Chief Compliance Officer / Chief Regulatory Officer

Smarkets•Chicago, IL

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Smarkets is seeking a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) / Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) to lead the development and operation of its CFTC-regulated business unit, specifically for its Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO). This is a founding role where you will be responsible for building the compliance program from the ground up, managing the licensing process through to go-live, and serving as the most senior compliance voice in the business, reporting directly to the CEO and board. The role requires extensive experience in regulated financial markets, particularly with CFTC regulations, and an entrepreneurial mindset to thrive in a fast-paced, creative work environment.

Requirements

Senior compliance and legal leader with 7+ years senior leadership experience, preferably in a compliance team or in-house legal department of an international corporation.
4+ years of hands-on experience within a DCM or DCO in the United States, with direct responsibility for CFTC Core Principles compliance — not advisory or supporting experience.
FCM background considered where combined with strong CFTC examination ownership.
Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven track record working in a small scale fast-paced creative work environment.
Deep expertise across the CFTC regulatory landscape, including knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, particularly Parts 38, 39, and 40, familiarity with exchange rulebooks, market surveillance programs, and self-regulatory organization (SRO) obligations.
Proven experience owning CFTC interactions end-to-end: examinations, rule submissions, ongoing reporting, and authoring annual CCO reports covering conflicts of interest, resource adequacy and remediation of non-compliance — not just reviewing them.
Strong understanding of the broader compliance remit, including AML/KYC, trade surveillance, data protection, corporate governance, and commercial contracts.
Experience partnering with the CEO and COO on regulatory strategy, board-level governance, and investor reporting — including engagement with regulators at an institutional level.

Nice To Haves

Personal interest in sports, exchanges, or trading
Experience engaging with self-regulatory organisations (SROs) such as the NFA, and participating in industry working groups or rulemaking processes.
Prior experience at the CFTC as a staff member or examiner, subsequently transitioning to industry — this background is highly valued.
Familiarity with event contracts, prediction markets, or similar novel futures products and their treatment under the CFTC framework.

Responsibilities

Design, build and own the end-to-end compliance and regulatory programme for Smarkets Board of Trade (DCM) and its clearing organisation (DCO) from the ground up — policies, procedures, controls, surveillance and training — ready for go-live.
Operate as the Chief Regulatory Officer of our Designated Contract Market (Part 38): own the Core Principles compliance programme, including market oversight (CP 2), trade practice surveillance (CP 4), emergency authority (CP 8), and annual CCO reporting (CP 12).
Serve as the named CRO on all CFTC filings and rule submissions.
Act as the Chief Compliance Officer for our Derivatives Clearing Organization (Part 39): oversee risk management standards, margin and default procedures, and systemic risk obligations under Dodd-Frank Title VIII.
Author and submit the annual CCO report covering conflicts of interest, adequacy of resources, and remediation of non-compliance findings.
Own the primary relationship with the CFTC, acting as the main point of contact for regulatory examinations, rule submissions, and ongoing reporting obligations.
Drive the CFTC licensing process to completion for both entities: manage the remaining application phases, respond to CFTC staff questions, support the product demonstration process, and ensure all pre-launch compliance obligations are met before go-live.
Provide legal and regulatory support to the broader Smarkets group of companies, leading on corporate legal matters and supporting coordination with our external regulatory counsels and the UK Director of Compliance.
Advise the CEO, COO and senior management team on legal, regulatory, and operational strategy.
Ensure full visibility of legal and regulatory risks across the business, embedding a culture of compliance without stifling commercial growth.