The Head of Regulatory Affairs will lead our consolidated regulatory affairs function within Legal & Compliance, bringing together critical areas such as data protection, financial sanctions, payments, and cybersecurity. While the data protection and sanctions teams will continue to carry out operational responsibilities reflecting their transversal nature, they will report into the Head to ensure strategic alignment and a unified regulatory affairs approach. This senior leadership role provides proactive, strategic regulatory advice directly to the business, helping shape decision-making and anticipating regulatory impact. It works in close partnership with the Regulatory Compliance team, which is responsible for demonstrating compliance and assurance to regulators, while Regulatory Affairs leads on regulatory interpretation, strategic positioning, and policy engagement, in close collaboration with the Public Affairs team.

Core responsibilities

• Define and deliver a forward-looking global regulatory affairs strategy across all relevant jurisdictions
• Monitor and assess global regulatory developments across a broad range of areas relevant to Swift’s activities, including payments, data protection, financial sanctions, cybersecurity, operational resilience, and emerging digital and financial technologies
• Identify key regulatory themes and trends, assessing potential challenges and opportunities for the company and advising senior stakeholders accordingly
• Provide timely, business-focused analysis and advice on the strategic impact of regulatory change across key global markets
• Lead the organisation’s global approach to engaging with policymakers and regulators on emerging regulatory developments and interpretations, in close collaboration with Public Affairs
• Partner with the Regulatory Compliance team to ensure global regulatory insights are effectively translated into operational implementation and consistent enterprise understanding
• Lead and develop a high-performing, globally oriented regulatory affairs function, including the data protection and sanctions teams, balancing strategic leadership with recognition of their ongoing operational roles. Position regulatory affairs as a trusted strategic partner and a centre of excellence for regulatory insight.

Key qualifications

• More than ten years of experience in regulatory affairs, legal, or policy roles within financial services, fintech, or infrastructure
• Expertise across key regulatory domains impacting financial infrastructure, including data protection, sanctions, payments, cyber resilience, and the evolving regulation of digital assets and technologies
• A strong track record of analysing regulatory developments and advising senior business leaders on complex and high-impact issues
• Demonstrated success in collaborating with legal, compliance, and public affairs teams to align regulatory strategy with business objectives
• Proven leadership capability, with the ability to inspire, mentor, and build a high-impact team while contributing to broader strategic priorities

Why join

This is a unique opportunity to shape a newly consolidated regulatory affairs function at Swift, bringing together critical and evolving areas of regulatory focus. The role offers the chance to advise the business at the highest strategic levels, influence policy engagement globally, and partner closely with Regulatory Compliance and Public Affairs teams. You will be instrumental in positioning regulatory affairs as a centre of excellence and a trusted strategic partner within a dynamic and critical global organisation.