Head of Compliance SMF16

IDEX Consulting Ltd; Maidenhead; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

IDEX Consulting Ltd seeks a seasoned Head of Compliance to lead the firm's compliance and risk framework in a Berkshire hybrid setting. Reporting to the CEO, you will own SMF16 and SMF17 responsibilities, guide governance, and embed a robust controls environment to support ambitious growth.

You will work with the CEO and senior leadership, providing independent oversight, pragmatic regulatory guidance, and a culture of compliant excellence across advisers and support teams.

Qualifications

• Senior compliance leadership experience, ideally SMF16 level
• Strong knowledge of FCA regulatory environment and financial planning sector
• Experience in an advice-led business
• Commercial, pragmatic approach to compliance

Responsibilities

• Hold SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and SMF17 (MLRO) responsibilities.
• Develop and implement a robust, risk-based compliance monitoring programme.
• Oversee FCA regulatory requirements, systems and controls.
• Ensure ongoing regulatory obligations and threshold conditions are met.
• Oversee Training & Competence and adviser competence.
• Review MI and emerging risks; provide reporting to senior management.
• Keep business ahead of regulatory developments and take appropriate action.
• Oversee complaints, breaches, errors and remediation activity.
• Prepare for external compliance audits and drive actions.
• Oversee risk management, including the risk register and Risk Committee.
• Promote a strong compliance culture across advisers and support teams.
• Lead financial crime and MLRO-related activity under SMF17.
• Bring experience from financial planning/wealth management with SMF16 background.

Skills

SMF16

MLRO

Regulatory knowledge

Acquisition experience

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Financial crime oversight

Communication

Job description

Head of Compliance | SMF16 & SMF17 | Berkshire | Hybrid

I’m working with an established and highly successful financial planning business that is continuing to grow, both organically and through acquisition, and they are now looking to appoint an experienced Head of Compliance to lead their compliance and risk framework.

This is a senior role reporting directly to the CEO, with responsibility for both SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and SMF17 (MLRO).

The business has ambitious growth plans and is looking for a compliance leader who can support that growth while ensuring the right regulatory framework, governance and controls are firmly in place.

You’ll work closely with the CEO, senior leadership and wider central teams, providing independent oversight, constructive challenge and pragmatic regulatory guidance.

A key part of the role will be strengthening and embedding the compliance framework following a period of significant growth and acquisition.

What you’ll be doing

• Holding the SMF16 Compliance Oversight and SMF17 MLRO responsibilities.
• Developing and implementing a robust, risk-based compliance monitoring programme.
• Providing effective oversight of FCA regulatory requirements, systems and controls.
• Ensuring the firm continues to meet its regulatory obligations and threshold conditions.
• Overseeing the Training & Competence framework and adviser competence.
• Reviewing MI and emerging risks, providing clear reporting and challenge to senior management.
• Keeping the business ahead of regulatory developments and ensuring appropriate action is taken.
• Overseeing complaints, breaches, errors and remediation activity.
• Preparing for external compliance audits and ensuring actions are effectively implemented.
• Providing oversight of risk management, including the risk register and Risk Committee.
• Promoting a strong, positive compliance culture across advisers and support teams.
• Taking responsibility for financial crime and MLRO-related activity under SMF17.

We are specifically looking for someone who has held or currently holds an SMF16 function with a financial planning / wealth management background.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Proven senior compliance leadership experience, ideally at SMF16 level.
• Strong knowledge of the FCA regulatory environment and financial planning sector.
• Experience operating within an advice-led business.
• A pragmatic, commercially aware approach to compliance.
• The confidence to challenge senior and established stakeholders when required.
• Experience supporting businesses through acquisition and integration.
• The ability to introduce change without damaging established relationships or culture.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the credibility to work directly with advisers, senior management and the board.
• A long-term mindset — this is not a consultant-style engagement. We are looking for someone who wants to become a trusted part of the business and build strong relationships over time.