Head Compliance in Insurance sector

For one of our clients, a major international player in the insurance sector, we are looking for an experienced Head of Compliance Belgium.
This is a senior leadership position combining local ownership of the Belgian Compliance function with broader exposure across the Benelux region. Reporting directly to the Benelux Legal & Compliance leadership, you will advise senior management, lead the local team and contribute to the transformation of the Compliance function.
Your roleAs Head of Compliance Belgium, you act as the key Compliance reference for the Belgian business.
You will combine regulatory expertise with a pragmatic understanding of the business, ensuring that regulatory requirements are effectively translated into workable solutions.
Beyond maintaining a robust compliance framework, you will be expected to help modernise the function through digitalisation, process simplification, data and AI-enabled solutions.
RoleCompliance leadership & strategyLead the Belgian Compliance function and manage the local Compliance team. Act as the main Compliance advisor to senior management regarding Belgian activities. Contribute to the wider Benelux Compliance strategy and collaborate closely with international Group Compliance stakeholders. Challenge existing processes and identify opportunities for greater efficiency, automation and simplification. Support the implementation of new Compliance technologies and tools. Regulatory advisory & governanceMonitor Belgian and European regulatory developments and assess their potential impact on the organisation. Provide clear and pragmatic recommendations to management and business stakeholders. Translate Group-level requirements into appropriate Belgian policies, procedures and controls. Maintain and continuously improve the local Compliance governance framework. Participate in strategic projects and business initiatives from a Compliance perspective. Compliance risk managementCoordinate and oversee Compliance risk assessments. Identify emerging regulatory and non-financial risks. Define appropriate mitigating measures and follow their implementation. Challenge the business where necessary while remaining a constructive partner. Ensure that Compliance risks receive appropriate visibility at senior-management level. Monitoring & reportingOversee the Belgian Compliance monitoring programme. Analyse findings and identify recurring or structural risk areas. Prepare concise reporting for senior management and relevant governance bodies. Formulate recommendations and monitor remediation actions. Integrity & investigationsOversee sensitive Compliance matters, including whistleblowing cases and internal investigations. Ensure cases are handled independently, confidentially and consistently. Promote strong ethical standards throughout the organisation. People managementCoach and develop the Belgian Compliance team. Establish clear priorities and accountability within the function. Encourage knowledge-sharing and cooperation across Belgium and the wider Benelux organisation. Create an environment where team members can operate with autonomy while maintaining high professional standards. ProfileWe are looking for a senior Compliance professional capable of combining technical credibility, leadership and business judgement.
You ideally bring:A Master's degree in Law. Significant experience within Compliance, preferably in insurance, banking or another strongly regulated financial environment. Previous experience leading or coordinating Compliance professionals. Strong knowledge of Belgian and European Compliance frameworks. Good understanding of non-financial risk management and Compliance governance. Experience advising senior executives and challenging business stakeholders. Exposure to regulatory monitoring, Compliance controls, investigations and governance. Strong project and change-management capabilities. An interest in the transformation of Compliance through AI, data analytics, automation and digitalisation. Compliance Officer certification is considered an advantage. Professional fluency in Dutch, French and English. From a personality perspective, the position requires someone who is credible, diplomatic and sufficiently assertive to challenge senior stakeholders, while maintaining a constructive relationship with the business. You should be comfortable taking ownership and making decisions in a complex international organisation.
OfferWhy consider this opportunity?The position offers considerably more than a traditional local Head of Compliance mandate.
You will have direct exposure to senior management, ownership of the Belgian function and regular interaction with Compliance stakeholders across the Benelux and the wider international group.
The organisation is also actively looking at how Compliance can evolve through technology, AI, data and simpler operating models, giving the successful candidate an opportunity to influence how the function develops rather than simply ma