Head of Compliance, Risk & MLRO (SMF16/17)

About the Role

Firm operating within wealth manmagement, financial planning and financial advice are seeking an experienced Head of Compliance, Risk & MLRO to lead and oversee the Risk, Compliance and Financial Crime functions of the business. This is a senior leadership position with significant Board exposure and responsibility for ensuring the firm maintains a robust governance framework, strong regulatory compliance, and an effective risk management culture.

The successful candidate will act as the firm’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and will be responsible for developing and implementing the firm’s risk and compliance strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and Board-approved risk appetite.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing wealth and investment management business and play a key role in shaping its governance, regulatory and risk framework.

The business has their main operation located in Yorkshire and would ideally prefer the successful candidate to be in the office 1 or 2 days per week although this can be flexible if required.

Key Responsibilities

Risk Management & Governance

• Lead and manage the Risk, Compliance and Financial Crime functions.
• Maintain and enhance the firm’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
• Ensure risks are identified, assessed, monitored, mitigated and reported effectively.
• Oversee risk registers, risk and control assessments, key risk indicators and management information.
• Provide regular, high-quality reporting to the Board and governance committees.
• Promote a strong risk-aware culture throughout the business.
• Coordinate and oversee Business Continuity and Operational Resilience programmes.

Compliance

• Maintain and develop the firm’s Compliance Framework, policies and procedures.
• Manage relationships with the FCA and other regulatory bodies.
• Lead regulatory reporting, regulatory change management and compliance monitoring activities.
• Act as the firm’s Authorising Officer for financial promotions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including FCA rules, SMCR, GDPR and Data Protection legislation.
• Provide practical and commercially focused compliance advice across the business.
• Deliver compliance training and awareness programmes.

Financial Crime & MLRO

• Undertake the role of MLRO and maintain oversight of the firm’s financial crime framework.
• Ensure effective AML, sanctions, fraud, bribery and corruption controls are in place.
• Oversee customer and counterparty due diligence processes.
• Deliver financial crime training across the business.
• Prepare and present annual MLRO reports to the Board.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in a senior Compliance, Risk and/or MLRO role within wealth management, investment management, financial advice or broader financial services.
• Previous approval or experience as SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and/or SMF17 (MLRO).
• Previous responsibility for FCA regulatory compliance and risk management frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of FCA regulations, SMCR, AML and Financial Crime requirements.
• Experience presenting to Boards, Risk Committees and senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build and enhance governance, risk and compliance frameworks.

Applicants must be located and eligible to work in the UK without sponsorship. Please note, should feedback not be received within 28 days, unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful. In applying for this role, you may be registered on our database so we can contact you about suitable opportunities in future. Your data will be managed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. If you would like this job advertisement in an alternative format, please contact MERJE directly.