MATT TAVENER
Cambridge
Summary
Senior Compliance professional, holding SMF 16 and 17 roles with extensive experience in financial services, specialising in consumer credit regulatory guidance and compliance frameworks. Demonstrated success as, Chief Compliance Officer, Compliance Director and MLRO, with a strong focus on SM&CR framework implementation and compliance strategy development. Proven leadership in project management and regulator engagement, driving business growth while ensuring strict adherence to regulations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Compliance Director SMF 16
Affirm - London & Remote
2024.04 - Current
- Key member of the UK leadership team, leading the compliance function as Compliance Director SMF 16, aligning with the firm's goals.
- Successfully led the UK launch of Affirm in October 2024, ensuring compliance and operational readiness.
- Revamped SM&CR processes to ensure compliance and facilitate cross-border education.
- Advised on regulatory requirements, enabling strategic initiatives, and risk mitigation.
- Analysed reports of claims, payments and settlements to validate compliance with terms of policy or procedure.
- Educated the firm on varying Consumer Duty requirements across multiple geographies.
- Partnered at senior levels on key RFPs, providing pragmatic regulatory advice to address commercial objectives.
- Embedded a scalable Appointed Representatives framework, facilitating overseas partnerships.
- Co-chair of the UK Risk Management Committee, providing management and the Board with insights for discussion and decision-making.
- Maintained up-to-date understanding of all regulatory guidelines to support compliance across the organisation.
Head of Compliance & MLRO (SMF16 & 17)
Frasers Group Financial Services Ltd
Manchester & Remote
2022.09 - 2024.04
- Joined as Head of Compliance to lead the origination and development of a permanent function.
- Led advice on Fraser's acquisition of Studio Retail Ltd across all regulatory areas to support the business objective of the separation of the retail and financial services businesses.
- Led advice on the acquisition of third-party lenders’ books.
- Embedded the BAU framework to support requirements across Senior Managers and the Certification Regime, enhancing firm compliance.
- Developing and supporting the Compliance Monitoring Plan, ensuring key reports are shared appropriately, and actions are mapped.
- Lead regulatory advice on the firm's credit offering, BNPL product 'Frasers Plus / Studio Pay'. Key SME to support the offering across multiple brands and provide app servicing and MI requirements.
- Lead regulatory advice on the ability to offer 'Frasers Plus' to external third parties, utilising agency and full Payment Permissions.
- Key stakeholder supporting workstreams across Governance and the 3LOD model, Consumer Duty, and the Appointed Representative framework (applications and setup).
- Led external regulatory engagements, both planned and unplanned.
- SME across AML, CTF requirements, and assessments considering the needs of the firm and the associated risks of product and market.
- Forged key departmental relationships to drive firm-wide improvements across projects including the F&P framework, the SM&CR system integration, business separation, and lender due diligence.
Chief Compliance Officer (SMF 16) & Data Protection Officer
JBR Capital Ltd
London & Remote
2019.10 - 2022.05
- Top achievements in the first 3 months: designing the firm's SM&CR framework, and the full design, rollout, and integration of key oversight and governance programmes in line with CONC.
- Top achievements in the first 12 months: compliance risk assessments, redesign and formalisation of the firm's risk framework, and firm-wide review of all AML/BC policies and procedures.
- Formalisation of the 3LOD model, ownership of the 2nd line, alongside the design and rollout of wider policies and procedures, including Regulatory, Remuneration, Vulnerable Customer, and Data & Cyber policies.
- Beyond 12 months: wider CONC/SYSC business reviews, new product to market assessments, enhancement of compliance monitoring, redesign and rollout of a white-labelled employee training platform.
- Built a team focused on regulatory and financial crime sectors.
- Analysed sector-specific regulations, assessed change impacts, and maintained meticulous attention to detail while establishing the compliance function.
- Review of employee onboarding and training offerings to meet regulatory requirements.
- Key involvement in new innovative product offerings, leading the regulatory review and advising, alongside key internal and external stakeholders.
- Fast-paced and challenging, leading a team of five employees, managing multiple high priority projects, and day-to-day activities to ensure the firm delivers on its requirements.
- Confident in leading a team, empowering and developing individuals, making recommendations, and offering challenge where necessary.
- Experienced at board level and engaged effectively with regulatory bodies and government agencies.
- Full review and testing of the Compliance department led by an external third party.
- Focused on understanding the business and identifying key stakeholders.
Head of Compliance
Vindis Group Ltd
Cambridge
2017.01 - 2019.10
- Member of the Senior Leadership team, leading the firm's Compliance function, supporting multiple businesses and brands including Audi, Bentley, Škoda, and Volkswagen.
- Key relationship owner with UK regulators, experienced in managing change applications and all regulatory engagements.
- Advised on numerous growth projects, product enhancements, and risk management programmes.
- Established robust mechanisms for reporting and investigating whistle-blower claims, safeguarding against illegal or unethical conduct.
- Reviewed and approved marketing materials, contracts, and agreements for compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
- Developed successful strategies and policies, meeting organisational needs and implementing improvements.
Group Compliance Manager
Vindis Group Ltd
Cambridge
2008.01 - 2017.01
- Responsible for the Group's compliance, finance, and insurance divisions across seven brands and eighteen businesses.
- Top achievements include the design and implementation of a full compliance function across the business, which was suitable for multiple brands and locations.
- The journey started with considering what was in place, the consideration of current policies and procedures versus what was required, and how to make timely, positive changes.
- Large projects included championing the design and implementation of the business's customer journey with system integration, focusing on customer experience, compliance, and commercial requirements.
- Key aims were to create the ability to have a real-time measure of compliance against regulatory requirements, and to share key MI data.
- Coordinated with different departments to integrate compliance controls into operational procedures.
- Facilitated internal investigations into compliance breaches, recommending corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Conducted regular internal audits to identify compliance risks and formulated mitigation strategies.
- Advised senior management on the implications of current and emerging compliance regulations on business strategies.
- Acted as key compliance contact and officer for regulatory matters, answering queries promptly and politely.
- Analysed complex compliance data to identify trends and areas for improvement in organisational processes.
Education
A levels - General National Vocational Qualification Advanced Business Management
Saffron Walden County High School
Essex06.1999
Senior Leadership Programme -
Various Regulatory Providers
Skills
- SMF 16 and 17
- Extensive C-suite and Board experience
- Team leadership and development
- Compliance monitoring frameworks
- SM&CR implementation
- Project management
- Financial crime frameworks
- Organic compliance growth
- Regulatory reporting
References
References available upon request
Hobbies and Interests
- Property Renovations & Investments
- Golf and Skiing
- Cycling
Timeline
Compliance Director SMF 16
Affirm - London & Remote
2024.04 - Current
Head of Compliance & MLRO (SMF16 & 17)
Frasers Group Financial Services Ltd
2022.09 - 2024.04
Chief Compliance Officer (SMF 16) & Data Protection Officer
JBR Capital Ltd
2019.10 - 2022.05
Head of Compliance
Vindis Group Ltd
2017.01 - 2019.10
Group Compliance Manager
Vindis Group Ltd
2008.01 - 2017.01
A levels - General National Vocational Qualification Advanced Business Management
Saffron Walden County High School
Senior Leadership Programme -
Various Regulatory Providers