UK Head of Compliance SMF16 & SMF17 in London

Head of Compliance & MLRO

UK | FCA Regulated | SMF16 & SMF17

We are a leading global trading and investment platform with an ambitious international growth strategy and a strong reputation for technology, innovation and client experience.

We are seeking an experienced UK Head of Compliance & MLRO to take overall responsibility for the UK entity's Compliance and Financial Crime frameworks, holding both SMF16 (Head of Compliance) and SMF17 (Money Laundering Reporting Officer) functions.

Reporting directly to the Group Chief Compliance Officer, this is a high-profile senior leadership position with direct and unrestricted access to the UK Board. You will lead an independent second-line Compliance function, act as a key regulatory adviser to the business and serve as a principal point of contact with the FCA and UK law enforcement.

This is an opportunity for an experienced regulatory leader who combines strong technical expertise and independent judgement with a pragmatic, commercial approach to compliance.

Head of Compliance – SMF16

• Lead, own and continuously enhance the UK Compliance Framework, ensuring it remains effective, proportionate and aligned with FCA requirements.
• Provide independent second-line oversight and challenge across Consumer Duty, conduct risk, market abuse, financial promotions, product governance, conflicts of interest, personal account dealing, transaction reporting and client assets.
• Act as a senior member of the UK Executive Committee, ensuring regulatory risk and good customer outcomes are embedded within strategic and commercial decision-making.
• Provide regular reporting to the UK Board, Board Committees and Executive Committee on regulatory risks, emerging issues, customer outcomes and the effectiveness of the Compliance Framework.
• Act as a key point of contact for the FCA, managing regulatory notifications, supervisory engagement, information requests and material regulatory correspondence.
• Lead regulatory horizon scanning and translate regulatory developments into practical business requirements, policies and controls.
• Provide regulatory advice and constructive challenge on new products, business initiatives, outsourcing arrangements, acquisitions and strategic projects.
• Provide second-line oversight of Consumer Duty and Operational Resilience.
• Develop and oversee a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Programme, working closely with Group Assurance and relevant business stakeholders.
• Ensure regulatory breaches and compliance incidents are appropriately identified, investigated, escalated, remediated and reported.
• Maintain oversight of regulatory returns, ensuring they are accurate, complete and submitted within required deadlines.
• Oversee market abuse surveillance and controls, including the identification and submission of STORs where required.
• Maintain oversight of EMIR and MiFIR transaction reporting, including the investigation and remediation of reporting issues.
• Oversee CASS-related compliance, breaches and escalation processes in conjunction with the CASS function.
• Lead the development and delivery of regulatory and compliance training across the business.
• Lead, develop and mentor the UK Compliance team, ensuring appropriate resourcing, performance and professional development.
• Work closely with Group Compliance, Financial Crime, Risk, Legal, Internal Audit, Assurance and senior business stakeholders.

Money Laundering Reporting Officer – SMF17

• Hold FCA approval as SMF17 MLRO and fulfil the relevant Prescribed Responsibilities for financial crime under SMCR.
• Provide independent oversight of the firm's UK Financial Crime Framework and report regularly to the UK Board and relevant governance committees.
• Prepare and present the annual MLRO Report, providing an independent assessment of financial crime risks, framework effectiveness, management information and required enhancements.
• Act as a key contact for the FCA and UK law enforcement on financial crime matters.
• Receive, assess and determine internal Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), including DAML requests, and determine when matters should be escalated to the National Crime Agency.
• Maintain appropriate records of SAR decisions, rationale and outcomes.
• Oversee the effective implementation of the UK AML, CTF and CPF Framework, including Business-Wide Risk Assessments and Customer Risk Assessment methodologies.
• Provide second-line oversight and challenge across CDD, EDD, onboarding, ongoing monitoring, transaction monitoring and high-risk customer reviews.
• Own and oversee the UK sanctions compliance framework, ensuring alignment with OFSI requirements.
• Develop and oversee financial crime training across the business.
• Work with Group Financial Crime, Assurance and Internal Audit to oversee financial crime monitoring, thematic reviews and remediation activity.

Experience & Requirements

We are looking for a senior compliance professional with significant experience operating within an FCA-regulated environment and a strong understanding of retail trading and investment businesses.

You will ideally have:

• Current or recent SMF16 and/or SMF17 approval within an FCA-regulated firm, or directly equivalent senior regulatory experience.
• Significant experience leading Compliance within an FCA-regulated investment, brokerage, CFD, spread betting, trading or fintech environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of the UK regulatory framework, including the FCA Handbook, FSMA, SMCR, Consumer Duty, UK MAR, MiFIR, EMIR, CASS, the Money Laundering Regulations, POCA, UK sanctions requirements and relevant FCA guidance.
• Strong experience across both regulatory Compliance and Financial Crime, including SARs, NCA engagement, sanctions and AML/CTF frameworks.
• Proven experience designing, implementing and enhancing Compliance and Financial Crime frameworks, including Business-Wide Risk Assessments.
• Strong understanding of retail conduct, Consumer Duty, product governance, market conduct, transaction reporting, CASS and Operational Resilience.
• Experience developing and overseeing risk-based Compliance Monitoring Programmes and driving effective remediation.
• Proven experience engaging with the FCA, including supervisory reviews, regulatory applications, notifications, submissions and material correspondence.
• Experience presenting to and advising Boards, Board Committees and senior executives.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to build, develop and motivate a high-performing Compliance team.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to provide robust independent challenge while remaining commercially pragmatic.

Desirable Experience

• Experience holding both SMF16 and SMF17 within a single role.
• Background in CFDs, brokerage, spread betting, trading, fintech or payments.
• Experience within a digitally-led or technology-driven financial services environment.
• Experience with automated onboarding, digital KYC and transaction monitoring technologies.
• CAMS, ICA, ACAMS or equivalent compliance or financial crime qualification.