Director, Regulatory Legal

About the role

We’re seeking a forward thinking Director of Regulatory Legal to support the ambitious growth of our global payments network.

The successful candidate will be a valued member of a truly global legal team, providing advisory guidance to the global payments team, being the subject matter expert on international payment regulation and laws that impact our growth agenda, and helping the business navigate these. They will leverage their outstanding legal and communication skills, and bring an ability to anticipate and deliver on the needs of an innovative, sophisticated, and fast-paced business to simultaneously manage a wide range of transactions and projects.

As a key strategic partner embedded within the business, you will help to identify risks and solve problems alongside a team of world‑class professionals. You will find that the Legal Department is not a “check the box” function but instead, an important voice and strategic partner in all aspects of the business.

• Drive international expansion for our Global Payments Network by providing strategic and actionable regulatory advice and expertise
• Own our international regulation strategy and delivery roadmap
• Partner closely with Risk and Compliance officers to ensure comprehensive support
• Provide thought and strategic leadership on relevant industry and regulatory developments
• Engage and oversee outside legal counsel as needed in an effective and efficient manner
• Represent with external parties, including customers, regulators, partners, industry trade groups and outside law firms
• Stay abreast of external legal and regulatory developments and expectations that could impact the environment in which Capital One operates, understanding its impact on Capital One's inherent compliance risk
• Provide awareness and training on compliance risk and related matters, specifically around regulatory expectations

• Qualified solicitor with 10+ years of post qualification experience
• Significant regulatory experience within the payments industry required; experience engaging with regulators preferred
• Experience working within a financial services environment
• Strong understanding of the payment services regulatory environment within the UK, EU and beyond
• Strong business judgment and analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to clearly communicate compliance risk to stakeholders at all levels across the business and to external stakeholders, including regulators
• A willingness and ability to influence and effectively challenge stakeholders with credibility at all levels business, as well as external stakeholders, including regulators
• Being comfortable balancing trade-offs between risk and returns in order to achieve our business objectives and to support us in effectively managing all compliance legal risks associated with the Capital One
• An ability to build and leverage relevant networks inside and outside the organisation

This is a permanent position based in our London office.

We have a hybrid working model which gives you flexibility to work from our offices and from home.

We’re big on collaboration and connection, so you’ll be based in one of our offices 3 days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

• Bring us all this - and you’ll be well rewarded with a role contributing to the roadmap of an organisation committed to transformation
• We offer high performers strong and diverse career progression, investing heavily in developing great people through our Capital One University training programmes (and appropriate external providers)
• Immediate access to our core benefits including pension scheme, bonus, generous holiday entitlement and private medical insurance – with flexible benefits available including season-ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and enhanced parental leave
• Open-plan work spaces and accessible facilities designed to inspire and support you. Our Nottingham head-office has a fully-serviced gym, subsidised restaurant, mindfulness and music rooms.
• Year after year we’ve been recognised as a great place to work. In 2025, Capital One was ranked 15th in the UK’s…