Experience

Verso Wealth Management Group

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head Of Compliance

  • Feb 2022 - Present

  Further details to follow Further details to follow



St.James's Place Wealth Management.

• West Sussex

• Head of Regulatory Compliance - Acquisition Services.

  • Apr 2019 - Feb 2022

  Responsible for compliance and financial crime oversight within the SJPAS IFA businesses, ensuring that appropriate compliance regimes are maintained such that the businesses comply with all relevant FCA regulations and legislation and for the implementation of all changes in a timely manner. Main Functions • Lead acquisition onboarding projects and manage budgets and staff within the regulated IFA business within my remit • Maintain corporate governance framework for the regulated IFA business within the Group • Have oversight of KPI’s and Quality of Advice processes within the regulated IFA business within the Group • Oversight of all systems and procedures in place for quality of advice, T&C and compliance to ensure they are up to date with FCA guidelines • Oversight of industry and regulatory changes and take appropriate action within the firms to ensure risk controls are appropriate • Oversight of risk management controls within the regulated IFA business within the Group • Oversight of Customer complaint handling for each firm • Oversight of RMAR’s • Oversight of all Compliance Procedures and Manuals • Oversight of thematic reviews to test systems and controls within the firm to drive standards forward and follow through on actions • Oversee all internal IFA firm committees e.g. investment or advice • Design and oversee regulatory Due Diligence for perspective future acquisitions in the UK • Negotiate competitive PI insurance for each business and ensure all businesses are comprehensively insured • Managing relationships with the regulator and other third-party providers • Ad hoc project work as required • Liaising with SJPASL Board and each individual business board to keep them informed of all risks • Manage day to day business matters in the individual businesses CF11/ SMF 17 MLRO CF10/SMF16 Compliance Oversight CF1/SMF3 Director Show less



Amber Financial Investments Ltd

• Based in West Sussex

• Director

  • May 2011 - Apr 2019

  Compliance & Risk Director CF1 - Director CF10 - Compliance Oversight CF11 - Money Laundering Reporting ISA Manager - HMRC Amber offers an innovative, independent wealth and investment platform for Advisors and their clients to utilise for financial planning and management. • An active Board member, collaborating with Co-Directors to design, develop and implement strategic decisions. • Supporting and advising the Board in all systems and controls, compliance, risk management and money laundering issues. • Acting as part of the Paradigm Group Policy team, monitoring 16 government/regulatory organisations i.e. HMRC, FCA, PRA and ESMA. • Building and maintaining strong relationships with all financial regulation authorities, with clear and compliant reporting, authorisation and management of all regulatory plans and documentation. • Responsible for the negotiation, review and amendment of the firm’s commercial contracts, including T&Cs and SLAs. • Monitoring the compliance, operations and performance of outsourced services i.e. SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd, the wealth platform technology provider and Intelligent Money, the white label pension provider. • Managing regulatory risk across the Wrap platform, covering GPP, PP, SIPP, GIA, ISA, JISA and Model portfolios, providing systems and controls in the launch of the new regulated Wrap platform, achieving FCA authorisation on time to launch to market. • Leading ISA management and acting as the key contact for HMRC. • Leading Manager of Amber Auto Enrolment Master Trust • Directing regulatory compliance across modern issues such as MiFID II and GDPR, ensuring their clear adoption within the firm’s practices. • Collaborating with the wider project delivery team, including external providers, to achieve the goals of the firm. • Performing duties on a flexible basis, often working from home, requiring a high level of remote leadership, with twice-monthly visits to the office. Show less



Paradigm Consulting

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Group Policy Manager now Consultant

  • Oct 2010 - Apr 2019

  Part of Paradigm GroupSpecialist in FCA Regulation, Policy and EU Financial Services Directives and monitoring changes in legislation which might affect Paradigm Group and its clients.MiFIDII specialistResearch and resolution of complex regulatory and technical queries.Monitoring11 different institutions/ regulators for policy, regulatory and legislative movement.Chair weekly call on significant legislative, policy and regulatory changes.Quarterly policy meeting to agree group policy and troubleshoot issues Show less

• Business Consultant Manager

  • Oct 2007 - Sep 2012

  Changed role internaly to Group Policy manager and Amber DirectorLooking after panel of firms subscribing to Paradigm support services.Onsite visits focused on clients needAnnual Compliance Audit and report to firms providing risk based action planS166 work of UCIS products as part of senior teamT & C and supervision workTCF reviewsML training and implementationRDR - guidance on changes and project work with firms in respect of client proposition, segmentation and adviser charging structures. Discussing potential business structuresReviewing business plans and giving adviceDiscussing administration procedures and giving advicesupport to other consultants on matters such as General business practice, UCIS, FCA rules, MiFID, passporting.Specialist Compliance work - Carrying out Compliance related projects and monitoring changes implemented by FCAProviding Compliance information to those involved with Field monitoringWriting papers on;TCF - Wrote TCF documentation and guidance for Paradigm Partner firmsUCIS - Wrote UCIS guidance for Paradigm Partner firmsMarkets in Financial Instruments Directive - Reading CP's and leading change project. Providing guidance to firms and colleaguesCapital resources Directive - Providing guidance to Firms and colleaguesNew Conduct of Business Rules - Revision of compliance manual and providing information to staffDiscretionary Portfolio Management - Guidance papers on authorisation. consultant support for DFM client including annual compliance audit and RDR guidance including adviser chargingPassporting - Guidance papers and assisting firms considering passportingMoney Laundering - plans and risk assessmentResearch on regulatory and authorisation problemsMonitoring of FCA and other financial websites and feeding back changes on a weekly basis for publication to clientsReading of FCA publications, such a Consultation Papers and Policy statements. Writing guidance as required Show less



Charles Group Ltd

• West Sussex

• Director Regulatory Compliance

  • Oct 2001 - May 2015

  Business consultant Carrying out Compliance related projects and monitoring changes implemented by FCA CF10 Compliance Oversight, CF11 Money Laundering Reporting Officer and Responsible for Insurance Mediation. Not providing financial advice - supervising staff. FSA point of contact for company. Complaints officer. Writing and operation of Business, Compliance and T & C Plan for direct authorisation of company by FCA. Ensuring Compliance and T&C plans are followed. Analysing performance against key indicators and then authorising competence of advisers with the FCA. T & C monitoring of adviser including file checks. Monitoring of compliance audit trail. Reviewing Advisers performance against T & C key performance indicators and Compliance Plan. Reviewing training needs, carrying out training needs analysis and providing feedback to advisers and manager. Maintaining records. Evaluating staff and business performance managing change where required. Submitting FCA authorisations after review against T & C and compliance standards Providing business, technical advice and support to Adviser. Specialising in Investments, protection and occupational pensions (EPP,dc), PPP,GPP and Stakeholder. Responsible for keeping company advised of Compliance, T & C and market developments. Authorising and review of product suppliers maintaining research and "approved" list General Business management plus ensuring internal procedures are compliant Show less



Three Sixty Services LLP- Specialist Compliance Consultancy

• Compliance Consultant

  • Feb 2005 - Oct 2007

  4 Days per week. Working from Home 4 Days per week. Working from Home



Legal and General Plc

• Regional Service Consultant

  • Nov 2000 - Oct 2001

  Resigned to join The Charles Group Providing technical and underwriting information on all of L & G's product range to selected IFA's and Company Broker Consultants in Scotland and Northern Ireland with particular emphasis on problem cases. Training of Service Consultants in corporate pensions and compliance issues. Writing of technical product training manuals for reference by service teams - approx 250 people Liaising with other departments to resolve issues and complaints on cases for IFA's Team Personal and Corporate Pension specialist, especially EPP, GPP SSAS,SIPP and Stakeholder. Complaints investigations, producing reports for management and policyholder. Show less



Griffin Link Management Ltd

• Director

  • Dec 1998 - Nov 2000

  Redundancy upon company winding up Sale and supply of business-to-business Compliance, T & C and review services to clients - designing and running all associated systems. Clients mainly Independent Financial Advisers and contracts with Insurance Companies. Analysis of clients' business activity, advising requirements and impact/changes of the Financial Services Act on the business. Writing Training and Competence Plans, Compliance Plans, Pension Review plans and all associated systems to ensure the Financial Services Act "audit trail" can be followed, problem solving individual areas of concern. Providing quarterly / monthly file audits, ensured systems were operating within the key performance indicators set in the annual Compliance and Training and Competence Plans. Monitoring and reporting on staff performance - carrying out training needs analysis and implementing training - Designing sessions, carrying out and assessing role-plays, field sales training of staff and in house training, ensuring sales to clients are compliant with written procedures and the requirements of the Financial Services Act. Complaints investigations, producing reports for management and policyholder. Submitted case report and negotiated with Insurance Ombudsman on occasion. Show less



Eagle Star/Bristol and West plc

• Portfolio manager

  • Jan 1997 - Dec 1998

  Redundancy when whole sales division of 650 staff closed Financial Adviser - Client sales both in the home and at the office. Responsible for Branch Investment Business budget and new business production - Achieved 100% of initial target Technical training of Branch Staff. Redundancy when whole sales division of 650 staff closed Financial Adviser - Client sales both in the home and at the office. Responsible for Branch Investment Business budget and new business production - Achieved 100% of initial target Technical training of Branch Staff.