Head of Compliance & MLRO | Private Wealth Manager
London-Based
Salary: £100,000-£130,000 plus bonus and benefits
A rare opportunity to step into a senior compliance leadership role at a boutique private wealth manager, taking on SMF16 and SMF17 responsibilities as part of a structured succession.
Our client is a well-established, FCA-regulated private wealth manager supporting high and UHNW clients across the UK and internationally. Operating across multiple jurisdictions, the business provides a highly personalised, relationship-led service underpinned by a strong compliance culture. This is a lean, senior team where individuals have genuine visibility and influence at the board level.
You’ll work closely with the CEO and current SMF16/17 holder during a defined handover, assuming the compliance and MLRO functions in your own right, subject to FCA approval. This is a role for someone ready to take ownership of an established function, not grow into one over time.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading on all regulatory compliance and financial crime matters as the firm’s senior compliance authority
- Acting as the lead point of contact for the FCA, regulatory bodies and government agencies
- Chairing the quarterly Risk Management Committee
- Maintaining and reviewing all compliance and financial crime policies, procedures and controls documentation
- Owning the annual MLRO report, risk assessments and controls
- Delivering compliance training across the business for new and existing employees
- Managing client due diligence, transaction monitoring and timely regulatory reporting
- Supporting the firm’s operations across multiple international client jurisdictions
Experience Required
- Proven broad compliance and financial crime experience within a regulated financial services environment
- Background in private wealth management, asset management or a similarly client-facing regulated business
- Current or recent SMF16 and/or SMF17 holder, or a senior compliance lead operating at that level and ready for approval
- Strong working knowledge of FCA requirements and financial crime frameworks (AML, KYC, SAR reporting)
- Confident communicator comfortable operating at board and senior management level
- The judgement and presence to own a regulated function from day one
Our client is open to candidates who already hold the SMF16 and/or SMF17 functions and those currently deputising and ready to step up. What matters most is the right blend of technical grounding, commercial awareness and the readiness to take full regulatory accountability.
Coopman Search and Selection specialises in compliance, risk, accounting, and finance recruitment. We provide tailored retained, contingent, and interim solutions to meet the unique needs of our clients and candidates. As a proud Certified B Corporation™, we are committed to sustainable growth, balancing purpose and profit while prioritising positive social and environmental impacts for all stakeholders.
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