Compliance Partner

To ensure that Appointed Representative firms (ARs) have effective systems and controls, and governance arrangements in place to meet both network and regulatory requirements.
To deliver proactive supervision and oversight to ARs, ensuring alignment with internal frameworks and regulatory standards.
To work closely with internal teams to identify, monitor and mitigate risks that could lead to consumer harm, through the analysis of Management Information (MI) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), desk-based assessments and firm audits.
To support new ARs and Advisers through the onboarding process, ensuring they are appropriately set up to meet network and FCA requirements from the outset.
To work closely with internal stakeholders to provide ongoing compliance and productivity support to Advisers, to ensure that any additional support needs are met, including growth opportunities.

Responsibilities

Onboarding Support

• Lead the end-to-end onboarding journey for new ARs, acting as the first point of contact throughout the process to ensure a seamless experience.
• Assess business models and systems and controls to ensure ARs are appropriately set up to meet network and FCA requirements from the outset.
• Identify and escalates onboarding risks that may impact effective oversight or consumer outcomes.
• Work closely with Quality Partners to support the delivery of effective training and support, ensuring the successful achievement of Competent Adviser Status for new advisers.

Oversight, Supervision and Audits (Firm and Adviser level support)

• Provide ongoing risk-based oversight to ARs, ensuring effective systems and controls and alignment with network and regulatory requirements.
• Work with internal teams to monitor and analyse MI and KRIs to identify emerging risks, control weaknesses and potential consumer harm.
• Conduct risk-based audits, desk-based assessments and thematic reviews where higher risk business models, material changes or adverse trends are identified, providing recommendations for remedial action to address any issues.
• Agree, monitor and close remedial actions plans, ensuring issues are addressed to a satisfactory standard and within agreed timescales.
• Work proactively with ARs and Advisers as a key point of contact, while delivering clear, proportionate regulatory challenge.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Take proactive and reactive opportunities to identify shape and support the development of additional services, tools and guidance to support ARs and Advisers.
• Maintain and continuously develop technical and regulatory knowledge.
• Stay up to date with FCA rules and other relevant regulatory developments.
• Undertake ad hoc projects and duties as required to support business needs and departmental objectives.
• Proactively seek growth and productivity opportunities including, where relevant, referral to Growth Partner/RKAM.

Critical behaviours required

• Motivated, self-driven and energetic, demonstrating high levels of commitment.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage time, priorities and competing tasks effectively.
• People orientated and relationship focussed, building trust while delivering appropriate challenge.
• Proactive and solutions focussed with a “can do” attitude.
• Professional and resilient, maintaining standards and momentum in a fast paced and changing regulatory environment.

Personal profile

Qualifications required 

Essential

• CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) or equivalent qualification
• Driving licence

• DipPFS (Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning)
• ER1 - Equity Release - or equivalent qualification
• Advanced IT skills
• J07 – Supervision in a Regulated Environment
• Certificate in Learning & Development Practice (CIPD equivalent)

Experience required

Essential

• Previous experience in a supervisory or compliance role within financial services, ideally within a mortgage and protection network.
• Conducting risk-based audits or reviews, identifying issues and driving remedial action to resolution.
• Relationship management, influencing senior stakeholders, and providing clear, pragmatic guidance.
• Applying a risk-based approach to compliance and decision making.

Desirable

• Previous experience working in an Appointed Representative network.
• Working in a fast-paced, regulated environment.

Our Expectations

Our Approach to Risk Management

• You will require an awareness of operational and regulatory risk, which may impact on SBG. You will be responsible for reporting to their line manager any risk which may impact on the business.

Three Lines of Defence Risk Management Model

• You will be required to deliver your role competently and comply with the relevant standards and procedures, ensuring that SBG deliver a service where suitable advice is given to the end consumer, which is adequately recorded and ultimately promotes good customer outcomes. This can either be through direct influence or in a support services capacity.

The Consumer Duty Principle

• You will be required to highlight to your line manager procedures and processes that may impact on SBG’s ability to deliver good outcomes for retail customers and/or may lead to foreseeable harm. Where possible and relevant to your department, put forward suggestions that could positively impact the outcomes achieved by retail customers.

Information Security

• You will need to be aware of all information security principles, policies and procedures and ensure these are followed on a day-to-day basis. You will be required to remain vigilant at all times and report any security concerns, suspicions and/or breaches in a timely manner.