Head of Compliance | FCA-Approved MLRO (SMF17) | Compliance, Financial Crime, Risk, Governance & Regulatory Strategy | FinTech & SaaS
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Senior Compliance leader with over a decade of experience across FCA-regulated financial services, including investment, wealth management, private capital markets, lending, banking, FinTech and dispute resolution. I have built and developed Compliance teams, advised Boards and Executive Committees, and shaped practical compliance frameworks across AML/CTF, financial crime, Consumer Duty, product governance and regulatory oversight (including CONC, SYSC, COBS, PRIN and DISP). My experience includes FCA authorisations, the launch of new regulated activities, direct engagement with the FCA, auditors and external stakeholders, and oversight of governance frameworks and risk management controls.
I am known for building trusted relationships with Boards, ExCo teams and regulators, translating complex regulatory requirements into commercially pragmatic, risk-based business solutions that support business growth while delivering good outcomes.
Head of Compliance & MLRO (SMF17) at Step One Finance
Lead and develop a team of compliance professionals, providing day-to-day management, guidance, and performance development to build a high-performing second-line function. Provide pragmatic, commercially minded regulatory advice and challenge to the Board, ExCo and Risk Committee, producing governance MI focused on conduct risk and customer outcomes. Own the compliance framework, lead compliance monitoring, horizon scanning and regulatory change programmes, and ensure the business stays ahead of evolving FCA expectations.
Maintain AML/CTF and financial crime control frameworks under full SMF17 accountability, including oversight of sanctions, transaction monitoring, CDD/EDD, suspicious activity investigations, SAR decision-making and submission. Act as a direct point of contact for the FCA, auditors and external stakeholders, supporting regulatory engagement, reviews, audits and information requests. Review and negotiate commercial, regulatory and third-party agreements, independently drafting and amending contractual provisions where appropriate, whilst collaborating with external counsel on complex legal, regulatory and cross-border matters.
Due Diligence / Compliance Director & Data Protection Lead at Floww (2022-10 – 2024-10)
Built and led a high-performing Compliance and Due Diligence function from inception, developing and managing a team of 9–12 compliance professionals, including senior managers, within a fast-scaling FCA-regulated FinTech. Led the successful FCA authorisation and FINRA approval, designing and implementing the compliance, governance and regulatory infrastructure required to launch and operate regulated investment activities across UK and US private capital markets. Established the firm's Compliance framework from the ground up, developing policies, procedures, ICARA, governance frameworks, compliance monitoring programmes, quality assurance processes and regulatory breach and incident registers.
Led the Due Diligence function across investor onboarding, client categorisation and appropriateness assessments for retail, high-net-worth, sophisticated and institutional investors, overseeing SDD, CDD, EDD and regulatory due diligence throughout the investment lifecycle. Strengthened AML/CTF and Financial Crime controls by enhancing investor onboarding governance, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, suspicious activity escalation and wider regulatory oversight. Produced reporting for the Board, Executive Committee and Risk Committee, providing insight into regulatory compliance, Consumer Duty, financial crime, customer outcomes and emerging regulatory risks, while supporting FCA supervisory engagement, audits and regulatory submissions.
Designed and implemented the Consumer Duty framework from inception, embedding governance, monitoring and MI across customer journeys and the product lifecycle to evidence fair value and positive customer outcomes. Partnered closely with Product and Technology teams to design and implement compliant digital onboarding solutions, balancing regulatory obligations with customer experience and commercial objectives. Served as Data Protection Lead, overseeing GDPR governance, leading the firm's successful ISO/IEC 27701 PIMS certification and supporting ISO 27001 audits.
Reviewed and negotiated commercial, regulatory and third-party agreements, working with internal stakeholders and external legal counsel to ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and business objectives. Provided strategic regulatory advice across FCA investment business requirements, including COBS, Consumer Duty, product governance, investor protection and financial promotions, supporting the firm's commercial growth and regulatory maturity.
Compliance Manager & Deputy MLRO at Equifinance (2021-10 – 2022-10)
Hired and managed a team of 2 compliance professionals, providing guidance, oversight and development support alongside day-to-day second-line assurance responsibilities.
Duty implementation and strategic regulatory change projects; advised across operations, product development and customer journeys.
Board, ExCo and Risk Committee reporting and deputised for the MLRO on AML/CTF, financial crime governance, sanctions, suspicious activity matters and SARs.
Adjudicator at Financial Ombudsman Service (2019-01 – 2021-11)
Assessed complex consumer complaints across financial products - investments, payments, lending and fraud - applying FCA rules, DISP requirements and fairness principles. Developed strong insight into how regulatory failures manifest as customer harm, providing a powerful foundation for consumer-outcome-led compliance work. Acted as subject matter expert, contributing to policy reviews and exercising independent judgement across a high-volume, varied caseload.
Investigator & Quality Auditor at Lloyds Banking Group (2018-01 – 2018-12)
Paralegal at Hugh James Solicitors (2017-01 – 2018-12)
Case Handler / Paralegal at Lloyds Banking Group (2013-01 – 2017-12)
