Compliance Manager

Utmost Group; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Death in Service

Private Healthcare

Discretionary bonus

Professional memberships

Training opportunities

Sports & Social

Annual flu jab

Job summary

Utmost Worldwide is seeking a senior Compliance leader to oversee regulatory risk and guidance across the business. You will head the Compliance team, coordinate regulator liaison, and deliver clear reporting to senior management.

You will provide technical advice on cross-border licensing, data protection and taxation matters, while driving compliant change and governance—ensuring a robust compliance framework.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in regulatory compliance leadership.
• Ability to interpret complex requirements and provide pragmatic guidance.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and governance capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead Compliance team and provide governance across the function.
• Coordinate regulatory requests, returns and liaison with regulators.
• Develop regulatory reporting and MI for ExCo, Board, and committees.
• Provide technical regulatory advice on cross-border and data protection matters.
• Drive regulatory change and horizon scanning initiatives.
• Ensure controls are effective and compliant with policy.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

People management

Governance & reporting

Regulatory judgement

Education

Compliance qualification

Job description

• Support the Head of Compliance in the effective management and mitigation of regulatory compliance risk across the business, with a focus on regulatory technical advice, horizon scanning, regulatory change and forward-looking risk assessment.
• Act as a senior point of reference for regulatory compliance guidance, supporting the Compliance Team and business stakeholders on complex regulatory matters.
• Lead the coordination of regulatory requests, returns and liaison activity, ensuring responses are accurate, timely and subject to appropriate governance and oversight.
• Develop and present clear regulatory compliance reporting and management information for senior management, ExCo, Board and relevant governance forums.
• Provide leadership, direction and line management to the Compliance team, supporting delivery, capability development, prioritisation and performance.
• Take ownership of regulatory compliance tasks, queries, investigations and projects as directed by the Head of Compliance, deputising where required.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & People Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction and support to the Compliance team, ensuring work is prioritised, allocated and delivered to a high standard
• Set clear objectives and expectations, oversee performance, provide regular feedback and support individual development plans
• Develop team capability through coaching, mentoring, knowledge sharing and technical guidance
• Promote collaboration, consistency and accountability across the team, ensuring strong service quality and effective stakeholder engagement
• Represent the Compliance Function and/or the Company professionally in internal and external environments

Regulatory Technical Advice

• Act as the main point of reference for regulatory compliance advice and guidance queries from Regional Compliance Officers and other areas of the business
• Provide subject matter expertise on cross-border distribution risks of Utmost products, foreign regulatory licensing of Introducers, Conduct of Business risk and Treating Customers Fairly matters
• Provide technical advice on compliance with applicable Data Protection Laws and international tax information exchange requirements, including FATCA and CRS
• Review and provide regulatory input to product literature, client-facing marketing materials, product agreements, terms and conditions and other customer or commercial documentation
• Support the business with proportionate, practical and well-documented regulatory interpretation, ensuring advice is aligned to the company’s risk appetite and governance framework
• Maintain a strong understanding of regulatory expectations and ensure advice is forward-looking, risk-based and commercially balanced
• Comply with all fit and proper obligations as set by the Company

Regulatory Change & Horizon Scanning

• Monitor regulatory developments, consultations, industry guidance and jurisdictional risk initiatives across all relevant locations
• Assess the impact of regulatory change on the business, products, distribution arrangements, operating model, policies and procedures
• Coordinate the development and implementation of regulatory change actions, working with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and effective delivery
• Maintain clear records of regulatory change assessments, decisions, actions and governance reporting

Regulatory Requests, Returns & Liaison

• Coordinate responses to regulatory requests, information gathering exercises, thematic reviews and ad-hoc enquiries
• Oversee the preparation, review and submission of regulatory returns, ensuring accuracy, completeness and timely delivery
• Maintain effective liaison with regulators, external agencies and advisers where appropriate, ensuring communications are well-governed and appropriately documented
• Work with Regional Compliance Officers and business stakeholders to ensure regulatory submissions reflect accurate business information and appropriate compliance oversight
• Escalate material regulatory matters, deadlines or concerns to the Head of Compliance and relevant governance forums

Compliance Framework & Risk Management

• Contribute to the effective management and mitigation of regulatory compliance risk using company compliance risk methodologies, monitoring findings and jurisdictional regulatory risk initiatives
• Support the maintenance and enhancement of regulatory Compliance Manuals, policies, procedures and associated materials across relevant jurisdictions
• Provide input to the design and delivery of compliance monitoring and follow-up activities in accordance with the annual Compliance Plan
• Identify opportunities to strengthen compliance frameworks, controls, processes and documentation

Reporting, MI & Governance

• Prepare and present high-quality regulatory compliance reports for senior management, ExCo, Board and relevant governance committees
• Develop and maintain clear compliance MI covering regulatory change, regulatory interactions, requests, returns, compliance risks, issues, actions and thematic trends
• Ensure reporting is accurate, concise, regulator-defensible and provides clear analysis of risk, impact, actions and progress
• Escalate material regulatory compliance risks, issues, delays and emerging themes in line with governance frameworks

Control Assessment & Challenge

• Assess the design and operating effectiveness of key controls across business processes
• Provide robust, independent challenge to first line teams, whilst maintaining clear second line boundaries
• Identify systemic issues, control weaknesses and recurring themes, ensuring these are escalated appropriately
• Ensure remediation actions are practical, clearly defined and tracked to completion

Projects

• Provide subject matter expertise on AML-related projects, including Client Due Diligence (CDD) and Client Risk Assessment (CRA) requirements, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and internal policy
• Support and oversee project delivery activities, including testing, validation of control effectiveness, and identification of opportunities for improved efficiency and consistency
• Ensure that regulatory and compliance controls are appropriately considered and embedded within project and system changes
• Communicate effectively with project sponsors and stakeholders, providing clear updates on progress, risks and dependencies, and escalating issues or delays where required
• Monitor delivery timelines and outcomes to ensure projects are completed in line with agreed objectives and compliance requirements

Training & Development

• Foster a positive, professional and ethical working environment that supports high performance and continuous improvement
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory developments and industry best practice, sharing insights with the business where relevant
• Provide training, coaching and advisory support on Compliance and financial crime matters
• Support the development of team capability through mentoring and knowledge sharing
• Maintain own professional development, working towards or holding relevant qualifications

Culture

• Act as a role model for strong risk awareness, ethical behaviour and adherence to regulatory and internal standards
• Represent Compliance in a clear, professional and commercially balanced manner, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and company strategy
• Lead by example in promoting a culture of accountability, control effectiveness and continuous improvement, supporting the business through change where required

Key Tasks

Please be advised that in order to qualify for this role you must have a provision and maintenance of a current and valid Population Management Permit or Certificate in Guernsey.
For more information on this role please email [e-mail] for the job description.

Please be advised that in order to qualify for this role you must have a provision and maintenance of a current and valid Population Management Permit or Certificate in Guernsey.
For more information on this role please email [e-mail] for the job description.

Benefits

• Death in Service benefit – 4 x basic salary
• Income Protection
• Secondary Pension at 10% of basic salary
• Private Healthcare for you and this can extend to a partner/dependent children, including a free EAP service.
• Discretionary bonus scheme based on personal and business performance
• Optional benefits at the employee’s cost include an investment and savings plan and dental insurance
• Payment of up to two professional memberships
• Internal and external training opportunities
• Sports and Social event programme
• Community & Volunteering programme
• Annual flu jab

Key Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Strong regulatory judgement and the ability to interpret complex requirements and apply them proportionately in a commercial environment
• Confident adviser, able to provide clear, balanced and pragmatic technical guidance to senior stakeholders
• Forward-looking mindset, with strong awareness of regulatory change, emerging risks and jurisdictional developments
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality, accuracy and regulatory defensibility
• Clear and credible communicator, with strong drafting, presentation and Board reporting capability
• Collaborative and influential, able to build trust with regulators, Regional Compliance Officers and business stakeholders
• Strong people leader, able to set expectations, manage performance, develop capability and support effective team delivery
• Organised, resilient and able to manage competing priorities, regulatory deadlines and high volumes of work

Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in regulatory Compliance within