Overview
Location: Cardiff (3-4 days per week on-site)
Industry: Digital Wealth / FinTech
About the Company
We're representing a fast-growing digital wealth platform that is reinventing how modern professionals build, manage, and grow their money.
This company is on a mission to open up wealth-building tools traditionally reserved for private banks and ultra‑high‑net‑worth clients. Their product suite spans savings, investments, lending, alternative assets, and soon, financial advice—all delivered through a modern, tech-led ecosystem.
In just over a year, they've grown to over £125M in AUM, with a bold trajectory to scale beyond £1B in the next two years. They are still a relatively small team, but scaling quickly—meaning culture matters deeply: collaborative, ambitious, hands-on, and driven by building something truly industry-changing.
This is the kind of environment where people roll up their sleeves, work smart, challenge norms, and build the infrastructure of a future category leader.
The Role
As Head of Compliance & MLRO, you will take ownership of the compliance function during a transformational phase in the company's growth. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in a scale‑up, enjoys shaping processes from the ground up, and is excited to work across multiple product verticals.
You will be the key figure ensuring the firm remains safe, ethical, and fully compliant as it expands its offerings and regulatory footprint.
You will
* Build, lead, and scale the compliance function as the organisation moves into a new phase of accelerated growth.
* Embed compliance across product, engineering, operations, and commercial teams, turning it into a company-wide discipline, not a silo.
* Design efficient, technology-enabled processes and controls, including spot checks, monitoring frameworks, and governance structures.
* Lead on key regulatory milestones, including variation of permissions and future enhancements to client money permissions.
* Partner with product teams to influence regulatory strategy, customer journeys, and product design.
* Support the development and rollout of an upcoming financial advice proposition.
* Own SMF16/17 responsibilities, with full support for someone stepping into these responsibilities for the first time, if you have the capability and appetite to grow.
Why This Role Is Exciting
* High product variety: You'll work across savings, investing, lending, and alternative assets, ideal for someone who enjoys multi‑discipline environments.
* Complexity & impact: Every new product and regulatory milestone will require your expertise, making this a genuinely impactful role.
* Scaling phase: This business is transitioning from start‑up to scale‑up, meaning you'll shape the compliance culture, frameworks, and long-term strategy.
* A true builder role: Perfect for someone who enjoys being hands-on, proactive, and involved in company-wide decision-making.
* A challenge worth taking: The ambition is big, the mission is meaningful, and the opportunity to influence is enormous.
Who We're Looking For
Essential
* Strong compliance experience within a regulated financial environment, ideally financial advice, wealth management, savings, investments, or broader retail finance.
* Proven track record in a fast-growth environment (fintech/scale-up preferred).
* Demonstrated ability to build or scale a compliance function
* Confident working across multiple product types and regulatory disciplines.
* Strong leadership and coaching skills, enabling teams rather than doing every task yourself.
* High integrity, personal accountability, and a passion for doing things the right way.
Desirable
* Experience with SMF16/17 responsibilities (or readiness to step into them).
* Interest in fintech innovation, digital wealth platforms, or broader financial technology.
* Someone who thrives in ambiguity and enjoys variety in their day-to-day work.
What’s On Offer
* A genuine leadership opportunity at a high-growth fintech during a critical scaling phase.
* The chance to influence the future of retail wealth and shape an entire compliance culture.
* Salary of £90,000 - £100,000 + equity. Could be negotiable for the right person
* A collaborative, intelligent, forward-thinking team that values ambition, curiosity, and ownership.
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