Head of Compliance & MLRO

Compliance Professionals; London; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm in London is seeking a Head of Compliance & MLRO. This critical role involves ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and providing expert compliance guidance across various business functions. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in wholesale investment compliance and a strong understanding of UK and EU regulations. Key responsibilities include developing compliance frameworks, monitoring programs, and insuring employee training on compliance issues.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated relevant experience in a wholesale investment firm.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain robust compliance frameworks.
• Strong track record in supporting strategic business initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Ensure firm adheres to regulatory standards and internal policies.
• Provide compliance guidance across various business areas.
• Develop compliance policies aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Design monitoring and testing plans to evaluate control effectiveness.
• Ensure employee training on compliance matters.

Skills

Expert compliance guidance

Knowledge of UK, EU, and global regulations

Ability to develop compliance frameworks

Strategic business support

Job description

THE COMPANY: Our client is a Wholesale Investment firm looking to recruit a Head of Compliance & MLRO. This role has responsibility to ensure the firm adheres to the relevant regulatory standards and internal policies, maintaining its ethical integrity and minimizing risks.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As the Head of Compliance, you are responsible for ensuring that the firm adheres to the relevant regulatory standards and internal policies, maintaining its ethical integrity and minimizing risks.
• You will be a strategic partner to the business, providing expert compliance guidance across Sales & Trading, Financing / Refinancing activity, Intergroup trading activity, Clearing and Custody. This role is pivotal in ensuring strong controls around market conduct, conflicts of interest, and the handling of material non-public information (MNPI). You’ll support strategic initiatives including new product launches, market expansion, and regulatory change, embedding compliance into the heart of business innovation.
• Keep the board informed of regulatory developments and their impact on the firm’s business and controls.
• Provide regulatory advice to front-office and operational teams on regulations such as MAR, MiFID II, FCA Handbook.
• Review and monitor intergroup trade/transaction booking arrangements.
• Develop and maintain compliance policies and procedures aligned with evolving regulatory expectations.
• Design and implement monitoring and testing plans to evaluate and enhance control effectiveness.
• Design and implement risk matrices for the Compliance department to feed into the monthly Risk & Compliance Meeting and the Board.
• Conduct horizon scanning and report on necessary changes or enhancements.
• Ensure appropriate training is delivered to employees.
• Hold SMF 16 and 17 functions.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated relevant experience in a wholesale investment firm.
• Experience providing expert compliance guidance across Sales & Trading, Financing / Refinancing activity, Intergroup trading activity, Clearing and Custody.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain robust compliance frameworks and monitoring programs.
• Excellent knowledge of UK, EU, and global regulations (e.g., MAR, MiFID II, DTR, SSR).
• Strong track record in supporting strategic business initiatives and regulatory change.

For further information, please contact Hannah Tabatabai.