Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

Suits Me; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary (£100,000+)

30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

High autonomy and influence at Board level

Job summary

Suits Me is seeking an experienced executive-level risk professional to shape our Risk & Compliance function. You will lead the development of our risk framework, ensuring effective oversight and governance in a fast-growing fintech environment.

This pivotal role provides significant Board-level exposure and the opportunity to build a high-performing compliance function while enabling sustainable growth. A competitive salary and 30 days holiday are offered.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in financial services risk and compliance.
• Proven ability to engage with Boards and regulators.
• Strong understanding of the three lines of defence model.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve the second line Risk & Compliance function.
• Ensure effective oversight and risk monitoring activities.
• Maintain high-quality risk management framework.
• Act as key regulatory contact for the business.

Skills

Executive-level risk and compliance experience

Strong risk culture design

Regulatory relationship management

Operational resilience programme management

Experience in fintech or regulated environments

Job description

We are seeking an experienced executive-level financial services risk professional to lead and shape our Risk & Compliance function within a fast-growing, regulated fintech environment.

This is a key executive leadership role responsible for the ongoing development, oversight, and effectiveness of our risk and compliance framework. You will work closely with the Legal Director, Executive Team, and Board to ensure risks are appropriately identified, assessed, monitored and reported, with clear governance and accountability in place.

You will lead and evolve our second line Risk & Compliance function, providing independent oversight, challenge and assurance across the business. This includes oversight of the Risk & Compliance Manager and responsibility for ensuring robust risk assessment, controls testing and governance across first line teams.

In addition, you will act as a key regulatory stakeholder contact for the business and take ownership of our operational resilience programme, including annual scenario testing and regulatory engagement.

This role carries significant Board-level exposure and plays a critical part in strengthening our governance, risk and compliance maturity as we scale.

About Suits Me

Suits Me® is a multi-award-winning, ethical fintech focused on financial inclusion and providing accessible banking alternatives to underserved customers.

We are in an exciting phase of growth, expanding across the UK and exploring opportunities across European and international markets. Our digital current account offers a contactless Mastercard® debit card, cashback rewards and streamlined onboarding with no credit checks.

As we scale, we are strengthening our governance, risk, and compliance framework to support rapid regulatory and operational change, while maintaining strong customer outcomes and financial integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, shape and embed a strong risk and compliance culture across the organisation.
• Lead and evolve the second line Risk & Compliance function, ensuring effective independent oversight and challenge.
• Oversee risk monitoring activities, including risk assessments, thematic reviews and controls testing across first line teams.
• Ensure high-quality risk MI, reporting and insights for the Management Committee and Board, including clear escalation of risks outside appetite.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve the risk management framework, policies, and risk appetite.
• Lead the annual operational resilience programme, including scenario testing and regulatory reporting.
• Act as a key regulatory contact, managing relationships with relevant regulators and ensuring proactive, transparent engagement.
• Provide leadership, direction and support to the Risk & Compliance Manager.
• Partner with senior leaders across the business to ensure risk management enables sustainable growth and supports strategic objectives.
• Work closely with our Non-Executive Director (Risk & Compliance specialist), who provides additional independent oversight and guidance to the function.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Significant executive-level risk and compliance experience within financial services, ideally within fintech, payments, gaming, or similarly fast-paced regulated environments.
• Experience operating within organisations undergoing rapid regulatory, operational, or structural change.
• Proven ability to design and embed strong risk culture in a scaling organisation.
• Strong practical understanding and application of the three lines of defence model.
• Extensive experience engaging with Boards, Executive Teams and regulators at senior level.
• Demonstrable experience leading operational resilience programmes and understanding evolving regulatory expectations.
• Strong regulatory relationship management experience, with confidence engaging proactively and transparently with regulators.
• A commercial mindset, combining pragmatic judgement with strong technical risk and compliance expertise.

You will be credible, collaborative and comfortable providing constructive challenge while building strong relationships across all levels of the organisation.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to shape and strengthen the risk and compliance function at a pivotal stage in our growth.

You will have genuine executive influence, direct Board exposure and the opportunity to build and mature a high-performing second line function within a purpose-led, ambitious fintech.

You will play a critical role in enabling safe, sustainable growth while ensuring strong customer outcomes and regulatory confidence.

• Competitive salary (£100,000+ depending on experience)
• 30 days holiday per year plus Bank Holidays.
• Opportunity to work in a purpose-led fintech with real social impact.
• High autonomy and direct influence at Board level.