SMF16 / SMF17 – Head of Compliance & MLRO
Boutique Asset manager – Canary Wharf
Location: Canary Wharf – 2 days per week in office
Salary: £90k - £110k
Level: Senior Management Function (SMF16 & SMF17)
The Opportunity
A boutique Asset Management firm based in canary wharf is seeking an experienced Head of Compliance & MLRO to take on the SMF16 and SMF17 functions. At present, the firm has limited regulated activity sitting on its own balance sheet today. That’s deliberate rather than accidental — the business is in a build and structuring phase, rather than operating as a fully scaled asset manager.
Why This Role Exists
The SMF16 / SMF17 position is part of a broader governance build-out. This is not a “steady-state” compliance role. It’s a foundational role, designed for someone who is comfortable:
- building frameworks from scratch
- advising the Board
- and acting as the firm’s regulatory conscience
The role would suit a hands-on compliance leader who is comfortable operating in a boutique asset management (or similar) environment, acting as the primary FCA contact and owning compliance and financial crime matters end-to-end.
Key Responsibilities
Compliance (SMF16)
- Overall responsibility for the firm’s compliance framework, ensuring ongoing adherence to FCA rules and regulatory expectations.
- Act as the firm’s main point of contact with the FCA, managing regulatory correspondence, notifications, and supervisory interactions.
- Advise the Board and senior management on regulatory developments, conduct risk, and governance issues.
- Oversee investment compliance, including:
- Investment restrictions and mandates
- Conflicts of interest
- Best execution
- Market conduct and financial promotions
- Product governance (PROD)
- Design and deliver the Compliance Monitoring Programme, reporting findings and driving remediation.
- Own and maintain the firm’s SMCR framework, including Statements of Responsibilities, fitness & propriety, and conduct rules matters.
- Support compliance training and embed a strong compliance culture across the business.
Financial Crime & MLRO (SMF17)
- Act as Money Laundering Reporting Officer, with full responsibility for AML/CTF compliance.
- Maintain the firm’s financial crime risk assessment, policies, and controls.
- Oversee CDD/EDD, onboarding, ongoing monitoring, and sanctions screening.
- Review internal disclosures and determine submission of SARs to the NCA.
- Provide regular AML and financial crime reporting to the Board.
Governance & Senior Stakeholder Engagement
- Attend Board meetings and provide independent challenge and assurance.
- Escalate material regulatory or financial
Key Skills
- FCA-regulated asset management or closely related experience
- Strong knowledge of FCA rules and SMCR
- Experience as primary regulator contact
- Integrity, judgement, and independent challenge