Rob Smith

As a Compliance and Risk Reporting Specialist within Santander’s Compliance and Economic Crime Office (CECO) team, I played a pivotal role in the Second Line of Defence, ensuring the effective delivery of compliance risk reporting and governance. I was responsible for leading risk profile reporting and embedding a data-driven approach to risk management. A key aspect of my role involved conducting in-depth investigations into risk breaches and providing comprehensive reports with strategic recommendations to the Chief Compliance Officer, executive leadership, and board-level stakeholders.

I worked closely with senior executives to shape risk appetite metrics, ensuring continuous monitoring and analysis to support data-led decision-making. I regularly authored risk papers and provided thematic root cause analysis for executive and board-level reporting, offering insights to drive improvements in compliance and conduct risk frameworks. My role also required managing the governance of the monthly Conduct and Compliance Forum, where I led the preparation of high-quality reporting dashboards, facilitated discussions on key risk areas, and ensured the timely escalation of critical issues to the board and regulatory bodies.

In addition to risk reporting, I played a key role in driving transformation initiatives aimed at simplifying and automating compliance reporting processes at both the SanUK and Group level. I collaborated extensively with cross-functional teams, ensuring adherence to relevant policies, regulatory frameworks, and industry best practices. My ability to communicate complex compliance risks in a clear and actionable manner allowed me to influence strategic decision-making at the highest levels of the organization.

Through proactive engagement with senior leadership and board members, I ensured that compliance risk remained a central focus in the organization’s governance structure, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.