MW Recruitment Limited
Head of Compliance - SMF16/17

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The Role
You will have overall responsibility for Compliance and Financial Crime and, subject to FCA approval, hold the SMF16 and SMF17 functions.
Responsibilities
- Owning and continuing to develop the firm's compliance framework as the business scales.
- Providing practical regulatory advice to the Board, senior management, and wider business.
- Acting as the principal point of contact with the FCA and developing a strong and credible relationship with the regulator.
- Leading the firm's approach to financial crime, AML, KYC, sanctions, and associated controls.
- Ensuring regulatory developments are understood and translated into appropriate action across the business.
- Providing oversight and challenge around new products, propositions, and strategic initiatives.
- Ensuring Consumer Duty remains embedded within the business as it grows.
- Developing monitoring, reporting, and governance appropriate to a growing regulated business.
- Working closely with Product, Technology, Operations, and senior management rather than operating as a standalone control function.
- Supporting the business in using technology and AI effectively within Compliance, both to improve the control environment and to make the function more efficient and scalable.
- Providing clear and proportionate reporting to the Board and relevant committees.
- Helping build the Compliance function and capability as the requirements of the business develop.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The Person
We are looking for someone with strong FCA regulatory experience gained within fintech or a similarly progressive financial services environment. Experience within an investment, wealth, or financial platform business would be particularly relevant, ideally involving a consumer-facing proposition.
You may already hold SMF16/17 responsibilities and have an established relationship and credibility with the FCA. Equally, the company is prepared to consider someone for whom this represents the natural next step, provided they have the depth of regulatory experience and judgement to satisfy the requirements of the role.


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Of equal importance will be attitude and cultural fit.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to take a senior role within a business that is still relatively early in its development but has the funding, management experience, and ambition to grow significantly.
The successful person will have considerable exposure to the founders, Board, and senior management and the opportunity to shape the regulatory framework rather than simply operate within it.
For someone motivated by building something and having a genuine stake in its success, the role offers considerably more scope than a traditional Head of Compliance position.
There is also the potential for equity participation as part of the overall package.
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