Compliance Associate
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers, SMBC's EMEA Division is committed to being a trusted partner for the long term. As part of the EMEA Compliance function, the Compliance Control Room plays a critical role in managing conflicts of interest, inside information, information barriers and employee trading activities, helping to protect the integrity of the firm and the interests of its clients.
The Associate role is responsible for supporting the effective operation of the Control Room across EMEA. The role provides oversight and challenge in relation to conflicts of interest, personal account dealing, outside business activities, insider list management, information barriers and restricted/watch list controls. The position requires close collaboration with Front Office, Compliance colleagues, Legal, Risk, Human Resources and international stakeholders across the SMBC Group.
Role Summary
To support the Compliance Control Room in the effective and efficient delivery of Control Room activities, including:
- Managing Personal Conflicts of Interest, including Personal Account Dealing (PAD) and Outside Business Activities (OBA).
- Managing Transactional Conflicts of Interest and Information Barriers.
- Managing Inside Information, insider lists and wall crossings.
- Managing the Watch List and Restricted List.
- Supporting conflict clearance processes and conflict monitoring.
- Providing policy guidance and regulatory advice to stakeholders.
- Contributing to daily workflow management and operational oversight.
Business Area
Regulators require firms to maintain an effective compliance function, staffed by a sufficient number of suitably qualified and experienced staff who are independent and able to perform their responsibilities objectively.
Under the oversight of Senior Management, the Compliance Department is responsible for delivering the firm's compliance oversight function. The department works closely with Compliance teams across the wider SMBC Group, including Banking, Nikko Capital Markets entities, to ensure adherence to applicable UK regulatory requirements and to discharge responsibilities performed under Service Level Agreements with other offices.
The Compliance Department achieves this by:
- Assisting the business in establishing and maintaining an appropriate appetite for compliance risk.
- Providing reasonable assurance that compliance risks are identified, managed and remain within the firm's approved risk appetite and tolerance levels.
- Delivering advice, guidance and challenge to the business on matters relating to regulatory and compliance risk.
As part of the Compliance Department, the Control Room performs a Second Line of Defence function. The Control Room is responsible for providing policy guidance, oversight and conflict management through the operation of control frameworks and supporting systems.
The role requires regular engagement with Front Office departments and other control functions across the EMEA region to support the effective management of conflicts of interest, information barriers, inside information, personal conflicts and other regulatory compliance obligations.
Position Description
- Manage and respond to requests received by the Control Room, ensuring enquiries are handled consistently, accurately and in a timely manner through the use of the Global Control Room System.
- Support the day-to-day operation of Control Room activities, including the management of conflicts of interest, inside information and information barriers.
- Review potential conflicts of interest and ensure they are appropriately identified, assessed and managed in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain and oversee the firm's Information Barrier framework, including the management and control of Inside Information.
- Manage and maintain the Watch List and Restricted List.
- Participate in monthly second line of defence control testing activities and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the control environment.
- Prepare, analyse and present Control Room management information (MI), including Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), for governance committees and senior management.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of Control Room policies, procedures, guidance materials and supporting resources.
- Support the implementation of new regulatory requirements and regulatory change initiatives through updates to policies, procedures and operating processes.
- Prepare and distribute Control Room communications, including newsletters, pipeline reports and other materials designed to mitigate the inappropriate sharing of Inside Information.
- Provide Compliance Advisory support and contribute to ad hoc projects and strategic initiatives as required.
Competencies
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today.
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.
We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.