Group Compliance Manager in St Albans

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Group Compliance Manager to join Castles Property Group. This newly created role will play a key part in developing and embedding a robust compliance framework across all companies within the Group. The successful candidate will ensure the business meets its regulatory obligations across key areas, including complaint handling, GDPR and data protection, management of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), anti-money laundering (AML), and property management compliance.

The role also involves developing effective processes to manage these obligations, alongside delivering training and education across the Group to ensure staff remain fully aware of regulatory requirements and are competent in the responsibilities of their roles. The Group Compliance Manager will act as facilitator for the investigation and resolution of complaints, including establishing the process of managing complaints, analysis of complaint trends across the group and working with the leadership team to improve process where required to prevent any repeated dissatisfaction.

Working closely with senior leaders and operational teams, you will provide oversight, reporting, quality assurance, training, and guidance to ensure compliance remains at the heart of our business. This role would suit an individual with a strong regulatory background, ideally gained within the property sales and lettings sector or financial services industry. As a new position within the Group, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to play an active part in building the role, influence business processes, and become an integral member of the Group management team.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive compliance and control framework across the Group.
• Ensure AML and GDPR requirements are fully embedded within sales and lettings processes.
• Manage and oversee Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), providing guidance and approval where required.
• Review, improve and maintain complaint handling procedures, ensuring regulatory timescales are consistently met.
• Facilitate the investigation and resolution of customer complaints, working closely with operational teams.
• Analyse complaint trends, identify root causes, and provide recommendations to improve customer outcomes and prevent recurring issues.
• Work collaboratively with Property Management and Property Services teams to ensure compliance with key certification requirements, including Gas Safety, EICR and EPC regulations.
• Design and deliver meaningful compliance reporting and management information to provide visibility of risk and regulatory adherence across the Group.
• Develop and implement quality assurance programmes to assess compliance performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Create and maintain regulatory procedures aligned with company policies and evolving legislation.
• Monitor changes in legislation and regulatory requirements, updating policies, procedures and controls accordingly.
• Design and deliver compliance training programmes, ensuring all employees maintain the knowledge and competence required for their roles.
• Work closely with department leaders to ensure compliance considerations are embedded into business processes and operational decision-making.

Previous experience in a compliance, risk, regulatory or governance role. Strong knowledge of GDPR, Data Protection legislation, AML regulations, complaint handling processes, and property management compliance requirements. Experience within the property sales, lettings, property management or financial services sectors would be highly advantageous. Excellent analytical skills with the ability to identify risks, trends and opportunities for improvement. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence at all levels of the business. Ability to develop policies, procedures, controls and reporting frameworks from the ground up. Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Experience designing and delivering training programmes and promoting a culture of compliance. A collaborative and pragmatic approach, balancing regulatory requirements with commercial objectives. High levels of integrity, professionalism and sound judgement. Ability to work part-time (30hrs/week – Monday to Friday).