About the Opportunity
Our client is a major electricity and gas retailer operating across the National Electricity Market. They are seeking an experienced Retail Compliance Manager to lead their retail compliance function, ensuring adherence to regulatory obligations and consumer protection frameworks. This is a leadership role responsible for managing retail compliance operations, establishing compliance frameworks, and ensuring the business meets its regulatory obligations across customer operations, sales, billing, and commercial activities. You will lead a compliance team, partner with operational teams, and manage regulatory relationships. As Retail Compliance Manager, you will be accountable for retail compliance performance, regulatory reporting, and driving continuous improvement in compliance capabilities across the retail business.
Key Responsibilities Compliance Leadership & Management
- Lead retail compliance function including compliance advisors and analysts
- Establish and maintain retail compliance framework, policies, and procedures
- Develop compliance strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements
- Set compliance standards and performance expectations
- Drive compliance culture and awareness across retail operations
- Provide compliance leadership to operational teams
Regulatory Compliance & Obligations
- Ensure compliance with National Energy Retail Law, Rules, and consumer protections
- Manage compliance with retail authorisation conditions and licence obligations
- Oversee customer protection compliance including life support, hardship, and vulnerable customers
- Ensure adherence to Retail Marketing Code of Conduct and sales practices
- Monitor compliance with billing accuracy, payment plans, and disconnection protections
- Manage privacy obligations and customer information protection
Compliance Monitoring & Reporting
- Establish compliance monitoring programs and control testing
- Monitor compliance performance across customer operations, sales, and billing
- Prepare compliance reports for senior management, board, and compliance committees
- Manage regulatory reporting including AER performance reports and compliance statements
- Track compliance metrics, KPIs, and trend analysis
- Escalate compliance issues and risks to senior leadership
Breach Management & Remediation
- Manage compliance breach identification, assessment, and investigation
- Oversee breach reporting and notifications to regulators
- Coordinate remediation activities and corrective action implementation
- Track breach trends and implement preventative measures
- Ensure lessons learned are embedded in processes and controls
- Maintain breach registers and compliance documentation
Regulatory Engagement & Audit
- Serve as primary interface with AER and jurisdictional regulators on compliance matters
- Manage regulatory audits, reviews, and compliance assessments
- Coordinate responses to regulatory inquiries and information requests
- Support regulatory consultations and rule change processes
- Build constructive relationships with regulators
- Represent compliance in industry forums and working groups
Compliance Advisory & Support
- Provide expert compliance advice to operational and commercial teams
- Interpret regulatory requirements and provide practical guidance
- Support business initiatives with compliance risk assessment
- Review new products, processes, and systems for compliance requirements
- Advise on compliance aspects of commercial contracts and customer arrangements
- Support resolution of complex compliance issues
Training & Capability Development
- Develop and deliver compliance training programs for operational teams
- Create compliance guidance materials, procedures, and reference documents
- Build compliance capability within operational teams
- Conduct compliance inductions for new staff
- Raise compliance awareness across customer service, sales, and operations
- Drive continuous improvement in compliance knowledge and skills
Risk Management & Controls
- Conduct compliance risk assessments across retail operations
- Identify compliance gaps and implement control improvements
- Establish compliance controls and monitoring processes
- Review operational processes for compliance risks
- Support internal audit activities on compliance matters
- Implement compliance systems and technology solutions
About You Essential Requirements Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Business, Compliance, or related discipline
- 8-10+ years of experience in compliance, regulatory affairs, or energy retail operations
- Minimum 3-5 years in compliance leadership or management roles
- Deep knowledge of retail energy regulations including NERL and NERR
- Proven track record managing compliance functions in regulated environments
- Experience managing regulatory relationships and audits
Regulatory & Compliance Expertise
- Comprehensive understanding of National Energy Retail Law and Rules
- Deep knowledge of customer protection frameworks and consumer law
- Experience with AER compliance and reporting obligations
- Understanding of retail authorisation conditions and licence requirements
- Knowledge of Retail Marketing Code of Conduct and marketing regulations
- Expertise in compliance frameworks, controls, and monitoring
Leadership & Management
- Proven leadership capabilities with ability to manage compliance teams
- Strategic thinking with ability to establish compliance frameworks and strategy
- Strong change management skills with experience driving compliance improvements
- Ability to influence and partner with operational and commercial leaders
- Experience managing multiple priorities and complex compliance operations
- Capability to build high‑performing, technically capable compliance teams
Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Excellent communication and presentation skills for senior stakeholders
- Strong relationship‑building skills with regulators and operational teams
- Ability to explain complex compliance requirements clearly
- Experience engaging with AER and regulatory authorities
- Professional presence suitable for board and executive engagement
- Collaborative approach to working across operations, commercial, and legal teams
Analytical & Problem‑Solving
- Strong analytical skills with ability to assess compliance risks
- Problem‑solving capability for complex compliance issues
- Attention to detail with focus on accuracy in compliance advice
- Ability to balance compliance requirements with operational practicality
- Critical thinking for interpreting complex regulations
Additional Requirements
- Experience within energy retailers or regulated utilities
- Qualified compliance qualifications (GRC, Governance Institute) valued
- Knowledge of Victorian energy retail regulations
- Understanding of compliance systems and GRC platforms
- Experience with compliance transformation or regulatory change programs
What's on Offer
- $180K-$215K package (excluding bonus)
- Leadership opportunity managing retail compliance for major energy retailer
- Comprehensive bonus and incentive program
- Opportunity to shape compliance frameworks and drive improvement
- Career progression in compliance and regulatory leadership
- Comprehensive benefits including health insurance and superannuation
- Annual salary reviews with above‑market increases
- Flexible working arrangements with hybrid work options
- Professional development and compliance training
- Collaborative environment with experienced compliance professionals
To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your compliance experience, leadership accomplishments, and motivation for the role. In your covering letter, please address:
- Your experience leading retail energy compliance functions
- Examples of compliance frameworks or improvements you have implemented
- Your approach to building compliance culture and capability
- Your understanding of AER regulatory requirements and consumer protections
- Your leadership philosophy and vision for compliance excellence
For inquiries, contact:
Ivan Pignataro | Director
D'Arcy Weil
E: ivan@darcyweil.com | T: +61 3 9999 7409 | M: 0416 507 856
Only candidates with Australian working rights will be considered. #J-18808-Ljbffr