Global Data Protection Officer

Role Description

The Global Risk and Compliance division (GR&C) exists to enable the FNZ Group to safely achieve its strategic objectives and protect value; to support the growth and delivery of services and propositions to the quality our clients and regulators expect.

The Global Data Protection Officer (DPO) is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the firm’s global data protection and privacy framework to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. This role involves leading data protection initiatives across jurisdictions, proactively addressing emerging privacy risks, and fostering a culture of data protection awareness and accountability throughout the organization. The Global DPO will collaborate closely with FNZ’s executive leadership, regulators, and stakeholders across regions and business units to align data privacy strategies with the firm’s strategic objectives and evolving regulatory landscape. This role will collaborate with governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) specialists and analytics experts to ensure effective oversight, reporting, and continuous improvement of the firm’s data protection position.

Reporting directly to the Group Enterprise Compliance Director, the DPO will serve as a key member of the GR&C senior leadership team, contributing to both strategic and operational data protection matters.

This role is ideal for a seasoned data protection leader with a deep understanding of global privacy regulations within financial services, ethical leadership, and the vision to build a robust data protection program that supports the firm’s strategic goals and regulatory obligations.

Specific Role Responsibilities

Data Protection & Privacy Program Management:

• Develop, implement, and oversee the global data protection framework, policies, and standards, ensuring alignment with local data privacy regulatory obligations and industry best practices across Europe, the UK, North America, and APAC.
• Establish privacy governance objectives and key privacy risk indicators (KPIs/KRIs) that align with the firm’s risk appetite and compliance requirements.
• Implement systems and processes to monitor, identify, and mitigate data protection risks across business functions and global regions.

Privacy Risk Identification, Assessment & Mitigation:

• Conduct regular privacy risk assessments, DPIAs, and gap analyses across the enterprise to identify emerging risks and vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Legal, IT Security, Compliance, and Risk, to develop and implement privacy controls, mitigation strategies, and remediation plans.
• Oversee privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and third-party risk assessments to ensure compliance with data protection laws and contractual obligations.

Regulatory Compliance & Industry Engagement:

• Stay informed on global data protection laws, regulatory developments, and industry trends, advising executive leadership on their impact.
• Act as a key liaison with data protection regulators, auditors, and external stakeholders on data privacy-related matters, managing relevant regulatory inquiries and examinations.
• Lead and oversee cross-border data transfer strategies, including mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs).

Policy Development & Privacy Culture:

• Develop, update, and enforce privacy policies, standards, and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and industry best practices.
• Design and implement enterprise-wide data privacy training programs to enhance awareness and accountability at all levels of the organization.
• Foster a privacy-first culture, promoting transparency, ethical data handling, and risk-informed decision-making.

Governance, Reporting & Communication:

• Attend internal and external client risk committees as required, ensuring oversight of the firm’s privacy risk exposure.
• Provide regular reports and updates to the Group CRO, executive team, and Group Board Risk & Compliance Committee on data protection risks, emerging threats, and mitigation strategies.
• Communicate privacy risk expectations clearly and effectively, fostering a culture of regulatory data compliance and proactive data protection.
• Provide independent oversight, challenge, and advisory support to first-line data governance across multiple regions.

Leadership & Development:

• Cultivate a global network of privacy professionals, fostering collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in data protection.
• Ensure Regional Data Protection Officers (DPOs) and Compliance teams are aligned with the enterprise data protection strategy and effectively managing local data protection risks and mitigation plans.
• Provide strategic oversight on enterprise-wide data governance programs, ensuring consistent data protection management practices.
• Collaborate with Regional CROs, CCOs, and DPOs to provide support, education, and training to enhance data protection and competency.
• Maintain deep knowledge of the regulatory environments in which the organization operates.
• Serve as the policy owner for relevant data protection policies and procedures.
• Ensure that annual privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and third-party risk assessments are systematically carried out across the global enterprise.

Experience required

Experience:

• Extensive experience in data protection, privacy, and regulatory compliance within the financial services industry, with at least 5 years in a senior or global data protection leadership role.
• Deep understanding of international privacy laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR, UK DPA 2018, CCPA, PIPEDA, and APAC regulations) and their application in financial services.
• Proven track record of developing, implementing, and managing enterprise-wide data protection programs in a complex, multinational environment.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement data governance, compliance strategies, and privacy risk management frameworks across global operations.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in designing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise data protection frameworks, policies, and risk controls in a regulated financial environment.
• Strong background in privacy risk assessment, data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), and third-party risk management.
• Experience managing data breaches, incident response planning, and regulatory reporting obligations.
• Ability to analyze large-scale privacy risk data, conduct compliance trend analysis, and leverage automation/tools for effective data protection monitoring.
• Experience working with data security teams, IT, and legal teams to ensure privacy by design and default.

Leadership & Communication:

• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization and collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage multiple priorities, and influence stakeholders across all levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex data protection and regulatory concepts for non-technical audiences.
• High level of integrity, with a commitment to ethical conduct and the organization’s values.
• Excellent knowledge of industry data protection management best practice.
• Ability to articulate the business value of effective data protection and integrate privacy and compliance insights into strategic decision-making.
• Ability to build and maintain effective internal and external relationships.
• Ability to analyse, present and report executive management information to senior stakeholders.
• Effective communicator and influencer, sharing insight that translates technical concepts into clear and understandable language, listening to and encouraging active collaboration amongst stakeholders.
• Flexible and resilient, with the ability to manage competing and changing priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively at a variety of levels within a regulated environment, both internally and externally, written and verbally.

About FNZ

FNZ is committed to opening up wealth so that everyone, everywhere can invest in their future on their terms. We know the foundation to do that already exists in the wealth management industry, but complexity holds firms back.

We created wealth’s growth platform to help. We provide a global, end-to-end wealth management platform that integrates modern technology with business and investment operations. All in a regulated financial institution.

We partner with over 650 financial institutions and 12,000 wealth managers, with US$1.5 trillion in assets under administration (AUA).

Together with our customers, we help over 20 million people from all wealth segments to invest in their future.

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