Director of Risk & Compliance

Kind Consultancy is working with a well-established and successful Financial Services organisation which is currently seeking a Director of Risk & Compliance to join them in a full-time, permanent role, predominantly remote with once per month travel to their West Midlands offices.

The Director of Risk and Compliance will lead the risk and compliance functions working within a dual-regulated financial services environment, ensuring that the organisation meets all regulatory requirements and cultivates a robust risk culture, with key responsibilities including:

• Developing, implementing, and continuously enhancing policies, procedures, and frameworks to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Monitoring regulatory changes and assessing their impact on the organisation, advising and supporting the business to adjust strategies accordingly.
• Owning the Compliance Management System and ensure it meets with regulatory requirements, whilst remaining fit for purpose and delivering value for the business.
• Liaising with regulatory bodies in a collaborative and transparent manner (PRA, FCA, ICO, etc.), ensuring timely and accurate reporting and submissions.
• Supporting the board, executives and senior management to make informed decisions that consider regulatory and conduct risk.
• Reviewing, guiding and escalating issues related to new propositions, business operations and identified incidents while taking care to ensure appropriate oversight, controls, and a customer centric approach is taken.
• Maintaining a horizon scanning programme, including oversight of key regulatory systems and emerging risk landscapes.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders by partnering and challenging risk and compliance control environments.
• Leading the continuous development and maintenance of our risk management framework that identifies, evaluates, mitigates, and reports on risks in a dual-regulated environment.
• Improving or establishing key risk indicators and reporting systems to monitor and manage risk exposure against risk appetite.
• Investigating any breaches of risk appetite, suggesting mitigatory actions, or amendments to the business’ appetite and tolerance.
• Ensuring that risk management processes are integrated into all aspects of the business’s operations.
• Managing the day-to-day implementation of the risk software system, ensuring it remains fit for purpose, information remains accurate and up-to-date, and the business uses the system proactively.
• Fostering and improving a proactive risk culture across the organisation by embedding risk awareness into day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making.
• Developing long-term strategies to enhance risk management and compliance functions, aligning with the overall business strategy.
• Overseeing the strategic implementation of the risk management and compliance management systems, ensuring continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining data privacy policies, procedures, and frameworks to safeguard personal and sensitive information.
• Ensuring the business’s data handling practices align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Ensuring appropriate data retention, deletion, and security measures are in place to protect personal data.
• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating privacy-related risks, embedding data protection principles across the business.
• Supporting the completion of data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) for new projects, technologies, and processes that involve personal data.

Our ideal candidate for the Director of Risk & Compliance opportunity:

• Holds one or more risk management qualifications, such as IRM Certificate or Diploma (or equivalent) and one or more compliance qualifications, such as ICA Certificate in Compliance or Diploma (or equivalent) - holding data privacy and information security qualifications would be advantageous, as would a specialist certification in risk management and compliance.
• Has extensive knowledge of regulatory frameworks, including FCA/PRA requirements, and experience in fulfilling the Senior Management Function 16 (SMF16) role, ensuring effective risk governance and regulatory compliance.
• Has a comprehensive understanding of the UK financial services regulatory systems, including the FCA handbook, and PRA rulebook, with specific knowledge of SYSC, ICOBS, PRIN, COCON, and Solvency II/Solvency UK - working knowledge of Introducing Appointed Representatives (IAR) compliance would be desirable.
• Possesses a proven track record in a senior risk management and compliance role, ideally within financial services, or a regulated environment, with oversight of multiple risk categories.
• Has expertise in managing a function against budget, identifying cost efficiencies, or areas requiring additional expenditure, and expertise in in risk oversight, ensuring robust internal controls, assurance frameworks, and compliance with industry standards such as ISO 31000 (Risk Management) and ISO 27001 (Information Security).
• Has strong experience in advising and influencing senior executives and boards, providing strategic risk insights and ensuring risk considerations are embedded into decision-making.
• Has extensive experience of writing and delivering risk and compliance reporting to a Non-Executive, Executive, and Senior Management audience.
• Is able to assess complex risk scenarios, make informed recommendations, and drive sound decision-making within a dynamic business environment.

If you have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications and are interested in the Director of Risk & Compliance opportunity, please apply with an updated CV today.