Compliance Business Partner - Asset Management

Job Description

Good Compliance is about more than interpreting regulation. It’s about understanding the business, asking the right questions and helping people make well-informed decisions that work for customers.

As our Compliance Business Partner for Asset Management, you’ll be the lead Compliance partner to AJ Bell Asset Management, working across our funds, model portfolios and wider investment propositions. You’ll combine strong regulatory expertise with commercial understanding, providing practical advice and constructive, independent challenge.

Your work will help us manage regulatory risk, strengthen customer outcomes and build the trust and confidence at the heart of Feel Good Investing.

What you'll do:

• Be the lead Compliance partner for AJ Bell Asset Management, building trusted relationships and developing a strong understanding of its strategy, products and priorities.
• Interpret FCA requirements and regulatory change, turning complex regulation into clear, practical advice that supports good decision-making.
• Advise on new and evolving funds, model portfolios and investment propositions, including fees, MPS distribution, UK UCITS and NURS funds, host ACD arrangements and segregated mandates.
• Provide independent advice and challenge on Consumer Duty and product governance, including target markets, fair value, distribution arrangements and evidence of customer outcomes.
• Oversee and challenge key investment compliance controls, including mandate compliance, eligible assets, investment limits, best execution and regulatory and transaction reporting.
• Support the assessment of regulatory breaches and incidents, considering customer impact, root cause, remediation, escalation and potential regulatory notifications.
• Bring specialist asset management expertise to governance, Compliance Monitoring and thematic reviews, constructively challenging regulatory assessments and proposed actions.
• Make complex regulatory matters easier to understand through clear advice, briefings and training, working collaboratively while maintaining the independence expected of the second line.

What you'll bring:

• Relevant Compliance, Risk, Legal or control experience within an FCA-regulated asset manager, discretionary fund manager, ACD or comparable investment business.
• Strong knowledge of the FCA regulatory framework relevant to asset management, including Consumer Duty, PRIN, SYSC, COBS, COLL, PROD and SUP.
• A good understanding of discretionary portfolio management, model portfolios, UK UCITS and NURS funds, including the roles of investment managers, ACDs, depositaries and distributors.
• Experience of product governance and distribution, ideally covering areas such as MPS, adviser distribution, tailored propositions, white-labelling or co-manufacturing.
• Good knowledge of investment compliance, including regulatory and mandate restrictions, investment limits, eligible assets, best execution, regulatory reporting and breach management.
• Sound regulatory judgement and the confidence to ask challenging questions, test assumptions and reach balanced, well-evidenced conclusions.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to make complex issues clear and relevant for different audiences, including senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and anti-greenwashing requirements would be useful, as would a relevant degree or professional qualification.

About AJ Bell 

At AJ Bell, we believe investing should feel good. Whether you're looking for an ISA, pension or dealing account, whether you want to invest with the help of a financial adviser or do it yourself, we have easy-to-use solutions to suit people from all walks of life.

We're one of the UK's fastest-growing investment platform businesses, trusted by everyone from professional financial advisers to first-time investors.

Today, over 762,000customers trust us to manage more than £121.5billion of assets. By continually striving to make investing simpler and more accessible, we're helping more people take control of their financial futures.

We're proud to be recognised as one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For for six consecutive years, and a Great Place to Work® in 2025 and 2026, a reflection of our supportive and collaborative culture.

What we offer 

• 27 days holiday, increasing with service + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays 
• 8% Pension with matched contributions 
• Discretionary bonus scheme 
• Share schemes (including free shares and BAYE) 
• Health Cash Plan and discounted private healthcare 
• Free gym 
• Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria) 
• Travel and bike loan schemes 
• Employee Assistance Programme 

Life at AJ Bell 

• Regular social events including summer and Christmas parties 
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to you 
• Casual dress code 
• Friendly, supportive team environment 

Our ways of working 

We offer hybrid working, with a minimum of 50% of your working time per month spent in the office.

For new starters, there is an initial period of full-time office working to help you settle in and build relationships. 

Inclusion & diversity 

We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work. 

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience, and potential. 

Qualifications

Additional Information