Live Compliance Jobs in London

The London Compliance Jobs We Fill

London has the largest concentration of FCA-regulated firms in the UK, from global banks and insurers to small advice firms, start-up fintechs and boutique investment managers. That range means compliance jobs in London run from first SMF16 appointments at small firms to chief compliance officer roles leading large teams. These are the roles we recruit for most often.

Compliance Officer (SMF16) Jobs in London

At firms within the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, the person who leads compliance holds the SMF16 Compliance Oversight function. It is a Senior Manager role: you need FCA approval before you start, you carry a statement of responsibilities, and you are personally accountable under the duty of responsibility. The compliance function itself is defined in the FCA’s SYSC 6.1 rules. In London we recruit SMF16s for wealth managers, investment managers, Lloyd’s and London market brokers, consumer credit firms, payments firms and newly authorised businesses.

Head of Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer Jobs in London

Head of compliance and chief compliance officer roles are concentrated in London, particularly at international groups, asset managers and fintechs. In most firms the head of compliance is the SMF16. In larger groups, a head of compliance may lead a business line or a team under the SMF16 holder and sit within the Certification Regime. These roles usually ask for team leadership, board reporting experience and a track record with the FCA.

MLRO and Financial Crime Jobs in London

London also has the most MLRO, deputy MLRO and financial crime roles, especially at payments, e-money, crypto and wealth firms. Many smaller London firms combine SMF16 and SMF17 in one role. See our MLRO jobs page for financial crime roles across the UK.

Compliance Manager, Monitoring and Advisory Jobs

Below the SMF16, London firms recruit compliance managers, monitoring officers, regulatory change leads and compliance advisers. These roles are often the route to a first Senior Manager appointment, and we are always honest about whether a role is the right next step.

Where London’s Compliance Jobs Are

Compliance jobs in London cluster where the firms do:

• The City: insurers, Lloyd’s and London market brokers, investment managers, banks and professional services.
• Canary Wharf: larger banks, payments firms and fintechs, as well as the FCA itself in Stratford.
• Mayfair and the West End: hedge funds, private equity, family offices and wealth managers.
• Shoreditch and the wider tech cluster: fintech, e-money and crypto-asset businesses.

Most London compliance roles are now hybrid, typically two to three days in the office. Fractional SMF16 roles are often largely remote, with time on site for board meetings and key reviews. Small firms on the edges of London, in Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire, often hire London-based compliance officers on a fractional basis.

Interim and Fractional Compliance Jobs in London

A large share of London compliance work is interim or fractional. Firms bring in an interim SMF16 when the current holder leaves without warning, during remediation after a skilled person review, or while a permanent search runs. Smaller firms often want a fractional compliance officer for one to three days a week.

If you are an approved, experienced compliance officer, fractional work can mean holding SMF16 at two or three firms at once. Firms will want to know you have the time for each, so be ready to explain your commitments. Our guide on how many days a fractional compliance officer needs shows how firms think about this. The 12-week rule explains how interim cover can start before approval.

London Compliance Salaries and Day Rates

London pay is generally at the upper end of the UK range. The figures below come from our SMF and compliance salary guide.

Role	Typical pay
Compliance officer (SMF16), smaller firm	£85,000–£140,000 base
Compliance officer (SMF16), mid-size firm	£130,000–£220,000 base
Compliance officer (SMF16), larger firm	£200,000–£350,000 base
Head of compliance, non-SMF (London)	£95,000–£150,000 base
Compliance officer, non-SMF (London)	£50,000–£85,000 base
Deputy MLRO or AMLRO (London)	£55,000–£95,000 base
Interim SMF16	£700–£1,100 a day
Fractional SMF16/SMF17, one to four days a month	£650–£1,000 a day, often as a monthly retainer

Day rates are for engagements outside IR35. Inside IR35 the effective rate is typically 25–30% lower. Smaller firms are generally those with revenue or assets under management below around £50 million.

What London Firms Look For

London firms can choose from a deep pool of compliance candidates, so the bar is high. When we put you forward, firms will want to see:

• Sector depth. Direct experience of their permissions and products, whether that is MiFID investment business, Lloyd’s market broking, consumer credit or e-money.
• Monitoring and reporting. A compliance monitoring plan you have run and board reports you have written.
• Consumer Duty experience for retail-facing firms, including work on the annual board report.
• Regulator experience. Supervisory meetings, information requests and breach reporting.
• Challenge and judgement. Examples of advising the business, and holding a position with senior management.
• A clean regulatory record. Your regulatory references will cover six years, and you can check your own entry on the FCA Register.

If you are stepping up to your first Senior Manager role, read up on the fit and proper test and preparing for an FCA approval interview.

Compliance Jobs Outside London

We recruit across the UK. If you are open to roles elsewhere, see our full compliance officer jobs page and the regional markets we cover in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh.

How to Apply

Click through to any live role above, or email your CV to recruitment@smfcapital.co.uk with a short note covering:

• whether you hold or have held SMF16 or SMF17, and at which firms
• the sectors you know best
• whether you want permanent, interim or fractional work
• how many office days you can do in London, your notice period and expected salary or day rate.

Our team reviews every application. We never share your CV with a firm without your agreement. You can also call us on 0203 745 0239.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your London compliance jobs hybrid?

Most are. Two to three office days a week is typical for permanent roles. Fractional and interim roles vary, and some are largely remote.

Do I need to have held SMF16 before?

Not always. Many London firms appoint first-time SMF16s who have run monitoring, advisory or a compliance team under an experienced holder.

Do you recruit head of compliance roles that are not SMF16?

Yes. Larger London firms often have heads of compliance under the SMF16 holder, as well as compliance managers and monitoring leads.

Will my current employer find out I am looking?

No. We never send your details to a firm without your agreement first.

What does a closed role mean?

The firm is no longer taking applications. We show recently closed London roles so you can see the work we do. Similar roles come up regularly, so it is still worth registering.