Senior Compliance Manager

The opportunity

At the heart of The Openwork Partnership there are over 4,200 financial advisers, based in nearly 700 firms, and supported by 600 colleagues in our central teams. Together we are a partnership and financial advice is what we do - it’s our shared history, our DNA. Whether you are planning a career with us, growing your business, protecting your family, or building a retirement plan… our purpose is to make it easier for you to face your future with confidence and optimism.
The Openwork Partnership brand continues to grow, both in terms of our adviser network and our colleagues across the Group. 

An opportunity to join a growing and respected Risk and Compliance team in the role of Senior Manager for Compliance. The Risk and Compliance Team, which also includes the CISO, GDPR and Financial Crime Team are well-established contributors to the business strategy and operations. As the business heads into the new strategic cycle the recently appointed CRCO is evolving the team to be front and centre in the support of, and challenge to the ExCo and senior leadership team. As part of the CRCO’s wider management team you will be uniquely placed to involve yourself, and apply your skills and experience to a class leading business with an unique operating model.

The ethos of the team is to support the health of the business and protect consumer outcomes with expert knowledge, support and challenge. Openwork is a respectful business of the value that 2nd line teams provide, which makes for a very productive and collaborative environment.

This role will report to the Director of Compliance. While deep and relevant Regulatory and Conduct experience is essential, the ideal candidate will also have evidenced leadership skills in leading initiatives across the Compliance function, and to have an operational mindset to drive work to conclusion with support from the Director. The role is new to the team, to bolster both capacity and skills, but also introduce new ways of working to help the team stay aligned with the business as it grows.

Hybrid role with a base in Swindon. 

Benefits:

• Salary - up to £90,000
• An annual car allowance of £5,486
• Bonus scheme - on target bonus - 17.5%
• Pension scheme - contribute up to 5% of your salary and Openwork will match you and put in an extra 5%
• Critical illness cover
• Income protection - 1x salary
• Death in service - 4x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days
• A range of other flexible benefits to include private medical insurance, dental insurance and much more.

Key accountabilities:

• Feeds data and narrative into reports to the Risk and Compliance Committee and supports the Compliance Director in finalising high quality and accurate reporting.
• Works with and influences Senior Management to maintain high standards of compliance within their teams and wider functions.
• Is our key contact with our Internal Audit Partner to ensure second- and third-line oversight activities are effectively managed/dovetailed
• Helps and support the preparation of leaders for any FCA visits/interactions e.g., through role plays/mock interviews/review of MI. 
• Works with the Compliance Director and takes a leading role in proactively managing and tracking all FCA data requests/thematic visits to ensure high quality timely responses to data requests and professionally managed visits. 
• Supports the Compliance Director in producing a bespoke Compliance Plan each year aligned to conduct risk in the business and the current regulatory environment and ensures the scope and focus of this plan can flex to meet the developing Openwork strategy and business structure and current Business Plan
• Actively liaises with other Compliance functions in the Openwork group to consider best practice and develop group awareness of regulatory issues and vertical integration risk. 
• Anticipates and actively engages in business initiatives to ensure compliance requirements are pro-actively considered. 
• Influences and actively participates in the formulation of Compliance policy and procedures. 
• Effectively manages the Compliance Team to plan and deliver the risk-based compliance monitoring programme. Regularly reviews and reprioritises plan deliverables to respond to emerging issues. 
• Supports the Compliance Director to manage key deliverables across the team
• Develops and continuously improves compliance monitoring and control systems to ensure continuing compliance, cost effectiveness and timeliness.

What will you need to succeed?

• A history of working at a similar level in a Compliance function with the ability to bring a deep technical knowledge to the business.
• Ideally from a Wealth Management, Advisory and Distribution Business background or experience.
• Experience of leading Compliance support to complex regulatory change projects across multi distribution channels.
• Managing FCA relationships and interactions and preparing the business effectively to achieve positive visit outcomes.
• Experience of creating bespoke Compliance Plans linked to a Conduct Risk agenda.
• Strong leadership skills to drive forward a range of cross Compliance team activities.
• Preferable experienced leadership and coaching, to contribute to a high performing and effective team environment. 
• Understanding and knowledge of the current and horizon FCA conduct risk agenda and how these impact on the Partnership.
• Detailed knowledge of the FCA handbook
• Understanding of advisor and wealth management business models
• Leadership and coaching techniques
• Has strong project and planning skills including strong leadership skills to act as a catalyst for change
• Analysis of complex topics to identify the key areas of Compliance focus needed.
• Excellent communication skills being able to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders.
• Overall excellent problem solving, decision making and judgement skills.
• Can question and to challenge and handle conflict when needed.
• Can manage conflicting priorities and make appropriate judgements when unplanned work issue arise.
• Is tenacious but able to build and maintain effective relationships – does what is right rather than what is easy.

Why us?

We're a dynamic, fast paced, and growing business with huge ambition. This is all made possible by the brilliant people who are part of The Openwork Partnership family. We're investing heavily in our colleagues, continuously striving to give them the platform to develop personally and professionally and reach their full potential.

We’re also very proud of our culture, as one of the Best 100 Large Companies to work for in 2021. The Openwork Partnership values, and respects individuality and we are committed to building an inclusive culture and environment which truly recognises and celebrates our colleague’s individual differences and identities – just like our financial advice, for us, it’s personal. We believe everyone can make a difference and your race, religion, disability, and gender will never be a barrier. At Openwork, we have a strong ethic of care for each other where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will bring your best self to work if you are trusted to choose when, where and how you do it.