Head of Regulatory Compliance and Ethics

Location: Finchley, with time spent in City (hybrid working)

Days/Hours Worked: Monday-Friday, 35-hour week (flexitime)

Our Vision:

We are creating a sustainable business where our people love to work, clients grow from our advice, and we achieve great things together.

What Makes Us Different:

As a longstanding member of DFK International, a global association of accounting firms, we support our clients worldwide when needed.

Our clients range in size from small sole traders to multinational groups. We believe they all have one thing in common: they want cutting-edge technical excellence with a hands-on, professional, and personal service that they can rely on to add value and deliver results.

Our holistic approach to service delivery means that our clients always have a central point of contact with a person who understands their issues. It also means our people understand a client's needs from every angle.

We aim to inspire and support each other to be at our best, so we can make a lasting difference to our clients, the community, and our firm. Take a look at this video to hear from our employees about our working environment: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Izh8sNb4AHM.

Inclusion, diversity, and talent development are fundamental aspects of who we are, and we welcome applications from candidates who share and champion these values. You will play an integral part in helping to make this a great place to work.

What We Value

• Think Big: We are always challenging ourselves to think differently and reimagine what’s possible. This happens when we are open to new ideas: brave in how we suggest them, curious about exploring them, and enthusiastic in how we make them work.
• In It Together: We are a business for everyone. We work together and care about each other so that we can all achieve our best. By building a more inclusive culture, we enable innovation and growth. Our choices, decisions, and actions have a positive impact on our people, our society, and the environment, helping create a sustainable business.
• Take Pride: We work with conviction, seeking to be the best version of ourselves in everything we do. This belief is rooted in the confidence we have in ourselves, our team, our work, and our business. We understand and believe that we can all achieve remarkable things.
• Do the Right Thing: We value fairness, honesty, and integrity above all else. We speak openly and fairly with each other to build relationships based on trust and respect. We’re accountable for our actions and do what we say we’ll do, even if it’s not easy.
• Enjoy It: We bring our whole selves to work every day – free to express our beliefs and share our unique perspectives in all that we do. We enjoy our time at work and know it’s also important to enjoy our time at home. We laugh, have fun, and make this part of what we’re known for.

Role Summary

The Head of Regulatory Compliance and Ethics is responsible for overseeing all regulatory and ethical compliance matters within the firm, ensuring adherence to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) regulations. This role includes monitoring and enforcing compliance policies, developing risk management frameworks, and fostering a culture of ethical behaviour across the organization. The ideal candidate will act as a key advisor to the leadership team, providing insights and guidance on regulatory compliance and ethical standards.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure the firm’s full compliance with ICAEW regulations, standards, and guidelines.
• Stay informed on changes to ICAEW regulations and communicate relevant updates to the firm’s leadership and teams.
• Oversee and conduct regular internal audits to ensure adherence to ICAEW regulations, identifying and rectifying any areas of non-compliance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive compliance framework in line with ICAEW standards.
• Manage the completion of all ICAEW Annual Returns.
• Serve as the primary contact for all ICAEW and FRC regulatory reviews.
• Ultimately be named as the Group’s Audit Compliance Partner, Practice Assurance Partner, Ethics Partner and Bribery Officer.
• Ensure compliance with Designated Professional Body (DPB) regulations
• Oversight of client money including compliance with the ICAEW Client Money Regulations.

Ethical Compliance

• Establish and promote ethical policies and procedures to maintain high standards of integrity and professional conduct.
• Advise and train staff on ethical best practices, helping them navigate complex ethical challenges in client engagements.
• Investigate any potential breaches of ethical standards and recommend corrective actions and improvements.
• Act as a trusted resource for employees on ethical issues, offering guidance on dilemmas and encouraging open dialogue on ethical concerns.

Risk Management

• Identify compliance risks and develop proactive strategies to mitigate potential issues, safeguarding the firm’s reputation and client relationships.
• Regularly assess compliance risks across all departments and update risk management strategies as needed.
• Involvement with any potential acquisitions and newly integrated businesses to assess and minimise any identified areas of risk.
• Collaborate with teams to implement corrective actions for any compliance risks or issues identified, tracking progress and ensuring resolution.

Policy Development and Enforcement

• Create, maintain, and update compliance policies, procedures, and documentation in line with ICAEW requirements and best practices.
• Conduct annual DPB reviews and report to the DPB contact partner
• Ensure all employees are aware of compliance policies and procedures, providing regular training sessions and resources.
• Enforce compliance policies, addressing any non-compliance promptly and effectively to minimize risk to the firm.

Training

• Develop and deliver training programs on ICAEW regulations, ethical standards, and compliance best practices.
• Foster a culture of compliance through ongoing education and awareness initiatives for all staff.
• Ensure all staff understand their regulatory and ethical responsibilities and how these principles apply to their daily roles.

Reporting and Communication

• Report on compliance matters to the leadership team, including updates on regulatory changes, compliance activities, and risk assessments.
• Serve as the main point of contact for compliance-related inquiries from external regulators.
• Prepare and present reports on compliance and ethical practices for internal and external stakeholders as required.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills required

Education: Degree in Accounting, Finance, Law, or a related field.

Professional Qualifications: Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA) or similar, with ICAEW membership preferred.

Experience: Substantial experience in senior compliance, risk management, or a related field within an accountancy practice or professional services firm. Audit qualification or equivalent experience, with RI status preferred.

Skills and Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of ICAEW regulations and ethical standards.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance, audit, and risk management processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the firm.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, capable of promoting a culture of compliance and ethical behaviour.

Personal Attributes:

• Ethical and professional approach, with a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity.
• Forward thinking and self-motivated, with a strategic mindset and the ability to handle complex regulatory issues.
• Personable, Pragmatic, diplomatic and approachable, capable of handling sensitive situations with discretion and tact.

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, you will be required to undertake GDPR training in order to fully understand the regulations and ensure all work is carried out in a compliant manner. As part of any recruitment process, the Firm collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. The Firm is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations. Wilson Wright is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates eligible to work in the UK.