Compliance Analyst in London

Company Description

We're one of the world's leading quoted private asset growth investors, specialising in private equity and private debt. With over €41.5bn of assets under management and a strong local presence in Europe, North America and Asia, we combine global scale with local market insight and sector expertise, consistently delivering strong returns through cycles. We support growth businesses with a European focus, helping them unlock their true potential and accelerate their development.

We have a diversified approach to investing across four verticals: Advanced Industrials, Business & Financial Services, Consumer and Healthcare - with Technology as a horizontal connected to everything everywhere. Bridgepoint focuses on investing via four distinct fund strategies:

• Middle Market, implemented via Bridgepoint’s flagship buyout fund, which focuses on investing in market-leading businesses typically valued between €250 million and €1 billion;
• Lower Mid-Cap, implemented via Bridgepoint Development Capital which focuses on investing in lower-middle-market companies valued up to £200 million;
• Small Cap, implemented via Bridgepoint Growth which focuses on companies using digital technologies to achieve transformational growth in their end markets, typically seeking equity investment of between £5 million and £20 million;
• Credit, implemented via Bridgepoint Credit, is our private credit platform that invests across the capital structure and risk-reward spectrum through three complementary strategies of Syndicated Debt, Direct Lending and Credit Opportunities.

With offices in major European markets, the US and China, we offer the companies we back a global perspective and an unrivalled network, with extensive in-market experience. In everything we do, from committing investors’ capital to working with portfolio companies, to supporting our teams, we’re guided by our values:

Bridgepoint believes in building long-term sustainable businesses, delivering attractive returns to investors in a responsible manner. And responsible investing principles are embedded in the Group’s work and business practices. We have also put in place relevant policies to demonstrate our commitment to ‘ESG’ by adopting strong environment, social and governance principles that they believe are in the long-term interest of our investors, employees, and portfolio companies. The Group’s approach is overseen by an ESG Committee including Non-Executive Directors and senior Bridgepoint colleagues. Bridgepoint is also a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment since 2013 and has decided since 2021 to label all its new funds as Article 8 into the SFDR regime. Bridgepoint’s approach to ESG is guided by the core principles outlined below and is set out in a formal policy agreed by the ESG Committee and approved by the Group Board:

• By applying rigorous governance standards in the way we operate as a Firm and in the companies that we own;
• By ensuring that we exercise strong ESG judgement in our investment disciplines before we acquire new businesses and after we own them;
• By creating the right foundations driving sustainable value creation within all companies of our portfolio and making sustainability a competitive advantage;
• By encouraging diversity and equality throughout our workforce and those of our investee companies, respecting international standards on human rights.

The Role

The incoming Senior ESG Manager will play a critical role in continuing to drive Bridgepoint’s Sustainability Strategy and further embed it into every aspect of the business going forward. The individual will report directly to the Head of Sustainability and work closely with the Head of Risk & Compliance, the Investor Services Teams, and the Head of Shareholder Investor Relations. The London based role will focus on three core areas which will be developed and managed in close collaboration with and under the supervision of the Head of Sustainability:

• ESG Risk & Compliance
• ESG Performance
• ESG Communication

Key responsibilities include the management of two persons (one ESG Data & Performance Lead and one ESG Investor Solutions Lead) and are described more in details below:

Ensure Bridgepoint aligns ESG risk and compliance expectations:

• Monitor ESG regulations and implement processes/changes for Bridgepoint and the wider portfolio.
• Own change management of ESG policies and process for Bridgepoint in response to new regulations or regulatory changes with the support of the Legal and Compliance Team.
• Work closely with in-house Legal & Compliance/external Legal Counsel to comply with ESG regulations.
• Be responsible for the ESG risk management across the business with the support of Legal & Compliance team, including overseeing the ongoing development of the framework for identifying, managing, and reporting on ESG related risks.
• Lead on incorporating the ESG risk framework into relevant functions and offices across Bridgepoint.
• Ensure responsibilities and processes are clearly defined to meet regulators expectations and key milestones.
• Lead/deliver implementing processes to portfolio ESG risk and compliance management (noting their size, business sector and geographies) and support adoption.

Ensure the Global ESG reporting and performance monitoring strategy:

• Monitor changes in sustainable performance management practices and recommend improvements that align with stakeholders’ requests and expectations (LPs, Regulators, Market practices, Sectorial Initiatives, etc.). This may include M&A activities.
• Suggest and manage the sustainable performance management strategy to inform and work closely with our internal key stakeholders (Plc Board, ESG Committee, Management Committee, Operational Committee, Finance, Legal & Compliance, Investment, or Investor Relations Teams).
• With the support of the ESG Data & Performance Lead and ESG Investors Solutions Lead, manage the reporting campaigns and monitor our performance indicators, as well as communicating the related dashboards/periodic reports to our internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure performance management tools are adapted to Bridgepoint needs and portfolio companies’ usage and lead resulting improvement projects.
• Play an active role in proposing working methods and tools to better integrate extra financial performance and the related KPIs into both our company and our portfolio performance management (ESG dashboard for Plc ESG Committee, Plc Board and Portfolio Companies board for instance).

Embed ESG at Bridgepoint by communicating Bridgepoint’s ESG Performance:

• Prepare a concise ESG annual report and other communications tools in coordination with diverse governance bodies & functions (Senior Management, ESG Committee, Audit & Risk Committee, Finance, Compliance, Communication, Investor Relations, Investment Teams etc).
• Ensure and oversee efficient and consistent responses to LPs and lenders ESG surveys and their reporting requests with the support of the Investor Relations Teams and the ESG Investors Solutions Lead.
• Supervise, prepare, and represent the Sustainability function in internal and external audit missions related to extra-financial performance (Annual report, AUP SLL or ESG margin ratchet for Plc and funds, SFDR ...) with the support of ESG Data & Performance Lead.
• Coordinate and ensure our response strategy to extra-financial rating agencies and Proxy advisers ESG analysis with the support of the ESG Data & Performance lead, the compliance Team, the Head of shareholders and Group Company Secretary.

People Management responsibility: oversee and manage direct reports, ensuring that all employees are motivated, engaged, and effectively contributing to the department's goals; responsible for staff development, performance evaluations, and implementing strategic initiatives to enhance productivity and overall team performance.

Core role responsibilities will evolve according to the priorities of the company and ESG department.

Qualifications

Background and Experience:

• Commercial acumen including financial services knowledge and experience.
• Track record and experience in a Finance business (e.g., PE, Credit, Bank industry) within ESG team or leading/contributing to the responsible investment process.
• Experience across the areas of Finance, Performance, Impact, Risk & Compliance within a Corporate, Consulting Firm could be a plus.
• Understanding of the ESG regulatory landscape in Europe and the UK and recognized experience in translating regulations into firm day to day operations specially related to TCFD, SFDR, PAI or EU Taxonomy.
• Proven experience in ESG Performance and reporting strategy at a Firm (Finance Business) level and Portfolio level and the application of the related ESG disclosure and communication exercises.
• Prior line management experience.
• Experience with analysing, presenting and acting on data in a clear, concise, and commercial manner.
• Knowledge of ‘sustainable investing’ market trends and developments.
• Experience managing projects with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Background in driving Sustainability using an investment framework.
• Strong proficiency in the English language – specifically nuanced writing skills, French language skills a plus.

Personal Characteristics:

• Demonstrate drive, be an initiative-taking self-starter and take ownership of responsibilities.
• Build empathy, trust and respect with multiple stakeholders and work with a collective, supportive team spirit.
• Strong fit with Bridgepoint’s values.
• Proactively seeks to understand and incorporate the viewpoints of key stakeholders to drive decision making.
• An analytical mindset to leverage data to support strategy aligned decision making.
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas.
• Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and navigate complex situations.
• Capacity to manage stress and deliver with quality and efficiency during pressured work periods.