Compliance Policy Manager

Purpose of the Role

Understanding, leveraging and complying with regulatory rules and expectations is central to AJ Bell’s purpose. The Compliance policy team purpose is to leverage our relationships and expertise to provide advice, guidance, support and challenge to the business, in order to facilitate safe business growth and help our customers achieve their objectives.

The Compliance Policy Manager role supports the Senior Compliance Manager in providing input to product governance, engagement with product teams, regulatory projects, operational change and oversight of financial promotions. 

What does the job involve?

The key responsibilities of the role are as follows:

• Work with the Senior Compliance Manager and key stakeholders to continue embedding Consumer Duty across the business
• Review and interpret regulation and regulatory developments, determine potential impact  to business and provide detailed advice and guidance to first line areas implementing business changes.
• Monitor external developments and changes in industry best practice and provide advice and challenge to the business in the further enhancement of its control environment.
• Play an active role in raising regulatory awareness through training in the business.
• Assist the Senior Compliance Manager in the enhancement, implementation and maintenance of the Product Governance framework in line with FCA regulation.
• Provide oversight to all documentation sign off including financial promotions.
• Maintain oversight of FCA use of powers of product and financial promotions intervention and report to the business, including attending FCA or other events or seminars as required.
• Assist in the provision of reports and MI in relation to compliance activities to governance committees/bodies as required.
• Provide compliance CASS oversight, attending meetings where required, and assist the CASS Team with any Compliance related CASS queries.
• Provide oversight of the maintenance of the Senior Manager and Certification Regime (SMCR) across all levels of the business.
• Provide oversight of the Vulnerable Customers (VC) processes and provide support to the business where required.
• Provide Compliance oversight for all aspects of transaction reporting and best execution activities.

Competence

• Previous experience and knowledge of compliance in an FCA regulated firm.
• Degree and / or appropriate professional qualifications
• Good knowledge and understanding of the FCA Handbook, in particular in relation to the Consumer Duty and COBS rules and guidance.
• (Desirable) Understanding of the FCA Client money and asset (CASS) rules.
• Understanding of asset management and associated regulation

Knowledge & Skills

• Good knowledge and understanding of the UK Financial Services regulatory environment.
• Highly effective planning, organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal including the ability to communicate effectively and credibly at all levels including with senior management.
• Tenacity to follow through issues and challenge operational teams at a high level.
• Good Excel, Powerpoint and Word skills.
• Good presentational skills.
• Knowledge of pension, investment and stock broking products.

About us:

AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers, to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 503,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £80.3 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.

Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company.

Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1300 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years.

There are opportunities for growth and professional development for employees wanting to progress within their career including induction training and our study support scheme which is part of our benefits package.

There is an active programme of social events throughout the year, which are open to all employees.

In return we will provide all the training and support you need to develop within your role. 

In return for your hard work you will receive:

• Generous holiday allowance of 26 days, increasing up to 31 days with service, plus bank holidays
• Holiday buy/sell scheme
• Hybrid working policy (after initial training period)
• Casual dress code
• Discretionary bi-annual bonus
• Contributory pension scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Buy as you earn share scheme
• Free annual shares scheme
• Paid study support for qualifications
• Enhanced maternity/paternity scheme from day one
• Bike loan
• Season ticket loan portal
• Discounted PMI and Dental
• On-site gym and personal trainer led classes
• Paid volunteering opportunities
• Free social events and more

AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.