and ensuring appropriate controls and escalation paths are in place.
Together, these four areas form the strategic and operational scope of the compliance function. Your role will be to design, drive, and maintain IFU’s policies, procedures, risk assessments, and controls across all four areas, with a particular focus on strengthening governance around financial crime and traditional compliance.
In addition to your core compliance responsibilities, you will lead and develop a small but growing team. You will have direct management responsibility for two employees – a Senior Compliance Officer and a Business Integrity Director. Together, you will build a strong, collaborative and high-performing compliance function that supports IFU’s mission and international presence.
LEGAL TEAM
As Head of Compliance, you will be responsible for building and leading a new compliance team that will consist of three compliance professionals.
The compliance team will cover key compliance areas including financial crime (AML/KYC, CTF), sanctions and bribery & corruption, conflict of interest, business ethics etc., and the development and implementation of an operational compliance program.
You will be based at IFU’s headquarters in central Copenhagen, where approximately 150 colleagues are located. Within the next year, IFU will relocate to modern and attractive office facilities in Nordhavn – conveniently situated close to both metro and S-train stations.
For candidates interested in international exposure, there will also be good opportunities for travel to IFU’s various global locations.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
In the role as Head of Compliance, you will head up the compliance efforts in IFU. Within each of the four core areas your work will consist of:
- Leading the development, implementation and ongoing refinement of an integrated, risk-based and forward-looking compliance and financial crime program and conducting comprehensive risk assessments to identify and address compliance and financial crime-related gaps.
- Ensuring high-quality and consistent compliance performance in accordance with all relevant laws, regulations, directives, standards and guidelines.
- Aligning compliance efforts with IFU’s strategic objectives and ensuring timely and high-quality dashboard-based management reporting and ad hoc reporting on compliance issues and incidents that may be identified.
- Driving the ongoing development of IFU’s compliance policies and strategy and ensuring the establishment and maintenance of a fit-for-purpose compliance framework. This includes oversight of first-line controls, policy governance and risk assessment activities.
- Contributing to the establishment of a structured regulatory engagement process and actively promoting a strong risk and compliance culture across the organization, applying a pragmatic and collaborative approach.
In addition, you will also be responsible for tasks such as:
- Delivering training and promoting a risk and compliance culture across IFU’s global organization.
- Managing and responding to compliance incidents and ensuring clear escalation and case handling procedures.
- Coordinating regulatory engagement and ensuring transparency and preparedness in relation to the MFA.
REPORTING AND TITLE
Reporting to: General Counsel and Chief Commercial Officer, Frederik Bjørn.
Title: Head of Compliance.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
Education: You are a qualified lawyer (cand.jur., cand.merc.jur. or equivalent) or have another relevant educational background.
Work experience: You have a minimum of 10 years of post-graduation experience from working in a compliance role or as a senior compliance officer in a large corporation, such as a financial institution (which could be a bank or a pension fund), private company or other corporation subject to non financial compliance.
Compliance: You have solid experience working with compliance, including the development and implementation of policies and procedures, risk assessments and internal controls. Your experience covers key risk areas such as financial crime (e.g. anti-bribery and corruption, AML/KYC, sanctions and fraud), conflicts of interest, etc. Experience working with operational risk frameworks and compliance in an international context would be an advantage.
Stakeholder management: You have excellent abilities in interacting and building relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, including at senior executive level. You constructively balance legal and commercial interests, and you are comfortable with flagging and challenging processes and decisions that impose compliance risks.
International: You have an international outlook and experience from working in an international environment.
Language skills: You are fluent in English (both written and verbal).
PERSONAL CAPABILITIES
Purpose-driven mindset: You are motivated by making a long-term difference and contributing to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges – from climate change to social inequality. You thrive in a mission-driven organization like IFU, where investments are guided by the ambition to create lasting positive impact for people and planet.
Hands-on approach: You bring a strong understanding of how to build and maintain a proportionate compliance program – tailored to the needs of IFU. You thrive in a hands-on role where you are closely involved in execution, and you strike a natural balance between setting direction and getting things done.
Communication: You have strong written and verbal communication skills and can communicate complex regulatory issues in simple and concise terms to various stakeholders. In your communication, you are able to find the right balance between being detail-oriented and structured.
Responsibility: You take responsibility and can set priorities and juggle multiple demands while maintaining the overview and adhering to deadlines.
Build trust & influence: Strong stakeholder and communication skills with the ability to build trust across the organization at all levels. Able to influence through credibility and to “sell” the strategic relevance and business value of the compliance function – with patience and understanding.
Strategic mindset: A strategic thinker with a can-do attitude and a strong focus on practical solutions. Able to navigate complexity, address competing priorities, and align compliance efforts with business needs.
Ownership and collaboration: You demonstrate initiative and take ownership with a proactive leadership style. Leading by example, fostering cross-unit cooperation, and promoting teamwork and open information sharing across the organization.
IFU’S VALUE PROPOSITION TO YOU
IFU’s learning culture provides the tools and organization for individual development. Learning is an important element of working in IFU, and IFU will support your personal development through training, sparring and by ensuring that you get exciting and challenging tasks and new opportunities for growth.
IFU offers a hybrid workplace, allowing you to manage your own time effectively. IFU has a diverse and inclusive working environment with more than 150 talented individuals from 20+ different nationalities. At IFU you work seamlessly together with colleagues around the corner, across the organization and between the regional offices in Asia, Africa, LATAM and Europe.
When joining IFU, you will take part in IFU’s extensive onboarding program to get the best possible start in your new role.
ABOUT IFU
IFU – the Investment Fund for Developing Countries is a Danish impact investor contributing to green, just and inclusive societies as well as supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. IFU provides risk capital to companies operating in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe. Investments are made on commercial terms in the form of equity, loans and guarantees.
The fund provides risk capital and professional advisory services in financially viable companies through a range of investment products ranging from direct investment in debt and equity, as well as fund investments, mezzanine financing and guaranties with the purpose of creating impact. IFU operates as an active owner (minority stakeholder) with a long investment horizon and invests in companies established in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Europe sharing the risk with their investment partners. IFU’s return/risk appetite depends on the product with a range of the products operating with expectation of commercial level returns. Ticket size is between DKK 50-750 M depending on product.
IFU’s work is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, investing in projects that generate positive societal impact. In 2024 IFU received recognition from BlueMark as one of the worlds’ best Impact Investors.
IFU has co-invested in over 1,300 companies in more than 100 developing countries and emerging markets. Contracted investments total EUR 31 billion, of which IFU has contributed EUR 3.4 billion. Capital under management will be growing from EUR 2.1 billion to EUR 5.0 billion over the next few years.
Headquartered in Copenhagen, IFU also has regional offices in Nairobi, Kyiv, New Delhi, and São Paulo with additional offices on the way, ensuring strong local presence and market insight.
With over 55 years of experience and a strong mission to drive social and sustainable development through responsible investments, IFU plays a key role in Denmark’s international development efforts and the global green transition.
You can learn more about IFU at https://www.ifu.dk/. For the latest news and updates, please visit IFU’s news page here https://www.ifu.dk/nyheder/.
APPLICATION AND CONTACT
If you believe this position is a good fit for you, we look forward to receiving your application. Please attach your CV and any relevant documentation. Should you have any questions regarding the position, please don’t hesitate to contact Camilla Krogh at (+45 51261264) or Mikkel Falkenberg at (+45 29993065) from the team at RESOLVA.
