Head of Compliance
Amsterdam
Santander CIB
Santander is looking for a Head of Compliance Benelux to take on a high-impact leadership role in a key European market. This is a unique opportunity to shape the Compliance agenda, work closely with senior leadership and regulators, and drive sustainable growth in an international environment. Step into a visible role where your expertise directly contributes to the integrity and success of a leading global bank.
Organisation
Santander is one of Europe’s leading banking groups, with a balance sheet exceeding €1.5 trillion and a strong global position by assets and market capitalisation. The Group combines deep local expertise with a globally integrated operating model across Europe, the UK, Latin America and Poland.
Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (SCIB) is a core pillar of the Group, delivering tailored financing, advisory, markets and transaction banking solutions to large corporates, financial institutions and public sector clients. Its European platform is anchored in a network of leading financial centres, enabling both local proximity and global reach. Within this network, the Benelux region—led from Amsterdam—plays a strategically important role. The branch has successfully moved beyond its initial build-up phase and is focused on strengthening a consistent, profitable and sustainable client franchise across SCIB’s core business lines. Operating in a highly regulated environment, Santander places strong emphasis on integrity, risk discipline, compliance and financial crime prevention as fundamental enablers of sustainable growth.This is further supported by Santander’s strong sustainability ambition, including its commitment to mobilise €220bn for the energy transition by 2030.
Position
The Head of Compliance Benelux is a senior leadership role at the heart of Santander’s governance framework, combining regional responsibility with close alignment to global Compliance and Financial Crime structures.
You will lead the Benelux Compliance function, ensuring robust oversight, high-quality execution and full alignment with both local regulatory expectations and global standards. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior management and a key counterpart to regulators, you will play a critical role in safeguarding the integrity and reputation of the organisation.
The role spans oversight across regulatory compliance, financial crime (AML, sanctions), product governance and conduct risk, while providing independent challenge as part of the second line of defense. You will also act as a key connector within Santander’s international matrix organisation, translating global strategy into effective local implementation.
Profile
You are a seasoned Compliance leader with the credibility and judgement to operate at senior level in a complex, international and highly regulated environment. You combine technical expertise with a pragmatic, business-oriented mindset and a strong sense of integrity.
You bring:
- 10+ years of Compliance experience within banking, including Financial Crime Compliance;
- Proven experience operating within a global functional (matrix) compliance model;
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to engage and influence senior leaders and regulators;
- The independence and confidence to provide constructive challenge;
- Clear communication skills and the ability to articulate a compelling vision on Compliance and integrity;
- Fluency in Dutch and English is required; Spanish is considered an advantage.
More information?
Get in touch with us.
Stijn van der Zee
Vroom Talent
Vincent Niemeijer
Managing Partner