Birchlake Recruitment Ltd

Birchlake Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with a consumer lender in the search for a Compliance Associate to join its Compliance & Risk Management function. The organisation provides financial services to clients throughout Europe and following continued business growth, an excellent opportunity has arisen for an early-career compliance or legal professional to gain broad exposure across regulatory compliance, complaints, consumer protection, data protection and contract support. The role is primarily execution-focused, supporting the Chief Financial Officer across a broad range of operational regulatory and compliance matters. The successful candidate will assist with preparing documentation, supporting complaint and claim handling, coordinating with internal stakeholders and external advisers, and contributing to the ongoing development and maintenance of the company's compliance framework. This role would suit someone with 1-3 years experience in a legal, regulatory or compliance environment who is looking to develop their career within financial services and gain exposure to the FCA regulatory framework and UK consumer finance. The Role As Compliance Associate, you will provide day-to-day support to the Compliance & Risk Management function across a range of legal, regulatory and operational activities. Working under the supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, you will support contract processes, customer complaints and claims, regulatory reporting, data protection, compliance monitoring and internal documentation. The role offers broad exposure across the business and the opportunity to work closely with teams including Sales, Risk and Complaints, as well as external legal advisers and regulatory stakeholders where appropriate. The position does not involve independent decision-making on complex legal or regulatory matters, but provides an excellent platform to develop technical knowledge and take on increased responsibility over time. Key Responsibilities Support the drafting, review and amendment of standard contracts and business documents. Assist with preparing summaries, internal guidance and compliance documentation. Support communication and coordination with external law firms and legal advisers. Support the handling of customer complaints, particularly in relation to the UK DISP framework. Prepare draft responses to customers, the Financial Ombudsman Service and other relevant stakeholders. Assist with gathering, reviewing and structuring complaint and claims information, including facts, chronology and supporting documentation. Support the preparation of regulatory submissions, reports and FCA-related documentation. Assist with data protection activities, including UK GDPR and internal data protection processes. Monitor legal and regulatory developments and prepare clear internal summaries of relevant changes. Support audits, internal reviews, compliance assessments and risk assessments. Prepare presentations, management summaries and internal reports. Support cross-functional projects involving teams such as Sales, Risk and Complaints. Maintain accurate internal records, registers and compliance documentation. Manage multiple workstreams in a structured and organised manner while meeting operational and regulatory deadlines. About You You'll ideally have experience in one or more of the following: Legal, Regulatory or Compliance Support Financial Services Consumer Finance Motor Finance Automotive / Luxury Automotive Complaints & Claims Handling FCA Regulation DISP UK Consumer Protection Data Protection / UK GDPR Contract Review & Documentation Regulatory Reporting Compliance Policies & Procedures You'll also possess: A UK law degree or comparable qualification. 1-3 years' experience in a legal, regulatory or compliance role, ideally within financial services or a consumer-facing organisation. An understanding of the FCA Handbook, particularly DISP, would be advantageous. Basic knowledge of the UK consumer protection framework. Initial exposure to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Experience within motor finance or the automotive sector would be beneficial but is not essential. Strong written and spoken English. German language skills would be advantageous. Strong attention to detail and a structured, organised approach to work. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to summarise complex information clearly for non-legal stakeholders. Strong analytical skills and an interest in financial and commercially relevant topics. The ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities within a fast-paced environment. A proactive, reliable and collaborative approach, with a genuine willingness to learn and develop. The ability to work under pressure and meet regulatory and operational deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and general document management systems. Full right to work in the UK is essential. What's on Offer Benefits include: Competitive Salary 25 days pro rata (rising with LOS up to 30 days) Bupa Simply Health Company car scheme Company car allowance If you're an early-career legal, regulatory or compliance professional looking to develop your experience within financial services and gain broad exposure to FCA regulation, consumer finance and compliance operations, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today or contact Birchlake Recruitment for a confidential discussion.

We are seeking someone with proven PMO experience specifically on a Finance Transformation programme/project. This is an outside of IR35 engagement. Sector experience is less important. This is initially for two months with the likelihood of an extension. There is a requirement to work in the office 2 days a week - this is mandatory.

Role Purpose You will lead the reporting, in-depth analysis, and comprehensive assessment of the credit risk portfolios throughout the product lifecycle, encompassing both onboarding/lending and in-life credit policies. This role will drive the evaluation and strategic management of credit risk, ensuring that our credit policies are robust, effective, and aligned with the company's risk appetite. You will independently prepare and present advanced data analyses to inform and influence key decision-making processes, with a primary focus on optimising the health and performance of our credit portfolios. Working closely with the wider Credit teams, you will proactively collaborate and provide expert guidance to ensure that data-driven insights and strategic recommendations are developed and implemented to enhance and maintain the Bank's credit risk position. Description Lead the evaluation and optimisation of the creditworthiness assessment of potential clients during the onboarding phase, ensuring alignment with relevant regulation and the company's risk appetite under guidance. Proactively monitor and provide strategic insights on the credit risk profile and Cost of Risk performance of existing portfolios, identifying and proactively mitigating potential risks throughout the loan lifecycle. Drive the development and implementation of advanced credit risk mitigation strategies, including improving collection and recovery processes, to optimize capital allocation and ensure effective in-life credit policies. Act as a key liaison and lead collaboration with wider Credit teams, as well as cross-functional teams, including but not limited to collections, compliance and risk, to ensure cohesive and integrated risk management practices. Independently research and interpret industry and economic trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in credit risk management, translating these into actionable recommendations for the company's policies and strategic direction. Champion a culture of data-driven insights, continuously improving processes and policies, and overseeing appropriate data quality and cataloguing is maintained. Conduct complex analysis and develop strategic recommendations for opportunities to maximise customer and regulatory outcomes whilst balancing portfolio risk and growth. Prepare and present detailed, high-impact reports, analysis, and presentations for senior management, committees, and other stakeholders, clearly articulating key findings and driving consensus on strategic recommendations. Lead or manage key credit risk projects as required, ensuring successful delivery and measurable impact. Knowledge & Skills Core Credit Risk Expertise & Process Management: Expert-level understanding and practical application of end-to-end credit risk management processes within Financial Services, with a proven track record of optimising and enhancing these processes. Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: Comprehensive and up-to-date expertise in prevailing regulation under both the FCA, PRA and IFRS regimes (inc. CONC, Consumer Duty & IFRS9). In-depth knowledge of ECB regulation is highly desirable. Ability to interpret, apply, and advise on these regulations to ensure compliance and strategic alignment. Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Highly proactive and intellectually curious, with a demonstrated ability to independently lead complex problem-solving initiatives. Expert in analysing large and intricate data sets, identifying critical trends, and driving impactful, data-driven strategic decisions. Advanced proficiency with analytical data tools (such as SAS, SQL & Microsoft Office), with the ability to develop sophisticated models and analyses. Communication, Influence & Project Management: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating complex findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders. Benefits include: 27 days annual leave Private Healthcare - Self + Partner Cover Annual bonus scheme - up to 10% non-contractual bonus COP Car Scheme (£37.50 per month) - Available to order within the first month Loan Plan Scheme - entitled up to 2 vehicles at any one time Employee pension contribution of 3.5%/Employer pension contribution of 7.22% Flexible Benefit Scheme