Compliance Manager

Acquinex | Compliance Manager | Job Specification

Role Overview

The Compliance Manager is a hands-on, operationally focused role based in London (hybrid working), requiring strong MGA compliance experience. The role combines day-to-day operational compliance delivery with monitoring, oversight and advisory responsibilities.

The role owns and delivers core compliance processes and controls within an MGA environment, including monitoring activities, policy implementation, regulatory reporting, and support for governance and risk frameworks. The Compliance Manager works closely with underwriting, operations and senior management to ensure that regulatory requirements, delegated authority obligations and internal standards are understood, embedded and adhered to in day-to-day operations.

Alongside these operational responsibilities, the role provides timely, pragmatic compliance advice on business initiatives, products and transactions; identifies and escalates issues and emerging risks; and contributes to the ongoing enhancement of the compliance framework as the business grows.

This is a visible role in a specialist MGA, with regular interaction with senior stakeholders and capacity providers.

Ideal Candidate

• Strong, demonstrable MGA compliance experience within insurance (delegated authority / binder environment).
• Solid understanding of UK and European regulatory requirements (e.g. FCA , PRA, and European regulators) and ability to apply them pragmatically in an MGA context.
• Proven track record in hands-on operational compliance, including:
  • monitoring programmes and thematic reviews;
  • underwriting/file reviews;
  • policy and procedure implementation;
  • SMCR support;
  • regulatory reporting.
• Experience of compliance oversight of underwriting, distribution and binder arrangements, including Lloyd’s and company markets where relevant.
• Ability to provide clear, commercial compliance advice to underwriters, operations teams and senior stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to documenting and evidencing compliance activity.
• Analytical mindset with sound judgement and the confidence to challenge constructively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain regulatory and delegated authority requirements in plain language.
• Strong organisational skills; able to prioritise and manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced MGA environment.
• Collaborative working style and strong personal integrity.

Performance Criteria

Fundamentals

• Demonstrates a clear understanding of:
  • Acquinex’s regulatory obligations and risk appetite;
  • delegated authority / binder framework and related requirements;
  • relevant FCA/PRA rules and expectations.
• Owns and executes day-to-day compliance activities, including:
  • compliance monitoring and underwriting/file reviews;
  • maintenance of compliance, breach and incident registers;
  • support for SMCR processes (fit and proper, T&C, conduct rules).
• Ensures that key compliance and delegated authority policies and procedures are current, clearly documented and effectively communicated.
• Acts as a key point of contact for compliance queries, providing timely, practical guidance and escalating where appropriate.

Monitoring, Advice & Oversight

• Designs, maintains and delivers a proportionate compliance monitoring plan tailored to an MGA, including:
  • regular binder and file reviews;
  • thematic reviews of underwriting, distribution, conduct risk and operational processes.
• Produces concise monitoring reports with clear findings, recommendations and agreed actions, and tracks completion.
• Provides proactive advice on regulatory and conduct risk issues related to:
  • new or existing products and wordings;
  • underwriting processes and referral arrangements;
  • distribution channels, brokers and coverholders.
• Identifies and escalates potential breaches, capacity provider requirements, control weaknesses and emerging risks, and supports design and implementation of remedial actions.

Ownership of Compliance Processes

• Takes process ownership for designated compliance responsibilities, which may include:
  • FCA and European regulatory returns and other external reporting;
  • capacity provider compliance requests, attestations and audits;
  • complaints oversight, root cause analysis and trend reporting;
  • financial crime controls (e.g. sanctions screening, PEPs/adverse media checks) in conjunction with relevant functions;
  • compliance training and awareness (inductions, refreshers, MGA/delegated authority requirements).
• Ensures accurate and timely completion of all compliance deliverables, with appropriate documentation and audit trail for regulators and capacity providers.
• Demonstrates commercial awareness and the ability to balance regulatory, capacity and business requirements.

Development of Others

• Provides day-to-day compliance guidance and informal coaching, particularly around MGA-specific requirements.
• Supports embedding of a strong compliance and conduct culture through training, workshops and clear communication of expectations.
• Provides constructive feedback to teams on monitoring findings and supports implementation of practical improvements.

Business Partnership & Development

• Builds effective working relationships with underwriting, operations and other functions to ensure compliance is integrated into business-as-usual activity.
• Provides early compliance input into business planning, new products, distribution initiatives and other projects.
• Represents compliance in relevant internal forums and, where appropriate, in interactions with brokers, advisors, capacity providers and regulators.

Cultural

• Promotes a culture of integrity, good conduct and openness across Acquinex.
• Supports continuous improvement of systems, processes and governance structures from a compliance perspective.
• Collaborates with colleagues across offices and jurisdictions, contributing to a collegiate and supportive culture.