Head of Compliance SMF 16 (Deputy MLRO)

At Kroo Bank, we’re building a better bank from the ground up. One that puts customers first, treats money responsibly, and uses technology to make everyday banking simpler, fairer and more transparent. We’re a fully regulated UK bank, backed by long-term investors, with a growing customer base and big ambitions. We move fast, think carefully, and hold ourselves to the highest standards, whether that’s how we engage with our customers, build products, manage risk, or look after our people.

How you will contribute and key responsibilities: 

This role is responsible for the day-to-day management of the bank’s regulatory compliance framework. You will ensure we meet our obligations across all current activities, including Retail Deposits, Retail Savings and Lending, while preparing the compliance function for upcoming strategic initiatives, including SME lending and loan book transactions. As the SMF16, you will provide high-level oversight of our policies, monitoring, and regulatory relationships. Other responsibilities include:

• Advising on the legal and regulatory requirements of new and existing business activities, including retail deposits, savings products, and consumer lending.
• Providing compliance oversight and challenge on lending strategy, including origination, underwriting, servicing, and arrears management, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and good customer outcomes.
• Establishing and maintaining an effective compliance framework, policies, and procedures to ensure adherence to all applicable regulatory obligations.
• Providing compliance input into loan portfolio transactions, including loan book sales, structured disposals, and forward flow arrangements, ensuring appropriate customer, conduct, and regulatory considerations are addressed.
• Advising on and overseeing compliance implications of commercial arrangements with third parties, including funding partners, servicers, and portfolio purchasers.
• Monitoring regulated activities to identify instances of non-compliance and ensuring appropriate remediation and escalation.
• Managing the compliance monitoring framework, including policies, procedures, and thematic reviews across deposits, savings, and lending activities.
• Overseeing compliance training programmes, including conduct rules and financial crime, ensuring they remain effective and up to date.
• Maintaining and updating compliance policies and procedures in line with evolving regulatory requirements, including the FCA Handbook and Consumer Duty expectations.
• Championing customer outcomes, including oversight of complaints. 
• Supporting governance frameworks, including allocation of prescribed responsibilities and oversight of regulatory reporting obligations.
• Providing clear, effective reporting and challenge to senior management and Board-level committees on compliance risks and issues.
• Oversee bank’s obligations under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, including conduct rule training and Management Responsibility Map.