Interim head of compliance for a leadership vacancy: a typical assignment scenario
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When the head of compliance leaves, an interim head of compliance takes over the day-to-day leadership of the compliance function until a successor is in place. In a typical assignment, selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours; the client and Alpinum agree the start date together. Senior management remains responsible for compliance throughout.
Short answer: When the head of compliance leaves, an interim head of compliance takes over the day-to-day leadership of the compliance function until a successor is in place. In a typical assignment, selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours; the client and Alpinum agree the start date together. Senior management remains responsible for compliance throughout.
Typical assignment scenario: This guide describes how companies bridge a leadership vacancy in compliance with an interim head of compliance. It shows a typical sequence, not a single client engagement, so it names no clients and reports no results. It is written for executive boards, general counsel and HR leaders in Switzerland and Germany.
The situation: compliance loses its leader overnight
A leadership vacancy in compliance rarely comes with much warning. It follows a resignation, long-term sick leave or an internal move. Finding a permanent successor often takes months. Meanwhile, reviews, regulatory reports, training and questions from the business keep coming. Without a leader, decisions stall and the team loses its point of contact with the board, internal audit and the regulator.
The brief: what the interim head of compliance takes on
An interim head of compliance first secures day-to-day operations and then prepares the handover. The table shows how the work is typically split.
| Area | First weeks | Until handover |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | Get to know the team, set priorities and deputies | Lead the team, agree objectives with senior management |
| Day-to-day operations | Map open deadlines, reports and escalations | Handle requests, approvals and training on time |
| Reporting | Brief senior management and internal audit on the status | Produce regular compliance reports |
| Projects | Review ongoing initiatives and audit findings | Continue remediation or consciously defer it |
| Handover | Document files, access rights and contacts | Onboard the successor, hand over open items |
The approach: how the assignment usually runs
- Define the need: tasks, authority, reporting line, workload and expected duration on a single page.
- Review profiles: the company receives two to four suitable profiles and runs the interviews itself.
- Choose the model: staff leasing (Swiss Personalverleih, German Arbeitnehmerüberlassung) if the interim leader should be fully integrated; freelancing if a clearly defined mandate is enough. Both work part-time or full-time (20–100%).
- Start and onboarding: access rights, powers of authority and introductions to senior management and the business in week one.
- Review after two to four weeks: do priorities, workload and profile fit? Scope and focus are still easy to adjust at this point.
- Plan the handover: once the successor is confirmed, schedule the onboarding. A move into the team (temp-to-perm) is possible; the terms are agreed in advance.
Under staff leasing, the client holds the right to give professional instructions. Under freelancing, the specialist works independently within the agreed mandate. How to structure the first weeks is covered in our onboarding checklist for interim staff.
Formal functions: what can be delegated and what stays
Interim specialists can take on formal functions, for example as a compliance officer with regulatory responsibility. Whether this works in a given case depends on the company's requirements and the rules in each country. For the money laundering reporting officer (MLRO), regulatory restrictions can rule out an external mandate or require staff leasing.
- Switzerland: financial intermediaries designate an anti-money laundering unit; responsibility stays with line management and the executive board (Art. 24 AMLO-FINMA). Under FINMA Circular 2018/3, overall management and core leadership tasks cannot be outsourced.
- Germany: obliged entities may outsource the role of the money laundering officer under Section 6(7) of the Money Laundering Act (GwG); the outsourcing must be notified in advance, and responsibility remains with the company.
Role choices and limits are explained in our guide interim MLRO or AML project team.
The outcome: how companies measure the assignment
Whether an interim head of compliance works shows in a few points: no deadline is missed, senior management receives its reports, open audit findings move forward, and the successor inherits an orderly function. Record baseline values on day one so you can show this later. Documented results from real assignments are in our case studies, for example the KYC task force at a financial institution.
What other companies can take from this
- Decide early: the longer the role stays empty, the more decisions pile up.
- Put the interim leader's authority in writing so the business knows who signs off.
- Keep the reporting line the same as for the previous head of compliance.
- Plan the handover to the successor from day one.
Limits and risks
- Accountability: senior management cannot hand its overall responsibility for compliance to an interim leader.
- Unclear authority: without written powers, the interim leader loses time on alignment.
- No legal advice: Alpinum provides legal and compliance professionals and is not a law firm.
Frequently asked questions about the interim head of compliance
How quickly can an interim head of compliance start?
Selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours. The client and Alpinum agree the start date together; it depends mainly on the candidate's notice period, interview dates and internal approvals. Companies that summarise tasks, authority and workload on one page before the search shorten the process considerably.
Staff leasing or freelancing for an interim compliance leader?
If the interim leader should be part of the organisation, manage staff and receive professional instructions, staff leasing is the right fit. If a clearly defined mandate with agreed deliverables is enough, freelancing is an option. Both models work part-time or full-time. What counts is how the assignment is actually run day to day.
Can an interim head of compliance work part-time?
Yes. The workload ranges from 20 to 100 percent, depending on the need. Part-time suits a stable team that mainly lacks leadership, reporting and decisions. With many open deadlines or ongoing audits, a higher workload at the start usually makes sense, and it can be reduced once the backlog is under control.
What happens once a successor has been found?
The interim leader onboards the successor and hands over open matters, deadlines and files using a handover list. Fix the date early so the two overlap. If the interim leader is the right person for the permanent role, a move into the team (temp-to-perm) is possible; the terms are agreed in advance.
Next step
Alpinum Solutions is the leading provider of interim legal & compliance in Switzerland and Germany and places interim compliance leaders through staff leasing and freelancing. Tell us about the tasks, authority and timeframe of your vacancy.
- Interim compliance: specialists and leaders for your compliance function
- Interim compliance officer: tasks, requirements and engagement models
- Practice & case studies: all guides and case studies on interim assignments
- Discuss your needs
Last updated: 10 November 2026.
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