Head of Regulatory Compliance

About Us

We operate in 9+ geographies across the UK, EU and the US.

As a UK-licensed Payment Institution (PI) and in the final stages of securing EU PI authorization, we are committed to ensuring a best-in-class regulatory compliance framework that supports our growth while meeting evolving regulatory expectations.

We believe that the future of financial services will be delivered by customer-oriented tech companies that embed financing in their customer journeys, and we are building the solutions that will power that future. YouLend is an authorised payment institution in the UK, and are actively looking to expand their regulatory presence.

The Role:

The Head of Regulatory Compliance will be responsible for designing and maintaining a robust and scalable regulatory compliance framework that aligns with our UK and EU expansion plans. Reporting to the General Counsel and working closely with Legal, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance, and senior management, this role will be responsible for developing, implementing, and enhancing compliance processes, ensuring adherence to FCA, EU, and broader global regulatory standards.

Requirements

The Role will focus on:

• Designing and embedding a regulatory compliance framework that supports YouLend’s business growth while meeting evolving regulatory expectations.
• Enhancing compliance monitoring and oversight, ensuring systems and controls remain effective and fit for purpose.
• Identifying and mitigating regulatory risks, ensuring compliance is deeply integrated into YouLend’s product, operations and legal functions.
• Overseeing UK and EU licensing and regulatory engagements, ensuring full adherence to FCA and EU regulatory obligations.

This is a high-impact leadership role that will require a proactive and strategic mindset, the ability to work cross-functionally, and a deep understanding of payments, embedded finance, and regulatory requirements for Payment Institutions. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that compliance at YouLend is not just a regulatory requirement but a key enabler of growth and innovation.

Compliance Framework Design and Implementation:

• Lead on the design and implementation of systems and controls to manage YouLend’s regulatory risk across its operations, including safeguarding, data protection and operational resilience.
• Design, implement and continuously improve YouLend's Compliance Monitoring and Testing Programme.
• Provide guidance on regulatory risks, helping the business navigate complex compliance landscapes in the UK, EU, US and other jurisdictions.

Monitoring and Testing:

• Perform thematic reviews and escalate findings to stakeholders, working with relevant teams to address and mitigate risks effectively.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring of processes to ensure that key regulatory risks are identified, regularly assessed, and addressed.
• Performing testing on 1st line controls and using those findings to enhance their effectiveness.

Regulatory Risk Management:

• Perform comprehensive Compliance Risk Assessments to identify and prioritize key regulatory risks across YouLend's operations, including areas such as Governance, Business-Wide Risk Assessments (BWRA), Consumer Duty, Complaints, Operational Resilience and Safeguarding.
• Lead the identification, assessment, and ongoing monitoring of current and future regulatory risks, including gap analysis of new regulatory initiatives and guidance from the FCA (e.g., Consumer Duty and new safeguarding obligations).

Regulatory Reporting and Engagement:

• Gathering data and leading regulatory reporting processes to ensure timely and accurate submissions to the FCA and EU-based regulators and other relevant authorities.
• Serve as a point of contact with regulators, handling queries, audits, and ongoing communications.
• Stay updated on evolving regulatory landscapes and proactively advise the business on potential impacts and compliance strategies.

Policy Development and Process Improvement:

• Design and enhance policies and processes to address regulatory requirements and mitigate risks effectively.
• Develop and deliver training and communication strategies to embed a compliance-first culture within the organisation.

Tracking and Reporting:

• Track and monitor progress against the annual monitoring programme, adapting it to the changing regulatory and business environment.
• Ensure actions are tracked to closure, including post-closure testing and monitoring, where appropriate.

Collaboration and Leadership:

• Work closely with the Head of Financial Crime & MLRO to ensure a seamless integration between financial crime and regulatory compliance functions.
• Engage with product, legal and senior leadership to align compliance strategies with business objectives.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• 8+ years of regulatory compliance experience within fintech or the financial services industry, ideally in a Payment Institution, Electronic Money Institution, or similar regulated entity
• Demonstrable experience in designing, implementing and managing compliance frameworks within FCA-regulated entities
• Experience leading regulatory reporting processes and acting as a liaison with regulators such as the FCA and ICO
• Deep experience in navigating the UK regulatory regime for financial services institutions, preferably in the payments space
• Familiarity with EU regulatory regimes and experience supporting applications for new regulatory authorisations is a strong plus.
• Experience working in B2B financing or corporate lending is desirable

Skills:

• Deep understanding of FCA and EU payments regulations, including the Payment Services Regulations 2017, FCA Handbook, PSD2, and associated safeguarding and conduct rules.
• Proven ability to design and assess systems and controls in response to and in anticipation of regulatory risks.
• Proven ability to assess and manage regulatory risks, with experience in conducting thematic reviews and compliance monitoring.
• Expertise in key compliance themes such as governance, complaints handling, safeguarding, product governance and outsourcing, and in depth understanding of risk mitigation frameworks.
• Exceptional analytical skills, including conducting gap analyses to address new regulatory initiatives and guidance.

Benefits

• Opportunity to lead regulatory compliance in a fast-growing fintech.
• Direct engagement with senior leadership, regulators, and external compliance advisors.
• A collaborative, high-growth environment where compliance is a key enabler of innovation and expansion.
• Award-Winning Workplace: YouLend has been recognised as one of the "Best Places to Work 2024" by the Sunday Times for being a supportive, diverse, and rewarding workplace
• Award-Winning Fintech: YouLend has been recognised as a "Top 250 Fintech Worldwide" company by CNBC

We offer comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Stock Options
• Private Medical insurance via Vitality
• EAP with Health Assured
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Modern and sophisticated office space in Central London
• Free Gym in office building in Holborn
• Subsidised Lunch via Feedr
• Deliveroo Allowance if working late in office
• Monthly in office Masseuse
• Team and Company Socials
• Football Power League / Squash Club

At YouLend, we champion diversity and embrace equal opportunity employment practices. Our hiring, transfer, and promotion decisions are exclusively based on qualifications, merit, and business requirements, free from any discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, nationality, or any other protected basis under applicable law.