Regulatory and Legal Compliance Director

At OakNorth, we’re on a mission to empower the UK’s most ambitious businesses. Since 2015, we’ve lent over $18 billion across the UK and US, helped create more than 58,000 new homes and 36,000 new jobs, and supported hundreds of thousands of personal savers — all while fuelling the UK economy.

We started lending in the US in 2023, and received approval from the regulatory authorities to open our New York Representative Office in September 2024. In that time, we have already provided $1.9bn of lending in the US and this is just the start of our US journey. We are also acquiring Community Unity Bank based in Michigan, subject to regulatory approval.

This is an exciting chance to join a fast-moving, innovative bank with a reputation for doing things differently. We’re not looking for someone to simply slot in — we want self-starters and bold thinkers who are ready to shape their own career path and are passionate about backing the UK’s most dynamic business leaders.

Are you ready to take on the challenge?

In a nutshell, we’re looking for a US legal and compliance specialist to join our compliance team at our New York Representative Office. This is a hands-on role where you’ll be key in helping us to assess and successfully deliver the legal and regulatory compliance requirements for the Bank as we grow across the US. Therefore, you’ll be an integral part of OakNorth’s expansion into the US, helping to ensure that we scale fast, but scale safely maintaining strong regulatory relationships as we go.

What You’ll Be Doing::
• Providing strategic legal and regulatory leadership across our US lending activities - including licensing, prudential requirements and broader regulatory matters. This will include getting your hands dirty with licensing applications, assessing our adherence to prudential requirements and engaging directly with state regulatory bodies.
• Help grow commercial lending – enable the team to lend into an increasing number of states across the US and ensure we lend within regulatory parameters by providing real time and commercially appropriate advice to internal stakeholders.
• Enable scale – be part of wider growth of OakNorth Bank’s US aspirations, providing regulatory and legal advice on scalable processes and controls.
• Advise and collaborate – work closely with teams in New York, Michigan, the UK and India and provide clear, practical and commercial guidance and support.
• Engage regulators – act as point of contact for regulators, licensing bodies and external counsel ensuring speed and quality of responses.

What We’re Looking For:
• At least 7+ years solid experience in legal and/or regulatory / compliance roles at regulatory authorities, banks or advisory firms.
• Strong knowledge of US banking regulations and legal and commercial implementation of such regulations such as the Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency requirements.
• Experience dealing with or alongside regulatory authorities
• A mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution - you’ll be both designing frameworks and ensuring they are executed effectively
• Excellent communications skills and ability to work with teams cross border —able to explain complex rules on both sides of the pond!
• Someone who is proactive, curious, and not afraid to bring new ideas to the table.