FCA Head of Compliance (SMF16/17) in Shrewsbury

The Head of Compliance, Compliance Oversight & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (SMF16 & SMF17) is responsible for providing independent oversight of the firm's regulatory compliance framework and for establishing, maintaining and overseeing the firm's anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing arrangements.

Acting as both the firm's Compliance Oversight function and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, the individual ensures the business complies with FCA rules, the Consumer Duty, the Senior Managers & Certification Regime, the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended), the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000 and applicable financial sanctions legislation.

The role provides independent second-line oversight across all regulated activities undertaken by both the Principal firm and its overseas Appointed Representative, ensuring that regulatory, financial crime and conduct risks are appropriately identified, managed and escalated.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the firm's Compliance and Financial Crime function, providing independent oversight of regulatory compliance and ensuring the business continues to meet its obligations under FCA rules and applicable legislation.
• Act as the firm's SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and SMF17 (Money Laundering Reporting Officer), subject to FCA approval, taking personal responsibility for the firm's compliance and anti-money laundering frameworks.
• Develop, implement and maintain an effective compliance framework, ensuring policies, procedures and controls remain appropriate, proportionate and aligned with regulatory requirements.
• Design and deliver a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Programme, carrying out thematic reviews and monitoring activities to assess compliance, identify areas of improvement and ensure timely remediation.
• Provide oversight of the firm's Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF), sanctions and financial crime arrangements, including the Business-Wide Risk Assessment, customer due diligence and suspicious activity reporting processes.
• Act as the firm's Nominated Officer, receiving and assessing internal suspicious activity reports and making external disclosures to the National Crime Agency where appropriate.
• Provide independent oversight of the firm's Appointed Representative, ensuring appropriate governance, monitoring and regulatory control is maintained across all outsourced regulated activities.
• Monitor changes to FCA rules, legislation and industry best practice, advising senior management and the Board on regulatory developments and ensuring appropriate implementation across the business.
• Prepare and present regular compliance and financial crime reports to the Board, highlighting regulatory risks, monitoring outcomes, emerging issues and recommendations for improvement.
• Support the business in embedding Consumer Duty, ensuring customer outcomes remain at the centre of decision-making and regulatory obligations are reflected in day-to-day operations.
• Work collaboratively with the Managing Director and senior management, providing independent advice and constructive challenge while maintaining the integrity and independence of the Compliance function.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance, ethical behaviour and regulatory awareness through training, guidance and ongoing engagement with colleagues across the business.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Significant experience within an FCA-regulated financial services environment, preferably consumer credit, debt collection, debt administration or a related sector.
• Strong working knowledge of the FCA Handbook, including CONC, SYSC, DISP, Consumer Duty and SM&CR.
• Experience of developing, implementing or monitoring compliance frameworks, policies and controls.
• Experience of undertaking compliance monitoring, regulatory advice and risk assessments.
• Good understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), sanctions, customer due diligence and financial crime requirements.
• Experience of preparing management information and presenting compliance matters to senior management.
• Excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder management skills.

Key Competencies

• Commercial Awareness – Able to provide pragmatic, risk-based regulatory advice that supports business growth while ensuring compliance with FCA requirements.
• Regulatory Expertise – Strong understanding of the FCA regulatory framework, Consumer Duty, SM&CR, AML and financial crime requirements, with the ability to interpret and apply regulatory change effectively.
• Risk-Based Decision Making – Able to assess regulatory and financial crime risks, balancing customer outcomes, regulatory obligations and commercial objectives.
• Independent Judgement & Integrity – Confident in providing objective advice and constructive challenge to senior management and the Board while maintaining professional independence.
• Leadership & Influencing Skills – Able to build credibility, influence stakeholders at all levels and foster a positive culture of compliance and ethical behaviour.
• Analytical Thinking – Strong ability to interpret data, identify trends, investigate issues and recommend practical, proportionate solutions.
• Communication Skills – Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex regulatory matters clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Governance & Organisational Skills – Strong planning and organisational capability with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain high standards of governance.
• Relationship Management – Builds effective working relationships across the business, supporting collaboration while maintaining appropriate independence.
• Continuous Improvement – Proactively identifies opportunities to strengthen governance, improve processes and enhance customer outcomes.

The appointment to this role is conditional upon FCA approval of the candidate to perform the SMF 16/17 obtained by the firm via the submission of Form A prior to the commencement of the role; satisfactory completion of criminal record checks via the Disclosure and Barring Service (and any overseas equivalent as appropriate); satisfactory regulatory reference checks going back six years, obtained in accordance with SYSC 22; and the firm's own fitness and propriety assessment confirming the candidate's suitability.