Senior Compliance Counsel

Company Description: We are a global network, with 71,000 people around the world, coming together to deliver end- to-end experience transformation. We integrate our services across Media, CXM and Creative while pushing the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for our brands, people and society. Through innovation, we ensure the impact our clients need to drivegrowth, while also generating a positive effect in the industry.  

Role Purpose: 

The Senior Counsel, Ethics & Compliance is part of the team responsible for administering dentsu’s Group Global Compliance program (as set out in dentsu’s Integrated Report) in the Americas which focuses on the 6 pillars of the program: Compliance Risk Assessment, Policies & Procedures, Training & Communication, Confidential Reporting & Investigations, Third Party Due Diligence, and Compliance Due Diligence and Integration for Mergers & Acquisitions. The role is expected to assist in conducting Compliance Risk Assessments, deploying group policies and procedures, developing Regional policies and procedures when necessary, developing engaging training content and programs for all levels of the business including senior executives, and fostering meaningful and impactful communications to support the program.  The role is also expected to conduct internal investigations as necessary and evaluate the related legal risks and reporting when required.  

The role is required to collaborate with a team of compliance professionals across multiple countries, ensuring that the compliance program in the region meets dentsu’s Group Global Compliance Program standards. It is equally important to value and create strong and collaborative relationships within the Legal & Compliance function and with other functional roles including senior leaders of Finance, Human Resources, Risk Management and Internal Audit, among others and is critical to ensuring that our operations adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct and legal and regulatory compliance. 

Key Capabilities: 
 

• Identify, assess and mitigate compliance risks specific to the Region through understanding and analysis of applicable legislation and administrative actions and completion of Compliance Risk Assessments. 

• Develop and deliver training programs to educate business leaders and employees on laws and regulations relevant to compliance and related policies, procedures, and ethical standards in the Region. 

• Assist in promoting a culture of compliance and ethical behaviour through effective communication and awareness campaigns. 

• Serve as an additional, and visible, point of contact for employees to report compliance concerns and provide guidance on ethical issues. 

• Manage investigations into alleged compliance violations, ensuring thorough and impartial examination of issues. 

• Assess relevant disciplinary actions and remediation plans and complete necessary investigative reports consistent with internal processes. 

• Assist with the process of conducting due diligence processes for key third parties, including suppliers and partners, to mitigate any assessed Compliance risks and to ensure compliance with anti-bribery and corruption laws. 

• Monitor third-party activities and relationships and processes for ongoing compliance. 

• Collaborate effectively with the other functions responsible for delivering Regional Governance and assist in quarterly regional reports on Regional governance and compliance issues. 

• Assist with continuously monitoring the effectiveness of the compliance program through regular risk assessments, and compliance reviews. 

• Assist with implementation of corrective actions and improvements based on findings from monitoring activities including but not limited to dentsu’s Speak Up hotline, Third Party Due Diligence, Conflicts of Interest, Gifts and Hospitality, Compliance Risk Assessment, and Annual Compliance Questionnaire programs. 

• Perform local market compliance reviews and risk assessments; implement corrective actions; support data collection for dashboards.   

• Assist with development of metrics and reporting to better understand program performance, overall compliance position and areas for improvement. 

Professional skills 

• Excellent verbal and written communication, presentation and interpersonal skills 

• Ability to prioritize complex and often interrelated tasks and to work to tight deadlines under pressure whilst maintaining high levels of quality and competency  

• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment 

• Extensive ability to resolve issues/conflicts and negotiate and facilitate with groups with proven experience driving group to successful completion 

• Expert ability to identify risks, analyse and resolve problems and make appropriate recommendations for solutions 

• Leadership and organizational skills 

• A team player with a collaborative style of working 

• Extensive ability and experience dealing with and influencing senior stakeholders 

• Strong commercial and business acumen 

• Excellent judgment and assessment skills paired with a reputation for ethical decision-making 

• Proficiency with technology and deployment of such technology (including utilization of AI) to assist with efficiency and quality of work product.  

• Comfort with data analysis and metrics-driven decision-making, including designing and interpreting dashboards to identify trends, KPIs, and root causes in compliance data 

Qualifications  

• JD and admission to at least one US state bar in good standing.  

• 5+ years in a law firm and/or in-house role focused on corporate compliance and/or  internal investigations. 

• Experience conducting interviews, assessing credibility, managing evidence, and preparing concise reports suitable for executives and auditors.  

• Proven ability to manage outside counsel and vendors, control budgets, and direct e-discovery.  

• Knowledge of key risk areas such as anti-corruption, fraud, sanctions/export, antitrust, privacy/data protection, conflicts of interest, third-party risk, and whistleblower processes.  

• Familiarity with corporate governance frameworks and reporting obligations, including board and committee processes, SOX/SEC or exchange requirements, and related disclosure practices.   

• Strong judgment, discretion, and communication skills; adept at cross-functional collaboration and operating with minimal supervision.  

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to [email protected] by clicking on the link to let us  know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.