Compliance Monitoring Officer

AJ Bell; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK investment platform provider is seeking a Compliance Monitoring Officer to join their Risk & Compliance team on a 12-month fixed-term basis. The role is crucial for ensuring compliance within a regulated financial services environment, focusing on FCA guidelines, particularly Consumer Duty. The ideal candidate will have compliance experience, a proactive approach, and excellent communication skills. The position supports flexible working and offers generous benefits, including a matched pension scheme and holiday entitlement.

Benefits

Matched pension contributions up to 6%

Discretionary bonus and annual share awards

Health cash plans and private healthcare

On-site gym

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in compliance or quality assurance within an FCA-regulated firm.
• Strong understanding of compliance monitoring and testing methodologies.
• Knowledge of UK and EU regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Conducting detailed compliance reviews according to our Compliance Monitoring Plan.
• Assisting the Head of Compliance Monitoring in maintaining and delivering the Compliance Monitoring Plan.
• Tracking and closing actions from reviews using the Action Tracker.

Skills

Attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Analytical approach

Job description

We’re seeking a Compliance Monitoring Officer to join our Risk & Compliance team on a 12-month fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. This is an excellent opportunity to make an immediate impact. Ideally, we want someone to start in September or October.

This role is crucial in maintaining and enhancing compliance within a dynamic, regulated financial services environment. You will help ensure we meet the FCA’s expectations, especially regarding Consumer Duty, by championing ethical practices and regulatory excellence.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting detailed thematic and regular compliance reviews according to our Compliance Monitoring Plan.
• Assessing how well good customer outcomes are embedded in business practices, focusing on Consumer Duty and risk control.
• Supporting the Head of Compliance Monitoring in maintaining and delivering the Compliance Monitoring Plan.
• Providing feedback from reviews to promote collaborative improvement across the business.
• Tracking and closing actions from reviews using the Action Tracker.
• Ensuring consumers are central to decision-making and that fair, positive outcomes are delivered.
• Investigating breaches to identify root causes and ensure corrective actions are taken.
• Maintaining compliance registers, including breach logs, gifts/hospitality logs, and conflict of interest registers.

Requirements:

• Experience in compliance or quality assurance within an FCA-regulated firm. Experience in investment platforms, stockbroking, or similar sectors is preferred, but applications from other regulated environments are welcome.
• Strong understanding of compliance monitoring and testing methodologies.
• Knowledge of UK and EU regulatory frameworks.
• Familiarity with the FCA Handbook, especially COBS, SYSC, Financial Crime, CASS, MAR, and Consumer Duty.
• Awareness of anti-money laundering legislation, JMLSG guidance, and FCA financial crime prevention standards.
• A proactive, analytical approach with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build constructive relationships across teams.

Start date: Ideally September or October, but flexible for the right candidate.

About us:

AJ Bell is a leading UK investment platform provider, serving over 593,000 customers with assets exceeding £90.4 billion. Listed on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market since December 2018, we are a FTSE 250 company headquartered in Manchester, with offices in London and Bristol. We employ over 1,500 staff and have been recognized as one of the UK's best workplaces for six consecutive years and in 2024 as a Great Place to Work.

Our benefits include:

• Starting holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 31, with holiday buy/sell options.
• Matched pension contributions up to 6%.
• Discretionary bonus and annual share awards.
• Buy As You Earn scheme, health cash plans, private healthcare, dental schemes.
• On-site gym, employee assistance, sick pay pledges, enhanced parental leave.
• Nursery fee discounts, travel loans, charitable giving options.
• Social events, parking, ongoing training, peer recognition, leadership breakfasts.

We support flexible working, with at least 50% of work in the office, and foster an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.