Compliance Manager – UK

Job Title: Compliance Manager – UK

Industry: Banking

Location: United Kingdom

Salary: Competitive Salary + Other Benefits

Purpose of the Role

The Compliance Manager supports the Head of Compliance & MLRO in discharging the Bank's second line of defence obligations across regulatory compliance and financial crime risk management within an FCA/PRA regulated banking environment.

The role is responsible for supporting the monitoring of regulatory compliance obligations, implementation of regulatory change, maintenance of the Compliance Monitoring Programme, and oversight of financial crime risks including AML/CTF/PF, sanctions, conduct risk and market abuse requirements.

The role adds value by providing independent oversight, practical regulatory guidance and compliance support to the business, helping safeguard the institution against regulatory, financial crime and reputational risks while fostering a strong culture of compliance and ethical conduct.

Role Responsibilities

• Assist the Compliance and MLRO functions in ensuring the Bank operates in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory and internal policy requirements relating to AML/CTF/PF, Market Abuse, Anti-Bribery, Sanctions, Fraud, Tax Evasion Prevention and broader financial crime and regulatory compliance risks.
• Identify, interpret and assess UK financial services legislation, regulations and regulatory obligations and support senior management in implementing appropriate compliance measures.
• Monitor and assess regulatory developments and emerging compliance risks impacting the Bank and its business strategy.
• Support sanctions screening oversight activities, including the review and escalation of sanctions alerts and true matches.
• Review transaction monitoring reports and conduct investigations into alerts generated from monitoring systems to identify potential suspicious activity.
• Support delivery and maintenance of the Compliance Monitoring Programme across regulatory compliance and financial crime activities.
• Prepare compliance management information, governance reporting and committee packs for senior management and governance forums.
• Assist with the development, implementation and review of compliance policies, procedures and internal control frameworks.
• Support annual Compliance Monitoring Programme planning, execution and testing activities.
• Provide day-to-day compliance advisory support and guidance to operational and KYC teams.
• Conduct compliance and financial crime risk assessments and support implementation of mitigating controls.
• Maintain oversight of higher-risk relationships, PEP reviews, EDD approvals, trigger reviews and breach escalation processes.
• Support the delivery of compliance and financial crime training initiatives across the organisation.
• Assist with responses to regulatory requests, supervisory reviews and information requests from regulatory authorities.
• Maintain oversight of regulatory obligations registers and support implementation of regulatory change requirements.
• Support governance and oversight activities relating to SMCR obligations, Conduct Rules and Fitness & Propriety processes.
• Monitor conduct risk indicators and support production of conduct risk MI and governance reporting.
• Support maintenance of Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) framework documentation, including insider lists, wall crossing records and personal account dealing oversight.
• Participate in thematic reviews, remediation exercises and control enhancement initiatives.
• Liaise with business units, operations teams and external stakeholders on compliance-related matters.

Skills and Experience

Technical

• Strong experience operating within an FCA-regulated banking environment.
• Good knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks, FCA Handbook requirements and financial crime regulations.
• Ability to interpret regulations and translate regulatory expectations into practical operational processes and controls.
• Experience supporting compliance monitoring, governance and regulatory reporting activities.
• Knowledge of AML/CTF frameworks, sanctions, market abuse and financial crime risk management.
• Experience working with transaction monitoring, sanctions screening and KYC systems.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, compliance frameworks and risk assessment methodologies.
• Ability to prepare clear, professional and regulator-ready compliance reports.
• Strong analytical and investigative capabilities with the ability to identify trends, root causes and areas of regulatory concern.

General

• Banking experience, preferably within a UK-based international or foreign-owned banking institution.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence engaging with senior management.
• Ability to provide practical compliance guidance and challenge where appropriate.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative and team-oriented approach.

Qualifications/Education/Training

Essential

• Minimum 7 years' experience within Compliance, Regulatory Compliance or Financial Crime in a banking environment.
• Proven experience operating effectively within a regulated financial services environment.
• Strong understanding of compliance, conduct risk and financial crime obligations.

Desirable

• University degree or equivalent qualification.
• ICA, CISI or equivalent professional compliance qualification.
• Experience within wholesale banking or international banking environments.

Key Competencies

Market Knowledge

• Understands banking products, customer types, and financial crime risks relevant to the UK banking sector.

Business Strategy & Business Model

• Understands the Bank's objectives, customer base, and risk appetite, ensuring KYC and compliance practices are aligned with business goals.

Risk Management & Control

• Identifies, assesses, and escalates compliance and AML/CTF risks, contributing to an effective control environment.

Financial Analysis & Costs

• Interprets financial documents (statements, reports, ownership structures) to support KYC due diligence and customer risk assessment.

Governance Oversight & Controls

• Supports adherence to governance processes, ensuring documentation, reporting, and decision making follow internal and regulatory standards.

Regulatory Framework & Requirements

• Maintains working knowledge of FCA/PRA expectations, AML regulations, sanctions requirements.
• Keeps abreast of current UK regulations and international AML rules.

Per Regulators' Conduct Rules

• Acts with Integrity.
• Acts with due skill, care and diligence.
• Is open and cooperative with the Regulators.
• Pays due regard to customers' interests and treats them fairly.
• Observes market conduct standards.

Key Performance Indicators

• Adherence to regulatory and internal compliance requirements.
• Timely completion of compliance monitoring and financial crime review activities.
• Delivery of accurate regulatory reporting and management information.
• Effective escalation and resolution of compliance and financial crime matters.
• Timely completion of sanctions, transaction monitoring and financial crime investigations.
• Delivery of compliance training and awareness activities.
• Maintenance of effective compliance governance and control frameworks.