Head of Compliance and Risk in Bath

Hartley Pensions are looking for a highly experienced and skilled professional who is prepared to lead and oversee our Compliance and Risk operations. Playing a vital role in enforcing high standards by ensuring the implementation of regulatory guidelines, we are seeking a Head of Compliance and Risk to act as our regulatory oversight during an important period of transition for the business.

As the Interim – Head of Compliance and Risk at Hartley Pensions, you will be responsible for developing and implementing our Compliance and Risk framework, enforcing internal policies and procedures across our administrative teams to ensure adherence to regulatory guidelines as set out by the FCA. Additionally, you will be the point of contact for all compliance related queries. Your knowledge will be relied upon when the wider team seeks guidance and input on such matters. By offering diligent assessments and thorough analysis of processes, you will play a pivotal role in maximising the best outcomes for clients.

Your duties include (but are not limited to) the following critical areas of our services:

• Lead and provide oversight of compliance practices across all SIPP and SSAS functions.
• Responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely submission of regulatory returns to the FCA via their online platform RegData. Experience of submissions is essential.
• Keep up to date with regulatory changes, communicating updates to the wider business and ensuring these are enforced.
• Regular reporting of essential compliance data on performance metrics of teams to Hartley’s administrators and to the Operational Director.
• Oversight of CASS, ensuring the timely submission of CMARs to the FCA.
• Exercise due skill, care and diligence, observing proper standards of conduct in line with regulatory requirements.
• Act as a reliable source of technical FCA knowledge, with a strong understanding of the COBS.
• Liaison with second and third line on monitoring, audit, SMCR and complaints.
• Responsible for the investigation and monitoring of errors, incidents, complaints and regulatory breaches.
• Supporting the onboarding team during the vetting processes.

About You

The following key points list the necessary attributes required to succeed in this role:

• You must have a strong SIPP and SSAS pensions compliance background with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior operational position in leading a firm’s compliance function.
• You must have extensive experience knowledge of pension laws and surrounding tax regulations.
• Knowledge of The Consumer Duty in the context of SIPP product distribution and fair value is critical.
• You will possess an academic level of technical FCA knowledge, including COBS, AML and Financial Crime specifically from the Financial Crime Guide (FCG).
• Familiarity with HMRC’s Pensions Tax Manual regarding unauthorised payments.
• Expertise in CASS 7 rules regarding the segregation of client money.
• You must have excellent problem-solving capability with the ability to make decisions calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Demonstrable experience with GDPR regulations.
• Numerical proficiency is essential; a minimum Grade C/4 or above in GCSE Mathematics (or an international equivalent) is required.
• A competent standard of literacy is critical; a minimum Grade C/4 or above in both GCSE English Literature and English Language (or an international equivalent) is required.
• You must have a decent level of communication skills.
• The successful applicant must demonstrate high ethical standards when managing regulatory obligations.
• It is essential that you hold a resilient character in ensuring that the maintenance of consistent standards is implemented across the firm.
• A strategic mindset to proactively identify areas within our existing functions that require improvement.
• A keen eye for detail is crucial in ensuring the reviewing of complex SIPP portfolios and accurate record-keeping.
• A self-organised individual who can manage multiple workloads and projects, ensuring deadlines are met whilst overseeing robust compliance monitoring.

What we offer

As our Interim - Head of Compliance and Risk, you will step into a pivotal, high-visibility role where your expertise directly shapes Hartley’s operations. This position offers a seat at the strategic table, providing the platform to hold a Senior Management Function (SMF) with the autonomy of building a proactive compliance culture across the wider business.

A highly competitive rate: We pay within the top 10% of employers in the industry.

Meaningful impact: A rare opportunity to play a leading part in assisting a business through a crucial transitional period.

Hybrid working: We allow hybrid options (up to 2 days from home a week) after successful completion of training period and where business needs permit.

Recruitment Process

Hartley Pensions follow a two-stage recruitment process:

• A 30-minute screening call.
• A 90-minute interview with competency-based questions.
• A final stage interview with UHY Hacker Young, Hartley Pensions’ administrators.

At Hartley pensions diversity is important to us. Growing, maintaining and promoting a diverse team is a top priority for us. We actively encourage individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.