Chief Compliance Officer (DCO) / Chief Regulatory Officer (DCM)

CFTC-Regulated Business Unit (DCM & DCO)

Location: Chicago, IL. Fully remote to start, transitioning to 3 days/week in office.

About Smarkets

Smarkets runs one of the world’s most sophisticated prediction markets, handling over £29 billion in volume since 2010 and engaging 200,000+ traders globally. We’re a technology company that happens to revolutionise betting - from sports to political markets, to delivering the sharpest prices and the fairest odds.

At the heart of our success are our people. We create a high-performance environment where exceptional talent can thrive, blending deep business experience with a commercial mindset to drive strategic growth.

We believe the foundation to our success is attracting the best people to our organisation and creating a high-performance environment where they can thrive. We are searching for an atypical candidate with a wealth of regulated business experience to support the development of our CFTC business.

The Role

This is a senior leadership role sitting within our CFTC-regulated business unit, with responsibility spanning Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) operations. You will serve as the CCO of our DCO and CRO of our DCM — two distinct CFTC designations, one role. This is a founding build: our licensing applications are in-flight and you will own

the remaining process through to go-live, then design and operate the compliance programme from the ground up. You will be the most senior compliance voice in the business, working directly with the CEO and board with the support of the Smarkets UK team behind you.

About You

• 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.

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.

Desirable Attributes

• 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.

Our Values

• Our values are at the heart of everything we do - guiding how we work, collaborate, and innovate. They reflect what we expect of ourselves and each other to deliver the best results, while fostering a positive, high-performing environment:

  • Push to Win: We set ambitious goals and relentlessly pursue them, always striving for excellence.
  • Make Others Better: We lift each other up, share knowledge, and celebrate team success over individual achievement.
  • Give a Shit: We care deeply about our work, our users, and the impact we make.
  • Be a Pro: We take ownership, act with integrity, and consistently deliver to a high standard.
  • Bring the Energy: We bring positivity, curiosity, and enthusiasm to everything we do, inspiring those around us.

  Culture Fit: These values define how we succeed as a team. If this isn’t you, this may not be the right place. We hire people who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and ambitious environment.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary package and benefits, along with a dynamic and collaborative work environment. Your work with us will make an impact and your voice will be heard. We are a diverse team with a strong work ethic and plenty of hunger to win. We have designed our benefits offering around Health, Wealth, Lifestyle and Development.