People SMCR & Risk Lead - 6 Month FTC

We are on the lookout for an experienced and motivated People SMCR and Risk Lead to join the People Team here at Nucleus. The Senior Manager Certification Regime (SMCR) People Lead plays a pivotal role in ensuring the SMCR requirements on behalf of the People team are met. This includes ensuring that Nucleus meets regulatory requirements defined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) under the SMCR framework.

This role will be responsible for developing, documenting and embedding frameworks and processes for all People team aspects of the SMCR, including certification and approval processes, supporting senior managers in meeting their responsibilities, and developing an effective risk and governance structure.

The SMCR People Lead will work closely with the People team, Legal, Risk and Compliance to design the appropriate processes and frameworks to ensure that we can operate in compliance with the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the SMCR regime while fostering a culture of accountability and transparency.

They will also role-model and establish a blueprint as Risk Champion within the People team, which is capable of being handed over at the appropriate time.

It’s a varied role with lots of interesting and value-add work to keep you busy, and here are some of the ways you’ll spend your time:

Key Responsibilities:

1. SMCR Framework Design and Implementation:

• Oversee the design and implementation of the SMCR framework within the People team, ensuring alignment with FCA/PRA regulations and company policies.
• Ensure that the SMCR framework and processes are clearly defined and handed over to the appropriate member of the team to maintain them effectively, upskilling and educating as necessary.
• Review the current SMCR captured population, ensuring certification criteria is applied consistently and appropriately. Work closely with senior leaders to ensure that individuals are adequately trained and aware of their responsibilities under the SMCR.
• Act as the funnel for all SMCR activities and conduit for escalation to the CPO as part of her SMF responsibilities.

1. Process, Policy & Procedure development

• Design of, delivery and ultimately handover of sustainable processes which are capable of being managed by the relevant team members beyond the tenure of the role, specifically
• Redesign of robust and practical people policies and procedures to support SMCR compliance amongst the team, through all points of the employee lifecycle, including clear guidelines for recruitment, promotion, organisation restructures, performance management, all exits including resignation, redundancies, and handover of SMF responsibilities documentation
• Review and refine the recruitment, onboarding, and annual-fit and proper process, for certified persons and SMF holders to ensure that all necessary documentation and processes are in place to demonstrate compliance with SMCR requirements, including role profiles, individual certifications and approvals, statements of responsibility, training logs and fitness and propriety records.
• Collaborate with the Compliance team to ensure the organisation's SMCR policies are up-to-date and reflect any regulatory changes.

1. SMCR Governance & Reporting:

• Lead initial working group to develop approach to governance and reporting
• Act as the central point of contact for all SMCR-related enquiries
• Assist in preparing regular reports for the board, senior management, and regulators, ensuring that any breaches or non-compliance incidents are escalated and addressed promptly
• Design the template for reporting which meets the expected requirements and is a repeatable format to be used in the future

1. Training & Awareness:

• Deliver training and awareness sessions to senior managers, the People team, and other key stakeholders on SMCR requirements and responsibilities
• Coaching and education of people team colleagues to the extent that all People team roles instinctively apply an SMCR lens in their day-to-day activities and can independently apply the defined processes
• Work with the L&D team to ensure that a system for maintaining training records is in place with access and visibility to enable individuals to understand their obligations under the SMCR

1. Advisory & Support Role:

• Advise senior managers and the People team on the implications of SMCR on recruitment, succession planning, performance management, and disciplinary processes
• Provide ongoing support to senior management in understanding their responsibilities under the SMCR and help mitigate any potential risks associated with non-compliance

1. Audit & Compliance Monitoring:

• Coordinate with internal and external auditors to ensure that SMCR compliance is reviewed and audited regularly
• Work closely with the Compliance and Risk teams to conduct ongoing monitoring and assessments of SMCR compliance across the business and address any remedial actions

1. Regulatory Change Management:

• Keep up to date with regulatory changes and updates related to SMCR and ensure the business adapts to any changes in the regulatory landscape
• Advise the People team and senior management on the impact of any changes and help implement necessary adjustments
• Risk Management:
• In collaboration with the 2nd line, implement and embed the Risk management Framework into the People team. This will cover risk event management, risk reporting, maintenance of the risk and control register, policy implementation and training and awareness within the People team

A bit about you

Your friends would probably describe you as a ‘problem-solver’ who is motivated by doing the right thing and supporting others to do the same.

You'll demonstrate an open and honest approach and be able to build relationships and communicate confidently across the business. You'll encourage the right behaviours and support our core values. You’ll set the bar high and be part of a team environment which is both supportive and rewarding, where high performance is the norm.

We’ve always placed more importance on cultural contribution above technical ability, but we’d really like you to have:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the Senior Manager Certification Regime (SMCR), and its implications for People processes
• Experience in HR compliance, risk management, or regulatory affairs, within a regulated financial services environment
• Strong knowledge of FCA/PRA regulations, governance frameworks, and financial services industry standards
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence senior management and stakeholders at all levels
• Delivery focus, output oriented
• High level of attention to detail, organisational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information

Desirable:

• Relevant certifications or qualifications in HR, compliance, or financial services (e.g., CIPD, ICA, etc.)
• Knowledge of other regulatory regimes (e.g. GDPR, etc.)

Inclusion and diversity at Nucleus

As with most things in life, who cares, wins. We really care about inclusion.

For us this is not a box-ticking thing, it’s a commercial imperative. It isn’t about being PC. It’s about being future-relevant and durable. Find out more on our inclusion page.

We offer a generous blend of benefits for the things that really matter to our people, including pension, bonus, enhanced parental leave, paid time off for emergencies, health and wellbeing initiatives and flexible working options.