Gemma Jones
London,Greater London
Summary
Experienced financial services regulatory and compliance professional with expertise gained across private banking, wealth management, asset management, and private practice environments.
Strong background advising on UK financial services regulation, including FCA and PRA requirements, MiFID I / MiFID II, PSD I / PSD2, Consumer Duty, CASS, SYSC, SUP, conduct risk, and financial crime frameworks.
Proven ability to provide strategic legal and compliance advice to senior stakeholders, support regulatory change initiatives, manage regulatory risk, and engage effectively with regulators. Experienced in both contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters, including investigations, supervisory engagement, governance, compliance monitoring, and implementation of complex regulatory frameworks. Commercially focused and collaborative adviser with extensive experience delivering regulatory training, supporting business growth initiatives, and operating within UK and global financial services organisations.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Head of UK Compliance, Wealth
Cazenove Capital, part of the Schroders Group
London
2019.07 - Current
- Leading the UK Compliance team for a regulated wealth management business, with overall responsibility for regulatory oversight, compliance monitoring, advisory support, financial crime prevention, and conduct risk management.
- Act as compliance contact for interactions with the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority, including regulatory reporting, supervisory engagement, (wealth specific) thematic reviews, and regulatory change implementation.
- Provide strategic advice and challenge to senior management on UK and SEC regulatory requirements, governance, conduct risk, and emerging regulatory developments impacting wealth management.
- Oversee the design and execution of the Compliance Monitoring Programme, ensuring robust testing of key regulatory controls and timely remediation of identified issues across both UK and SEC regulatory requirements.
- Lead the implementation and ongoing embedding of the Consumer Duty framework across the business, including vulnerable client processes, fair value assessments, customer outcome testing, governance enhancements, and MI reporting to senior committees.
- Maintain and enhance the firm’s financial crime framework, including AML, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, fraud prevention, and market abuse controls, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and industry best practice.
- Serve as SMF16/SMF17 delegate and trusted adviser to senior stakeholders on compliance and regulatory risk matters, supporting business growth while maintaining a strong control environment.
- Deliver regulatory training and awareness programmes across the business, including tailored sessions for front office, operations, senior management, and Board members on FCA/PRA requirements, Consumer Duty, market conduct, and financial crime obligations.
- Support new product launches, strategic change initiatives, and business transformation projects through proactive compliance advisory input and regulatory risk assessment.
- Regulatory horizon scanning processes and coordinate implementation of new UK regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures across the organisation.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external counsel, auditors, and industry bodies to support effective governance and regulatory engagement.
Deputy Head of Compliance
Lazard Asset Management
London
2015.11 - 2019.06
- Support the Head of UK Compliance in overseeing the compliance framework for the UK asset management business, ensuring adherence to applicable Financial Conduct Authority rules and broader group governance standards within a global US-headquartered asset management organisation.
- Provide day-to-day compliance advisory support to portfolio management, distribution, operations, and senior management teams on UK regulatory requirements, conduct risk, and business initiatives.
- Lead and coordinate implementation of key regulatory obligations under MiFID II, including product governance, inducements, best execution, costs and charges disclosures, client categorisation, and transaction reporting oversight.
- Manage and enhance the firm’s financial crime framework, including AML, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, market abuse surveillance, and employee compliance monitoring, ensuring alignment with UK regulatory expectations and global group policies.
- Support regulatory engagement with the FCA, including responses to supervisory requests, regulatory reporting, thematic reviews, and internal audits.
- Design, implement and oversee the Compliance Monitoring Programme across key business areas, identifying regulatory risks, reporting findings to senior management, and ensuring timely remediation actions are implemented.
- Deliver compliance training programmes across the UK business, including tailored sessions on FCA requirements, MiFID II obligations, market conduct, conflicts of interest, Consumer Duty, and financial crime prevention.
- Advise on the regulatory implications of new products, distribution arrangements, fund launches, and strategic business change initiatives within both UK and cross-border operating models.
- Conduct regulatory horizon scanning and coordinate implementation of new UK and European regulatory developments impacting the asset management business.
- Liaise closely with global Compliance, Legal, Risk, and Internal Audit teams to ensure consistent application of group standards while addressing UK-specific regulatory requirements.
- Prepare management information, committee papers, and regulatory updates for senior governance forums, contributing to a strong culture of compliance and risk awareness across the organisation.
Senior Legal Counsel
Coutts & Co
London
2011.02 - 2015.10
- Provide legal and regulatory advice to a UK private banking and wealth management business across investment services, banking products, discretionary portfolio management and client advisory activities.
- Advise the business on compliance with applicable Financial Conduct Authority (FSA) regulatory requirements, including conduct of business obligations, client communications, product governance, consumer protection, and governance frameworks.
- Support senior management and business stakeholders on legal and regulatory matters arising from strategic initiatives, new product development, distribution arrangements, and business change projects.
- Lead legal input into implementation and interpretation of PSD2 requirements, and on the legal and regulatory implications of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), including adviser charging, inducements, suitability, and client disclosure obligations.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial and client documentation, including investment management agreements, custody arrangements, outsourcing contracts, distribution agreements, and supplier contracts.
- Work closely with external counsel, Compliance, Risk, and international legal teams to ensure consistent legal support and effective governance across the organisation.
Solicitor
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
London
2005.02 - 2011.02
- Advised UK and international financial institutions on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious financial services regulatory matters, acting for banks, asset managers, wealth managers, payment services firms, and investment firms.
- Provided regulatory advice on the application and implementation of key UK and European regulatory frameworks, including MiFID I, PSD I, market conduct requirements, client asset rules, financial promotions, governance, and conduct of business obligations.
- Supported clients in responding to regulatory investigations, supervisory reviews, skilled person reviews, and enforcement-related matters involving the Financial Conduct Authority and other regulatory authorities.
- Assisted clients with regulatory perimeter analysis, authorisation and variation of permission applications, regulatory change projects, and implementation of new compliance frameworks and policies.
- Drafted and reviewed regulatory disclosures, client agreements, internal policies, governance documentation, outsourcing arrangements, and compliance procedures for regulated firms.
- Conducted legal and regulatory due diligence in support of corporate transactions, acquisitions, and restructurings involving regulated financial services businesses.
- Worked closely with senior stakeholders, Compliance teams, and in-house legal functions to provide commercially focused advice on regulatory risk and operational issues.
- Completed client secondments within the legal and compliance functions of major financial institutions, providing day-to-day advisory support on live regulatory, commercial, and operational matters.
- Delivered legal updates and training sessions to clients and internal teams on evolving UK and European financial services regulation and regulatory enforcement trends.
- Collaborated with cross-border legal teams on multi-jurisdictional regulatory projects and investigations involving UK and European regulatory frameworks.
Education
Level 6 Diploma in Investment Compliance -
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment
UKDiploma in Legal Practice (LPC) -
Nottingham Law School
Nottingham 2003.09 - 2004.07
Graduate Diploma in Law -
Nottingham Law School
Nottingham 2002.07 - 2003.09
BA (Hons) Classics -
Exeter University
Exeter 1998.09 - 2001.07
A-Levels -
Leeds Girls' High School
Leeds 1991.09 - 1998.07
Skills
- Calm under pressure
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
- Public speaking
- Team building
Timeline
Head of UK Compliance, Wealth
Cazenove Capital, part of the Schroders Group
2019.07 - Current
Deputy Head of Compliance
Lazard Asset Management
2015.11 - 2019.06
Senior Legal Counsel
Coutts & Co
2011.02 - 2015.10
Solicitor
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
2005.02 - 2011.02
Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) -
Nottingham Law School
2003.09 - 2004.07
Graduate Diploma in Law -
Nottingham Law School
2002.07 - 2003.09
BA (Hons) Classics -
Exeter University
1998.09 - 2001.07
A-Levels -
Leeds Girls' High School
1991.09 - 1998.07
Level 6 Diploma in Investment Compliance -
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment