Contracts & Compliance Lead / Manager – Global Recruitment

Our office is based in Richmond, just 8 minutes from Clapham Junction.

Help shape the contracts and compliance function behind Ellis Group’s global growth. At Ellis Group, we operate in a fast-moving, international recruitment environment, working with clients, candidates and contractors across multiple markets. As we continue to expand our global sales operations, we’re looking for an experienced Contracts & Compliance Lead / Manager to take ownership of our contracts and compliance function and help ensure our growth is both commercially effective and compliant.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, this is a highly visible, hands-on role with genuine influence across the business. You will work closely with Sales, Finance, Operations, contractors, clients, suppliers and external legal advisers, helping us navigate the complexities of contractor engagement across the UK, US, mainland Europe and new international territories. This role would suit someone who combines deep recruitment compliance knowledge with a practical, solutions-focused mindset. We are not looking for someone who simply identifies risk, we want someone who can understand the commercial objective, determine how we can achieve it compliantly and put the right solution in place.

The Role

You will take ownership of our contracts and compliance operation while remaining closely involved in the day-to-day detail.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Owning the full contract lifecycle, from drafting and execution through to extensions, renewals and completion.
• Ensuring contracts, contractor records and supporting documentation are accurate, complete and appropriately maintained.
• Ensuring new business is structured in line with the appropriate compliance frameworks across the UK, US and mainland Europe.
• Providing practical guidance on recruitment compliance matters, including Off-Payroll Working (IR35) regulations, US Worker Classification and international contractor engagement.
• Supporting IR35 assessments and reassessments and ensuring the appropriate processes and documentation are followed.
• Supporting W-8 determinations and relevant US contractor requirements.
• Managing and developing relationships with third-party suppliers, EOR and W-2 providers, including onboarding and ongoing compliance monitoring.
• Monitoring third-party suppliers against agreed compliance standards and reporting key findings and risks to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Managing customer and supplier setup processes, including client portals and manual onboarding requirements.
• Liaising with external legal advisers to ensure our processes remain aligned with regulatory requirements and best practice.
• Keeping up to date with changing employment, tax and contractor legislation globally and translating changes into practical actions for the business.
• Researching and developing compliant engagement models to support Sales as Ellis Group enters new territories and markets.
• Working closely with Sales to find practical, compliant solutions for new business opportunities.
• Overseeing contractor compliance processes and ensuring required documentation is completed, accurate and appropriately stored.
• Maintaining accurate information across Bullhorn CRM, RSM InTime and internal compliance records.
• Overseeing timesheet administration, contractor onboarding, approver setup and ongoing system maintenance through RSM InTime.
• Supporting contractor queries relating to contracts, compliance, payments and timesheets.
• Managing purchase order processes and ensuring appropriate controls are followed.
• Supporting the review and renewal of global recruitment insurance policies.
• Continuously reviewing contracts, compliance processes and workflows to improve accuracy, efficiency, consistency and scalability.