Job Description – Deputy Head of Compliance
London, United Kingdom
Company Overview
Our client is a globally recognised financial services firm headquartered in London, providing multi-asset trading solutions to both retail and institutional clients.
As part of its strategic growth plans, the business is significantly expanding its institutional offering across global markets. This includes FX, Commodities, Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs), CFDs and OTC products, requiring an experienced compliance professional with deep knowledge of wholesale and institutional financial markets.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-growth organisation where compliance is viewed as a strategic business partner, supporting innovation whilst maintaining the highest regulatory standards.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Deputy Head of Compliance to support the Head of Compliance in overseeing the firm’s UK regulatory compliance framework.
The successful candidate will play a key role in advising the institutional business, supporting new product initiatives, managing regulatory change and providing practical compliance guidance across wholesale trading activities. The individual will work closely with Front Office, Legal, Risk, Operations and Senior Management to ensure regulatory obligations are met while enabling commercial growth.
This position offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and provides an excellent pathway towards a future Head of Compliance appointment.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Advisory
- Support the Head of Compliance in maintaining the firm’s regulatory compliance framework.
- Provide day-to-day compliance advice to institutional and retail business units.
- Advise on FCA rules applicable to wholesale and retail investment firms.
- Review new products, business initiatives and strategic projects from a regulatory perspective.
- Support regulatory horizon scanning and implementation of new regulatory requirements.
- Assist with regulatory reporting and regulatory submissions.
Institutional Markets Compliance
Provide compliance oversight across:
- Foreign Exchange (FX)
- Commodities
- Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs)
- OTC Derivatives
- CFDs
- Prime Brokerage
- Institutional Client Business
- Professional Clients
- Eligible Counterparties
Advise on regulatory requirements relating to:
- MiFID II
- UK Market Abuse Regulation
- Best Execution
- Client Categorisation
- Conflicts of Interest
- Product Governance
- Transaction Reporting
- Position Limits
- Exchange Rulebooks
- Conduct Risk
Compliance Monitoring
- Assist in developing and executing the Compliance Monitoring Programme.
- Conduct thematic reviews and compliance testing.
- Monitor regulatory breaches and incidents.
- Produce Management Information and Compliance reports.
- Track remediation actions through to completion.
Governance
- Prepare papers for Risk, Compliance and Board Committees.
- Maintain Compliance policies and procedures.
- Support regulatory audits and FCA engagements.
- Assist with internal and external audit reviews.
- Support regulatory inspections and information requests.
Market Conduct
Provide oversight of:
- Market Abuse controls
- Personal Account Dealing
- Gifts & Hospitality
- Conflicts of Interest
- Communications Monitoring
- Electronic Surveillance
- Trade Surveillance
- Regulatory Conduct Risk
Regulatory Change
- Lead or support implementation of new FCA regulatory requirements.
- Participate in strategic transformation projects.
- Support international regulatory initiatives where applicable.
- Work closely with global Compliance teams to ensure consistency of standards.
Stakeholder Management
Develop strong working relationships with:
- Front Office
- Institutional Sales
- Trading
- Prime Services
- Operations
- Legal
- Risk
- Technology
- Senior Management
- Global Compliance
Experience Required
- 7–12+ years’ Compliance experience within an FCA-regulated investment firm, broker, CFD provider, investment bank or commodities trading business.
- Strong experience supporting institutional or wholesale financial markets.
- Demonstrable knowledge of:
- FX
- Commodities
- Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs)
- OTC Derivatives
- CFDs
- Strong understanding of MiFID II and UK regulatory requirements.
- Experience providing practical compliance advice to Front Office and Trading teams.
- Previous experience delivering regulatory change projects.
- Experience dealing directly with the FCA would be advantageous.
- Knowledge of Market Abuse Regulation and market conduct surveillance.
Technical Knowledge
Strong understanding of:
- FCA Handbook
- MiFID II
- UK Market Abuse Regulation (MAR)
- EMIR
- Best Execution
- Transaction Reporting
- Product Governance
- Client Assets (desirable)
- Financial Promotions
- Consumer Duty
- Conduct Risk
- Financial Crime awareness
- Exchange Rulebooks (CME, ICE, LME, Eurex and similar)
Qualifications
- Degree educated or equivalent.
- ICA Diploma or Advanced Certificate (preferred).
- CISI qualifications advantageous.
- Legal or Compliance qualifications desirable.
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