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Head of Advisory Compliance, Japan

Tokyo, Japan

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Date live: 10/05/2026

Business Area: Compliance

Area of Expertise: Compliance

Contract: Permanent

Reference Code: JR-0000133769

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Barclays Compliance

Compliance is a broad, multidisciplinary function at Barclays that oversees our global business operations. We ensure the bank lives its values, meets regulatory requirements, and follows our codes of conduct. Compliance helps manage financial affairs safely, prevents crime, and eliminates bad practices, acting as guardians for customers, colleagues, assets, shareholders, and reputation. This vital, challenging, and rewarding role protects customers, defends our reputation, and defines our business practices. Without Compliance, Barclays could not operate.

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Role Purpose

The Head of Advisory Compliance, Japan is responsible for the overall leadership, strategy and effectiveness of the Advisory Compliance function in Japan, covering both Public Side and Private Side businesses.

The role provides strategic compliance advice and guidance to senior business stakeholders, ensures consistent interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and oversees the delivery of effective compliance support to the businesses. The individual is responsible for the overall Advisory Compliance framework and strategy in Japan, ensuring that compliance support is delivered consistently, effectively and in alignment with the firm's risk appetite, regulatory obligations and strategic objectives.

As a member of the Japan Compliance Leadership Team, the role holder is expected to help shape the direction and success of both Japan Compliance and the wider Japan franchise. Success in this role requires a strong "One Compliance" mindset, a broad enterprise perspective, and a commitment to building strong partnerships across businesses, control functions and stakeholders to support the long-term success, resilience and reputation of Barclays in Japan.

The role holder is expected to exercise leadership in a manner that advances not only the objectives of the Advisory Compliance function, but also those of Japan Compliance and the wider Japan franchise. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgement, ownership and a willingness to contribute wherever their experience and leadership can add value.

Key Accountabilities

Business Advisory and Enablement

  • Lead the provision of practical, commercial and risk-based compliance advice across Public Side and Private Side businesses in Japan.
  • Partner with business leaders to support strategic initiatives, business growth, transactions, new products and organisational changes while ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
  • Exercise sound judgement in balancing business objectives with regulatory obligations, supporting sustainable business growth within the firm's risk appetite.
  • Promote a solutions-oriented approach that enables business activity while maintaining appropriate regulatory and conduct standards.

Ownership, Risk Management and Governance

  • Take ownership of significant compliance matters and drive issues to timely and effective resolution.
  • Identify, assess, escalate and manage compliance and regulatory risks impacting the business and the Japan franchise.
  • Lead Compliance engagement in regulatory reviews, inspections, enquiries and remediation activities.
  • Ensure appropriate governance, escalation and reporting of material compliance issues and risks.

Leadership and Franchise Contribution

  • Contribute to the leadership, strategic direction and effectiveness of Japan Compliance as a member of the Japan Compliance Leadership Team.
  • Support broader franchise priorities by taking a holistic view of risks, opportunities and issues affecting Barclays Japan.
  • Build strong partnerships across businesses, infrastructure functions and control functions to support effective decision-making and execution.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and shared ownership, promoting outcomes that are in the best interests of Barclays, Japan Compliance and the Japan franchise.

People Leadership

  • Lead, develop and mentor a high-performing Advisory Compliance team.
  • Set clear expectations regarding ownership, judgement, accountability and client-focused advisory support.
  • Promote professional development, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure the team has the capability, capacity and mindset required to support evolving business and regulatory needs.

Risk and Control Objective

Ensure that all activities and responsibilities are carried out in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, Barclays policies, standards and the Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

Essential Skills and Experience

  • Significant Compliance experience within the financial services industry.
  • Strong knowledge of Japanese regulatory requirements and market practices.
  • Extensive experience providing Compliance Advisory support to front-office businesses.
  • Demonstrated ability to engage, influence and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
  • Strong leadership and people management experience.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Japanese.
  • Sound judgement and the ability to balance regulatory requirements with commercial objectives.
  • Strong personal accountability, decision-making and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Experience

  • Experience supporting both Public Side and Private Side businesses.
  • Experience engaging with Japanese regulatory authorities, including the FSA and relevant exchanges.
  • Experience leading regulatory change, remediation or transformation initiatives.

Experience operating within a global matrix organisation.

Purpose of the role

To provide data-led expert oversight and check and challenge on business and compliance matters to evidence that the organisation is operating in a compliance with Barclays legal, regulatory and ethical responsibilities. 

Accountabilities

  • Identification and assessment of compliance risks through thorough reviews of business activities, changes, processes, testing and systems to.
  • Identification and investigation of potential market abuse, including but not limited to, Insider Dealing, Unlawful Disclosure, Market Manipulation or Anti-Competitive Conduct.
  • Conduct investigation of compliance risk events or breaches. Oversight and check and challenge of corrective actions and preventative measures to avoid future occurrences.
  • Implementation of compliance policies and procedures in line with regulatory requirements and ensuring that the bank’s internal policies are aligned with international standards, including jurisdictional requirements.
  • Collaboration with 1LOD, other relevant Compliance teams and legal, and relevant risk management functions to facilitate a comprehensive approach to compliance and risk management.
  • Identification, investigation and oversight of potential money laundering, terrorist financing or other financial crime.

Director Expectations

  • To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
  • They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
  • Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
  • Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
  • Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
  • Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
  • Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
  • Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
  • Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
  • Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
  • Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
  • Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
  • Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re a global, vital and highly respected financial organisation with an inspiring Purpose. Operating in 39 countries and employing around 100,000 people across the world, we help communities, individuals and businesses thrive. And we’ve created financial solutions and technology that the world now takes for granted. A career with us can offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience, and the chance to learn from some of the best minds in technology and finance.

To find out more about Barclays' strategy please click here.

We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

This role may be subject to enhanced governance arrangements. If successful, you may be required to comply with additional regulatory and compliance obligations, such as disclosure of personal trading activities and external interest/affiliations.

Further information on these requirements will be provided at a later stage of the process.

Learn more about Barclays locations

Across our campuses, we offer modern workspaces, collaborative areas, and state-of-the-art meeting rooms. Facilities include wellness rooms, on-site cafeterias, fitness centers, and tech-equipped workstations. Designed for innovation and comfort, they support a dynamic and productive work environment.

Gain access to wellness rooms, gyms and mental health support.

Our welcoming and inclusive culture supports you to bring your whole self to work, explore your potential and pursue your passions.

Modern spaces designed for teamwork and brainstorming.

There’s so much more than work to involve and engage you on campus. From socialising to sports, from community events to volunteering.

Learn more about Barclays locations

Across our campuses, we offer modern workspaces, collaborative areas, and state-of-the-art meeting rooms. Facilities include wellness rooms, on-site cafeterias, fitness centers, and tech-equipped workstations. Designed for innovation and comfort, they support a dynamic and productive work environment.

Health and wellness

Gain access to wellness rooms, gyms and mental health support.

A place where you can belong

Our welcoming and inclusive culture supports you to bring your whole self to work, explore your potential and pursue your passions.

Collaborative Areas

Modern spaces designed for teamwork and brainstorming.

More than work

There’s so much more than work to involve and engage you on campus. From socialising to sports, from community events to volunteering.

Multicultural ERGs at Barclays

Be you. Be valued. Belong.

We celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings, believing our differences make us stronger and drive success.

You can learn more about our commitment to our colleague on our Inclusion and Opportunities page.

Learn more

Application Process

Your application

We’ll ask for information about you, your CV and cover letter.

1

Your assessment

Covering your behaviours and ability at work.

2

Your interview

Exploring your past experiences and skills.

3

Next step

We’ll request additional information so that you can complete our screening process

4
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Barclays

Working flexibly

We’re committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture and environment for you to work in. This environment recognises and supports your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. If you'd like to explore flexible working arrangements, please discuss this with the hiring manager. Your request will be reviewed in-line with the requirements of the role/business needs of the team.

Hybrid working

We have a structured approach to hybrid working, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days, as set by the business area. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager. Please note that working arrangements may be subject to change on reasonable notice to ensure we meet the needs of our business.

Barclays is built on an international scale.

Our geographic reach, our wide variety of functions, businesses, roles and locations reflect the rich diversity of our worldwide customer base. All of which means we offer incredible variety, depth and breadth of experience.
And the chance to learn from a globally diverse mix of colleagues, including some of the very best minds in banking, finance, technology and business. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to embrace mobility, exploring every part of our operations as you build your career.

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