Compliance Assurance Manager in Bath

We are looking for an organised, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable Compliance professional to join our growing Compliance team. As part of the team, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where you’ll be able to utilise your skills and expertise to deliver amazing outcomes for our clients.

The Compliance Assurance Manager plays a critical role in overseeing and challenging the effectiveness of the organisation’s risk management and control framework. Operating independently from the first line, the role ensures that risks are appropriately identified, assessed, monitored, and mitigated in line with regulatory expectations and internal policies.

Saltus is a privately owned financial planning and discretionary investment management house. We are dedicated to providing a high-quality service for private clients, trusts, and smaller institutions.

You’ll have responsibility for a wide range of duties within the Compliance Division, including the following:

• Independently own and continually develop the Compliance Universe, ensuring all relevant risks are accurately identified, assessed, and appropriately prioritised for review.
• Lead, manage, and oversee the delivery of the agreed review programme, ensuring all work is completed to the required standard and within expected timeframes.
• Produce high‑quality reports for senior management, clearly presenting findings, insights, and recommendations following the conclusion of each review.
• Provide robust challenge and constructive support to senior managers after each review, helping ensure agreed actions are meaningful, achievable, and aligned with effective risk management.
• Lead, manage and mentor the Second Line of Defence team.
• Consumer Duty Testing: measuring the effectiveness of processes designed to comply with Consumer Duty and assisting in gathering MI for the Consumer Duty Champion’s annual report.
• Provide independent oversight and challenge to First Line activities, ensuring risks are identified and managed effectively.
• Review and challenge risk assessments, controls, and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure consistency in risk practices across business units.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations and supervisory expectations.
• Track key risk indicators (“KRIs”), issues, and remediation actions.
• Provide insight and analysis on emerging risks and trends.
• Assess effectiveness of controls and recommend improvements.
• Support internal audit and external assurance activities.
• Build strong relationships with First Line teams to promote effective risk management.
• Influence and challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Provide training and guidance to enhance risk awareness and capability.
• Provide compliance support across projects, particularly in response to regulatory changes or operational improvements.

We think that the best candidate for this role will have:

• Direct experience working in a Second Line of Defence team.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a risk, compliance, or audit role within financial services and at least 2 at a management level.
• Strong understanding of the “three lines of defence” model.
• Strong knowledge of FCA rules and regulations, including the FCA Handbook, SM&CR, Consumer Duty, and DFM/platform rules.
• Strong Line Management background.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience in risk reporting and governance forums.
• Experience working with a Wealth Manager, large-scale IFA, or network.
• Understanding of distribution and manufacturing (DFM) and platform governance.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially in dealing with regulators.
• Project management knowledge is desirable but not essential.
• Relevant financial services qualifications (compliance, risk, or advisory).
• Ability to challenge constructively and influence decision-making.
• Proactive and adaptable in a fast-paced regulatory environment.

We’re incredibly flexible about where, when, and how you work: we don’t want anyone to be prevented from coming to work for Saltus as a result of the working pattern that they’re looking for. Ideally, you’d be able to be based out of either our Bath, London or Whiteley office for a minimum of three days each week, working the remainder of the week from home.

The role is 40 hours per week to be worked between the hours of 8:30-5.30pm with a salary range of £70,000 - £75,000 per year, depending on experience. Alongside this, you get fantastic benefits including 28 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays + your birthday off!), study assistance, life assurance cover, income protection and a pension, alongside access to our flexible benefits platform.

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch with our recruitment team if you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further.