Head of Compliance

Simply Business; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

25 days leave + holidays

Parental leave (6 months primary)

Life event leave + sabbatical

Private medical insurance (BUPA)

Performance bonus

Learning platform

Pension match 5%

Life assurance 4x salary

Car salary sacrifice

Flexible benefits scheme

Job summary

Simply Business, a technology-driven insurer, seeks a Head of Compliance to lead the UK compliance architecture and embed proactive regulatory frameworks. Reporting to the General Counsel, you’ll drive governance for algorithmic pricing, digital journeys, and customer-first products.

You will influence cross-functional executives and regulators, building a culture of compliant-by-design and rapid, responsible growth across the business.

Qualifications

• Proven track record modernising compliance functions within UK financial services.
• Deep knowledge of FCA frameworks (Consumer Duty, ICOBS, PROD 4).
• Experience with digital distribution, e‑commerce, and algorithmic/AI pricing governance.
• Clear, plain-English communicator translating regulatory mandates into commercial guidance.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with executives, boards, and regulators.
• Resilient, agile leader capable of solving complex challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team across Compliance functions.
• Own and execute a multi-year UK compliance strategy with embedded regulatory expectations.
• Act as primary regulator contact for SMF16 and SMF17 with governance oversight.
• Architect and continuously optimise proactive, risk-based compliance frameworks and controls.
• Partner with Tech, Product, Finance, and Commercial to enable compliant-by-design operations.
• Deliver actionable MI and insights to the Board and Executive Leadership.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

FCA frameworks knowledge

Digital distribution governance

Communication

Collaborative leadership

Agile / resilient

Education

Senior compliance qualification (ICA/CISI/LLM)

Job description

Who Are We?

We insure small businesses and enable big dreams – not just for our customers, but for our people and communities too. With over 1,000,000 active insurance policies, we protect builders, bakers, landlords and more than 1,200 other trades.

Who Are We?

We insure small businesses and enable big dreams – not just for our customers, but for our people and communities too. With over 1,000,000 active insurance policies, we protect builders, bakers, landlords and more than 1,200 other trades. We’re a technology company as well as one that sells insurance. That means we build, we fail, we learn and we improve. Through our global social impact strategy, called 'The Big Dreams Project’, we're working to help 10,000 small businesses start or grow by 2030. Why not check out our advert on YouTube: Simply Business TV advert 2024: 'Simply the Best'.

Job Category

Position Type

Target Openings

1

What Is the Opportunity?

Compliance isn’t about ticking boxes or standing in the way of progress. At Simply Business, it’s about enabling high-speed commercial growth, pioneering digital insurance journeys, and serving as a trusted partner to fuel responsible innovation while keeping our enterprise robust and reliable as we scale. As our Head of Compliance, you’ll be a strategic, forward-thinking leader overseeing our entire UK compliance architecture. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, you’ll define and embed proactive regulatory frameworks that support ambitious digital tech, algorithmic pricing, and customer-first products—proving that strong governance and rapid business growth can go hand in hand.

As One Of Our Head Of Compliance, You’ll

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team across Compliance Business Partnering, Monitoring, and Governance.
• Own and execute our multi-year UK compliance strategy, ensuring regulatory expectations and Consumer Duty are embedded into our company DNA.
• Act as our primary contact for regulatory authorities, holding key Senior Management Functions (SMF16 and SMF17).
• Architect and continuously optimise proactive, risk-based compliance frameworks, oversight policies, and operational controls.
• Partner closely with executive peers across Tech, Product, Finance, and Commercial to build compliant-by-design, frictionless operations.
• Deliver high-impact, actionable insights and Management Information (MI) directly to the Board and Executive Leadership.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is

• An experienced regulatory leader with a proven record of modernising compliance functions within regulated UK financial services.
• Deeply knowledgeable about FCA frameworks (Consumer Duty, ICOBS, PROD 4), backed by a relevant senior qualification (e.g., ICA, CISI, LLM).
• Experienced in digital distribution, e-commerce, and algorithmic or AI pricing governance.
• An exceptional, plain-English communicator who can translate complex regulatory mandates into clear, commercial guidance.
• Highly collaborative, with the strategic gravitas to build strong, trusted relationships across executives, boards, and regulators.
• Agile, resilient, and energised by solving complex challenges in a fast-paced environment.

(We know it's tough, but please try to avoid the confidence gap. You don't have to match all the bullet points above to be considered for this role.)

We are committed to maintaining an inclusive, supportive place for you to be you and do your very best work.

Build the future of digital tech governance with us. We are a technology-driven company redefining the insurance landscape. Here, compliance isn't a modern bottleneck—it’s an active partner in innovation. If you are excited by algorithmic pricing models, scalable e-commerce journeys, and building a compliant-by-design future alongside brilliant tech, product, and data talent, we want to hear from you.

Ready to make an impact?

What Are The Benefits Of Working At Simply Business

• we offer a great work-life balance where workloads are manageable and everyone has the flexibility to work hybrid
• on top of the 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), we offer the option to buy five more days of holiday with your flexible benefits
• our flexible parental leave allows you to approach an important time how you want - with six months full pay to the primary caregiver and four weeks full pay if you're the secondary caregiver
• our life event leave is an extra days leave every two years for those big moments in your life like moving house or your birthday. And our long-serving employees get a two week paid sabbatical after five years of service, then four weeks off after ten years of service
• private medical insurance through BUPA, that covers any pre-existing condition is a core benefit. Plus a health cash plan that covers your everyday medical expenses
• we offer a competitive salary based on your experience and the current market. Plus the potential to earn an annual bonus based on performance
• access to tools to support your personal development on our dedicated learning platform. As well as support for your mental health with access to counselling
• we match what you put into your pension up to five per cent. And pass on a tax-free sum that's four times your basic salary with our life assurance policy, with the option to increase it to ten times through our flexible benefit scheme
• our salary sacrifice car scheme gives you the option to buy a brand new, fully insured, and maintained car for a convenient fixed monthly amount taken from your gross salary (after 6 months service)
• our flexible benefits scheme gives you an allocated amount to use each year on benefits like critical illness cover, dental insurance, travel insurance, or a gym membership

Ready to join us and drive our success as a high-performing team?

Employment Practices

Simply Business is committed to providing equality and opportunities for all employees and candidates considering a career with us. We offer a workplace where colleagues are treated with respect and dignity. We don’t (and won’t) discriminate either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, colour, religion, belief, political opinion, disability, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation or relationship status at any stage of the hiring process or during the course of your employment.