Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) – Wealth Management

Position Summary

The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) – Wealth Management is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the compliance and regulatory framework for the wealth management business. The CCO ensures adherence to applicable securities laws, fiduciary obligations, anti-money laundering regulations, privacy requirements, and industry standards while promoting a culture of integrity, ethical conduct, and regulatory excellence.

The role serves as the primary advisor to executive leadership and the Board on compliance matters and provides independent oversight of regulatory risks across wealth advisory, private banking, investment management, brokerage, trust, and fiduciary services.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute the enterprise-wide compliance strategy for the wealth management division.
• Establish and maintain compliance policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure compliance programs align with business objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Advise executive leadership and the Board on emerging regulatory developments and compliance risks.
• Promote a strong culture of ethics, integrity, and regulatory accountability.

Regulatory Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with applicable securities, investment advisory, fiduciary, and banking regulations.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on the organization.
• Oversee regulatory examinations, inspections, and inquiries.
• Coordinate responses to regulators and ensure timely remediation of findings.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulatory authorities and industry bodies.

Wealth Management & Advisory Compliance

• Oversee compliance programs covering:
  • Investment Advisory Services
  • Private Banking
  • Brokerage Services
  • Trust and Fiduciary Services
  • Retirement and Estate Planning Services
  • Discretionary Portfolio Management
• Review new products, investment strategies, and business initiatives for regulatory compliance.
• Ensure adherence to suitability, fiduciary, and best-interest obligations.

Financial Crime Compliance

• Oversee Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) programs.
• Ensure compliance with sanctions screening and anti-bribery regulations.
• Monitor suspicious activity reporting and transaction surveillance programs.
• Assess financial crime risks associated with clients, products, and jurisdictions.
• Coordinate investigations and regulatory reporting requirements.

Surveillance, Monitoring & Testing

• Establish risk-based compliance monitoring and testing programs.
• Oversee employee trade surveillance and conflict-of-interest management.
• Conduct periodic compliance reviews and control assessments.
• Monitor client communications, marketing materials, and investment recommendations.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented for identified compliance issues.

Fiduciary & Conduct Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with fiduciary duties and client best-interest standards.
• Oversee management of conflicts of interest and disclosure requirements.
• Promote fair treatment of clients and ethical business practices.
• Assess conduct risks associated with advisor and relationship manager activities.

Training & Awareness

• Develop compliance training programs for advisors, bankers, and employees.
• Promote awareness of regulatory obligations and ethical standards.
• Ensure timely completion of mandatory compliance certifications.
• Provide advisory support to business units on compliance matters.

Reporting & Board Engagement

• Prepare compliance reports for executive leadership, risk committees, and the Board.
• Present compliance risk assessments, monitoring results, and regulatory updates.
• Develop key compliance indicators (KCIs) and compliance dashboards.
• Escalate significant compliance issues and regulatory concerns.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop compliance professionals across multiple jurisdictions.
• Build a high-performance compliance function.
• Foster collaboration with legal, risk, audit, operations, and business teams.
• Support succession planning and talent development initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• Master's degree, MBA, Juris Doctor (JD), or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.

Professional Certifications

Preferred certifications include:

• Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM)
• Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
• Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Bar admission or legal qualifications may be advantageous.

Experience

• 12–15+ years of compliance, legal, regulatory, or risk management experience.
• Significant experience within wealth management, private banking, asset management, or brokerage environments.
• Experience interacting with regulators, boards, and executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise compliance programs.
• Strong knowledge of fiduciary and investment advisory regulations.

Technical Competencies

• Wealth Management Compliance
• Securities Regulation
• Investment Advisory Compliance
• Fiduciary Oversight
• AML/KYC Compliance
• Financial Crime Prevention
• Regulatory Change Management
• Compliance Monitoring & Testing
• Conduct Risk Management
• Trade Surveillance
• Conflict of Interest Management
• Regulatory Reporting
• Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
• Data Privacy & Information Security Compliance

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Ethical Judgment
• Regulatory Influence
• Executive Communication
• Board Engagement
• Risk-Based Decision Making
• Stakeholder Management
• Change Management
• Team Leadership
• Problem Solving

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Regulatory Examination Outcomes
• Compliance Breach Frequency
• AML/KYC Compliance Effectiveness
• Timely Regulatory Filings
• Compliance Monitoring Results
• Employee Training Completion Rates
• Remediation of Regulatory Findings
• Fiduciary Compliance Performance
• Internal Audit Results
• Client Complaint and Conduct Metrics

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