Compliance Manager - Real Estate (Debt Fund)

About this role

My Private Equity owned Real Estate Debt Fund client is hiring for an experienced Compliance Manager to join their busy team.

Overview

The Compliance Manager is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the firm's compliance framework, ensuring adherence to applicable regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and internal policies. Working within a Real Estate Debt Fund, the role supports all aspects of the business, including lending activities, portfolio management, and operational functions.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted adviser to the business, promoting a strong culture of compliance while enabling commercial objectives through practical and proportionate risk management.

Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Monitor and interpret relevant regulatory developments affecting alternative investment funds and real estate lending activities.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable regulations, including FCA rules, AML/CTF requirements, sanctions, market abuse, and data protection legislation.
• Maintain and update the firm's compliance policies, procedures, and controls.
• Conduct periodic compliance monitoring reviews and document findings and recommendations.
• Coordinate regulatory reporting and filings, ensuring submissions are accurate and timely.

Financial Crime Compliance

• Oversee the firm's Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), sanctions screening, and financial crime compliance framework.
• Review higher-risk investors, borrowers, counterparties, and transactions.
• Support enhanced due diligence processes where required.
• Liaise with external service providers undertaking investor onboarding and KYC activities.

Lending & Transaction Support

• Provide compliance advice throughout the loan origination and execution process.
• Review new business proposals from a regulatory and reputational risk perspective.
• Participate in transaction approval committees where appropriate.
• Support due diligence on borrowers, sponsors, intermediaries, and third-party service providers.

Compliance Monitoring & Risk Management

• Develop and execute the annual Compliance Monitoring Programme.
• Perform thematic reviews across business functions.
• Monitor breaches, incidents, complaints, and regulatory issues, ensuring appropriate remediation.
• Maintain compliance risk registers and assist with enterprise risk assessments.

Training & Culture

• Deliver compliance training across the business.
• Promote awareness of regulatory obligations and ethical standards.
• Support the embedding of a strong compliance culture throughout the organisation.

Governance & Reporting

• Prepare compliance reports for senior management, executive committees, and the Board.
• Assist with regulatory inspections and external audits.
• Maintain compliance records and evidence in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Manage relationships with external legal advisers, consultants, and regulators where appropriate.

Experience and Skills Required

Essential

• 5–8+ years' compliance experience within real estate finance (in a Bank or Non-Bank lender).
• Strong knowledge of FCA regulations, AML regulations, financial crime prevention, and corporate governance.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to balance commercial objectives with regulatory requirements.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgement.

Desirable

• Experience with compliance monitoring systems and regulatory technology solutions.
• Professional compliance qualification (ICA, CISI, or equivalent).
• Legal or risk management background.

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