Head of Compliance & SMF16 | Financial Planning | Director Level

We’re working with a growing, multi-hub financial planning group that is looking to appoint a senior Compliance professional into a Head of Compliance & SMF16 role.

This is a genuine Director-level opportunity with responsibility for providing senior compliance leadership and regulatory oversight across three financial planning businesses, acting as SMF16 for each.

The role will cover businesses across Scotland and Northern Ireland, so you can be based anywhere in the UK. There will, however, be an expectation to travel to the relevant sites when required.

The role will suit someone who understands financial planning from the inside, has previously held an SMF16 approval, and is comfortable operating at Board and senior leadership level while remaining close enough to the business to provide practical, commercially aware advice.

The role

You’ll have oversight of the compliance frameworks across three financial planning hubs, ensuring they remain robust, effective and aligned with FCA expectations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Acting as SMF16 / Compliance Oversight Function across three regulated financial planning businesses.
• Providing strategic leadership and oversight of each firm's compliance framework, policies, monitoring and governance arrangements.
• Acting as a senior point of contact for FCA regulatory and compliance matters.
• Providing pragmatic regulatory advice to directors, advisers and senior management.
• Ensuring the businesses remain up to date with developments across the FCA regulatory landscape.
• Providing oversight across the full range of compliance matters relevant to financial planning firms, including Consumer Duty, suitability, financial promotions, T&C, SM&CR, complaints, vulnerable customers, financial crime, conflicts, regulatory reporting and conduct risk.
• Challenging the effectiveness of controls and ensuring compliance risks are properly identified, managed and escalated.
• Supporting senior management and Boards with clear MI, risk insight and regulatory reporting.
• Working closely with advisers and business leaders to ensure regulatory requirements are understood and embedded rather than simply documented.
• Supporting regulatory change, business initiatives and ongoing development of the group's compliance approach.
• Maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders and acting as a credible senior representative with the FCA and other external parties where required.