Head of Compliance

We are currently recruiting for a Financial Planning in London who are looking to recruit a Head of Compliance.

Role

The Head of Compliance has responsibility for compliance activity. Desire to hold (with commensurate prior experience), or to work towards holding SMF16 & SMF17 functions as part of career development. The role is available on a full or part time basis, again, dependent on experience and requirements of the role holder.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

The role holder is responsible for leading an ethical and compliant culture within our organisation with responsibilityfor the risk and compliance systems and controls, ensuring that our risk and compliance framework, systems, controls, policies, procedures and management information (MI) are appropriate to the nature, scale, and complexity of business activities and that it meets the needs and objectives of its stakeholders which includes clients, staff and Partners. In nature, the responsibilities are regulatory, fiduciary, and legal.

Compliance

• Chair quarterly Compliance Meetings, taking responsibility for ensuring the company's ongoing adherence to compliance requirements and acting as champion of best practice approach.
• Responsible for the management of key relationships with the FCA and other regulators.
• Attend quarterly board meetings to advise on the organisation’s compliance with its obligations under the regulatory system and lead on the recommendation and implementation of actions to ensure the same.
• Act as trusted, expert adviser, providing commercially astute, compliance driven advice and guidance to employees in relation to regulatory compliance and encourage all employees to report appropriate breaches such as suspected fraud.
• Maintain the organisation’s Compliance Manual and take responsibility for awareness of the manual across the organisation, provide regular training briefings and updates with the aim of ensuring compliance excellence is "lived and breathed" throughout the business.
• Establish and oversee the implementation of all related Compliance Policies and Procedures.
• Conduct client file audits, recommend and oversee best practice changes and developments as they arise.
• Monitor regulatory developments and ensure that the organisation responds to any such developments in a timely manner.
• Establish and lead the execution of an appropriate Compliance Monitoring Programme.
• Act as compliance approver, providing appropriate feedback or sign-off for matters in relation to which compliance approval is required, for example, personal account detailing transactions, marketing oversight and financial promotions.

Corporate Governance & Risk

• To act as the Data Protection Officer and lead the organisation’s compliance responsibilities with GDPR.
• Review and revise the Data Protection Audit and Assessment as agreed with the board, and take responsibility for leading the implementation of recommendations.
• Guide and challenge the organisation’s systems and controls in respect of risk management.
• Act as Vice Chair of the Risk Committee and report to the Risk Committee on the organisation’s risk exposures relative to its risk appetite and tolerance.

Training & Competence

• Manage the T&C arrangements for all employees.
• Ensure relevant employees complete CPD to comply with FCA TC requirements for Retail Investment Advisers.
• Devise and deliver compliance training for all new joiners as part of the induction process.
• Ensure training programmes for all staff members are appropriate to their function and oversee completion of the same in a timely manner.
• Provide regular regulatory training as required, with the purpose of tailoring compliance training to individual teams/staff members and fostering culture of best in practice compliance adherence.

Essential Requirements and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years wealth management experience working with high net-worth individuals.
• Previously held within comparable business, or desire to work towards SMF16 and SMF17 leadership role.
• Educated to degree level and/or holding a relevant professional qualification.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of FCA regulations, UK and global regulatory environment and wider expertise in risk and corporate governance.
• Ability to lead function, act as expert trusted adviser and be responsible for building and maintaining a strong culture of compliance adherence across the business.
• Professional communication manner (written and verbal) and the ability to form strong working relationships with the existing team.
• Highly organised with an ability to work accurately to deadlines with accountability and ownership for own deliverables and task management.
• A pro-active 'can-do’ personality and ability to bring about change in the business by confidently communicating with employees at all levels.

As a member of the Management Team

• Act as leadership stakeholder and "trusted adviser" for maintaining excellence in compliance adherence.
• Consistent performance delivery and safe and compliant execution of the business services.

Standards and Culture

• Undertake all actions that are assigned, by the "to do date"
• Undertake ad hoc compliance project work as requested
• Use all company systems in line with laid down procedures
• Meet the standards of fitness and propriety prescribed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and required by the Company
• Promote a healthy sense of team spirit and clear direction
• Encourage open positive communication, with honesty and empathy to motivate and build trust
• Identify training requirements and lead in the training and development of colleagues.

Qualifications:

Educated to degree level and/or holding a relevant professional qualification.Experience of working in senior compliance and risk roles.Wealth and/or asset management expertise working with high-net-worth individuals.Detailed knowledge of FCA rules, UK and global regulatory environment and wider expertise in risk and corporategovernance.