SMF / SMF – Head of Compliance & MLRO in Canary Wharf - CER FINANCIAL LTD

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