Head of Compliance

NFP Canada Corp; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - GBP 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global compliance firm in Birmingham seeks a Head of Compliance to lead the compliance function. The ideal candidate will develop compliance strategies aligned with regulatory requirements in the UK and ROI. Key responsibilities include advising senior leaders, enhancing the Compliance Framework, and ensuring compliance integration within risk management. Candidates should possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with relevant qualifications like ICA or CII. The firm promotes a dynamic work culture with a focus on employee wellbeing.

Benefits

Matched employer pension contributions

Life Assurance and Group Income Protection

Generous annual leave allowance

Comprehensive Private healthcare

Healthcare cash plan

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven ability to communicate complex regulations clearly.
• A solution-oriented mindset to tackle compliance challenges.
• Attention to detail while maintaining a broader perspective.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the compliance strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Provide regulatory compliance advice to leadership.
• Maintain and improve the Compliance Framework regularly.
• Integrate compliance within risk management and governance structures.
• Deliver compliance monitoring and assurance plans.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Understanding of UK regulatory regime

Experience in compliance function

ICA or CII qualifications

Job description

We’re hiring for a Head of Compliance to support our growing compliance team!

To keep up with our growth in the UK & Ireland, we’re looking for a dedicated Head of Compliance to lead and manage NFP Europe’s group compliance function in the UK & the Republic of Ireland. Putting people first is at the heart of everything we do, and that extends to our clients as well as our employees. As our Head of Compliance, you’ll be right at the forefront of helping us deliver this mission by supporting the General Counsel with overseeing NFP Europe’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those set by the FCA & the CBI, and other applicable bodies. This will result in ensuring that NFP Europe operates within legal boundaries and adheres legal and ethical standards and best practices in compliance management. This role is subject to the FCA’s SM&CR conduct rule requirements & CBI’s Common Conduct Standards.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and to be an effective ‘regulatory translator’ i.e. take complex regulation and make it accessible, understandable and relevant to the business
• Excellent problem solving skills and to be solution orientated
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail but have the ability to take a high level view
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and be able to build and maintain strong relationships with the business, while also maintaining an appropriate level of professional distance
• A strong understanding of the UK’s and preferably the ROI’s regulatory regime as it applies to general insurance and/or wealth management activities
• Experience gained within a compliance function or industry specific operations
• ICA or CII qualifications (essential)

Using these skills, you’ll be:

• Developing and owning the compliance strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory expectations
• Providing strategic and robust regulatory & compliance advice to Senior Business Leaders
• Assisting the General Counsel with influencing long-term business strategy to embed compliance by design across distribution, operations, product, and claims
• Owning, maintaining, and continuously improving the Compliance Framework, including policy architecture, regulatory risk assessments, consumer & conduct risk frameworks, and product governance systems, conflicts of interest processes, and outsourcing oversight
• Ensuring compliance is fully integrated within overall risk management, operational resilience, and corporate governance structures
• Providing insight into NFP Europe’s compliance with regulatory requirement through the design and delivery of a risk-based compliance monitoring/assurance plan
• Providing high-quality compliance MI, insights, and opinions to the General Counsel, the Boards and their Committees, Executive Leadership Team, and Business functions
• Ensuring SM&CR and SEAR & IAF responsibilities are clearly mapped, documented, and effectively governed
• Preparing and delivering compliance reporting and MI to Boards & their Committees, Executive Leadership Team, and Senior Business Leaders
• Acting as NFP Europe’s senior point of contact for all FCA & CBI supervisory interactions, thematic reviews, deep dives, and formal requests
• Overseeing all regulatory submissions, FCA & CBI notifications, RegData filings, and SMF/PCF applications
• Ensuring robust decision-making and challenge in relation maintaining open and honest communication with the FCA & CBI, ensuring proactive self-reporting
• Representing the firm in industry consultations and regulatory working groups (as appropriate)
• Setting the strategic direction and methodology for the Compliance Monitoring Plan, ensuring it is risk-based, proportionate, and aligned to FCA & CBI expectations
• Overseeing thematic reviews, conducting audits, distribution chain oversight, and file checking functions
• Leading the firm’s Consumer Duty strategy, ensuring products deliver fair value and good customer outcomes
• Overseeing and approving product governance processes, fair value assessments, distribution oversight, and outcome testing
• Leading preparation and sign-off of the annual Consumer Duty Board Report
• Approving risk assessments, due diligence, and annual oversight reviews for all partners
• Challenging distribution arrangements to ensure regulatory compliance and customer outcome integrity
• Leading and developing the UK & ROI Compliance teams, ensuring strong capability and succession planning
• Overseeing delivery of regulatory training to Board, SMFs, and all staff

Who is NFP?

With over 600 people in the UK and Ireland and over 8,000 employees worldwide, NFP is part of the Aon group and specialise in helping businesses in four core areas:

• Insurance (helping them manage key risks)
• Health and safety (supporting them to create a safer workplace for their employees)
• Employee benefits (helping them reward their people more effectively)
• HR, people and talent (supporting employers and their people to thrive through changes and challenges)

What you’ll love about working here

• working in a dynamic, fast-paced organisation in an exciting industry
• the opportunity to do globally impactful work from day one
• learning from industry and business line specialists with decades of experience
• a huge variety of projects to work on and challenges to solve
• our People First culture, which illustrates our commitment to your wellbeing and development, not just as an employee but as a human being
• a rich suite of employee benefits and out-of-work perk

The great benefits we offer:

Finances

It’s important to know you’re paid fairly for the hard work you put in, which is why we complete regular reviews to keep your salary in line as you progress. Plus, we offer initiatives to support and give you financial peace of mind.

• Matched employer pension contributions
• Life Assurance and Group Income Protection
• Lifestyle discounts for well-known brands

Work-life balance

We appreciate the importance of your life outside of work and the benefits of an effective work-life balance. That’s why our policies and culture respect your ability to be flexible, helping you be your best self both in and out of the office.

• Opportunity for hybrid working
• Generous annual leave allowance

Health and wellbeing

We firmly believe in supporting the whole person, not just the employee. At NFP, you have access to a number of initiatives and resources designed to support your physical and mental health and wellbeing.

• Comprehensive Private healthcare
• Healthcare cash plan
• Additional days off throughout the year to focus on your wellbeing

Charity and community work

At NFP, your sense of purpose will stretch far beyond your job role. With numerous opportunities to support charities and local initiatives close to our heart, you’ll be able to join us in making a real difference.

• Numerous charity fundraising challenges and events throughout the year
• Opportunities to volunteer and give back to the