Requirements
* 7+ years of experience in compliance and AML within a UK‑regulated investment firm, wealth manager, or brokerage
* Direct experience holding or being ready to hold SMF 16/17 (Head of Compliance & MLRO) status
* Proven expertise in the UK wealth/investments landscape, with a deep understanding of FCA rules (COBS, Consumer Duty)
* Significant experience with SIPPs/Pensions is highly desirable to support our retirement planning product expansion
* Strategic thinking with the ability to scale compliance practices in a high‑growth, fast‑paced fintech environment
* Pragmatic and commercial problem solving applied to the specific needs of our B2B and B2B2C business models
* Leadership experience in managing stakeholders and building a compliance‑focused culture that supports business innovation
* A legal background (lawyer or significant legal experience) is considered a plus for interpreting complex regulatory frameworks
What the job involves
* As the Head of Compliance and MLRO, you are responsible for the strategic oversight and execution of our regulatory framework in the UK
* You will hold the SMF 16 and SMF 17 functions for Upvest Securities Ltd, acting as a senior business partner to ensure our growth is built on a foundation of regulatory excellence
* You will lead the development of a robust compliance and AML function that aligns with FCA standards and supports our ambitious product roadmap, including the launch of our SIPP (pensions) offering
* By fostering a "Compliance by Design" culture, you will enable Upvest to scale its financial infrastructure to millions of end‑users while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and trust with regulators, clients, and partners
* Serve as the primary UK regulatory lead, holding the Senior Management Functions (SMF 16/17) and acting as one of the main points of contact for the FCA
* Lead the regulatory workstream for our UK SIPP launch, ensuring our pension products meet all specific tax and FCA requirements from day one
* Oversee Financial Crime prevention, providing AML guidance, and maintaining oversight of fraud, bribery, and sanctions risks
* Review and enhance the risk‑based Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP). Ensure that our B2B partners are meeting their integrated compliance obligations
* Implement data‑driven monitoring and reporting to ensure continuous adherence to COBS, CASS, SYSC, and the Consumer Duty
* Partner with Product, Engineering and Growth teams to integrate compliance considerations into the development of new investment products and automated workflows, and provide guidance and support for client discussions on regulatory topics where required
* Act as a senior advisor to the Board and Management providing independent challenge and translating complex UK regulatory developments into actionable strategic insights and policies
* Lead and develop a high‑performing UK compliance function, fostering a culture of technical excellence, autonomy, and proactive risk mitigation
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