CCO Executive Search

About Our Founder — Adrian Lawrence FCA

Exec Capital was founded by Adrian Lawrence FCA, a Fellow of the ICAEW with over two decades of experience in executive search and senior finance leadership. Adrian holds a BSc from Queen Mary College, University of London and has worked across private, listed, owner-managed and PE-backed organisations. He holds an ICAEW practising certificate and personally leads senior C-suite searches, conducting candidate interviews himself. Every CCO brief Adrian takes is informed by direct experience of regulated financial services environments and the governance expectations of institutional investors and regulators.

Published Research & Thought Leadership — Adrian Lawrence FCA actively contributes to advancing the understanding of executive leadership in regulated sectors. His recent peer-reviewed publications on ResearchGate include:

The Evolution of Fractional C-Suite Leadership in Modern UK Businesses (March 2026)
The Strategic Role of Fractional and Interim Executives in Supporting Organisational Growth (March 2026, co-authored)

Exec Capital operates in accordance with the UK government’s executive search code of conduct.

What Is a Chief Compliance Officer?

A Chief Compliance Officer is the senior executive accountable for ensuring a business operates within the legal, regulatory and ethical framework applicable to its sector. The CCO owns the compliance function, leads the compliance team, and is the principal point of contact for regulators, auditors and the board on matters of regulatory risk and governance.

In FCA-regulated firms, the CCO typically holds a Senior Management Function under the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR), carrying personal accountability to the regulator for the firm’s compliance framework. This accountability — including the potential for individual regulatory sanction — makes the CCO one of the most consequential executive appointments a regulated business makes.

Outside regulated financial services, the CCO role spans data protection and GDPR compliance, anti-bribery and corruption frameworks, health and safety governance, environmental compliance and sector-specific regulatory requirements. The scope varies significantly by industry, but the core accountability — protecting the business from regulatory, reputational and legal risk — is consistent across all sectors.

Chief Compliance Officer	Head of Compliance	General Counsel
C-suite executive, board-level accountability	Senior manager, operational compliance	Legal advice, not regulatory ownership
Owns compliance strategy and culture	Implements compliance policies	Manages legal risk and litigation
Direct regulator relationship (SMCR)	Reports to CCO or GC	Separate function from compliance
£120k–£220k+ salary	£70k–£110k salary	£120k–£200k+ salary

CCO Salary and Day Rate Benchmarks — UK 2026

Role Type	Sector / Context	Compensation Range
Permanent CCO — FCA regulated firm	Asset management, banking, insurance	£140,000 – £220,000+ base
Permanent CCO — listed or PE-backed company	Financial services, payments, consumer credit	£120,000 – £180,000 base
Permanent CCO — SME or scale-up	Fintech, insurtech, non-bank lender	£90,000 – £140,000 base
Interim CCO — day rate	Regulatory remediation, urgent cover	£900 – £1,600 per day
Fractional CCO — retained	Scale-ups, fintech, regulated SMEs	£5,000 – £15,000 per month

Salary ranges reflect total base compensation and vary by firm size, regulatory complexity, FCA designation and SMCR accountability level. Bonus, LTIP and pension contributions are typically additional. Day rates for interim CCOs in regulatory remediation or Section 166 review contexts may exceed the ranges above.

“As a regulated firm our CCO appointment carries personal regulatory accountability under SM&CR — the individual has to satisfy the FCA’s fit and proper assessment and be genuinely capable of challenging the executive team independently. Exec Capital understood the regulatory dimension immediately and placed a candidate with direct FCA engagement experience within eight weeks. His compliance framework improvements in the first year were noted positively in our next supervisory review — the best outcome we could have hoped for.”

Chief Executive — UK Financial Services Business

When Do Businesses Need to Recruit a CCO?

FCA Authorisation and SMCR Implementation

Businesses applying for FCA authorisation or extending their regulatory permissions frequently need a qualified CCO to satisfy the regulator’s fitness and propriety requirements. Under SMCR, the compliance function must be led by a named Senior Manager personally accountable to the FCA. Recruiting the right CCO before authorisation is a critical step in the application process.

Regulatory Investigation or Remediation

When a firm receives a Section 166 skilled person review, an FCA information request, or is under regulatory scrutiny, an experienced CCO — whether permanent or interim — can stabilise the position, manage the regulator relationship, and lead the remediation programme. Boards and investors need confidence that the compliance function is under competent leadership during these periods.

Departure of an Existing CCO

The loss of a CCO creates an immediate regulatory risk for any FCA-regulated firm. An interim CCO can provide continuity of leadership and maintain the regulatory relationship while a permanent search is conducted. Exec Capital can typically introduce an interim CCO within one to two weeks of instruction.

Business Growth and Regulatory Complexity

As businesses scale into new regulated activities, new geographies or new product lines, the compliance burden frequently outgrows the existing team’s capability. Appointing a CCO at this stage — rather than reacting to a regulatory issue — is the most cost-effective approach to managing increasing regulatory complexity.

PE Investment and Exit Preparation

Private equity investors in regulated businesses expect to see a credible, independent CCO who can stand behind the firm’s compliance framework in due diligence. Businesses preparing for PE investment or sale increasingly appoint a CCO specifically to satisfy investor governance expectations and de-risk the transaction.

What a Chief Compliance Officer Does

Regulatory Strategy and Framework

Developing and maintaining the firm’s compliance framework — policies, procedures, controls and monitoring — to ensure the business meets all applicable regulatory requirements. Translating complex regulatory change into practical operational guidance the business can implement.

FCA and Regulatory Relationship Management

Managing the firm’s relationship with the FCA and other applicable regulators. This includes responding to supervisory visits, information requests and regulatory correspondence, as well as proactive engagement with supervisors on material regulatory developments affecting the firm.

SMCR and Senior Manager Accountability

In FCA-regulated firms, the CCO typically holds an SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) function, carrying personal regulatory accountability for the firm’s compliance arrangements. This includes maintaining the firm’s Responsibilities Map and Statement of Responsibilities, and ensuring the Management Responsibilities Map reflects actual decision-making structures.

Compliance Monitoring and Assurance

Overseeing the compliance monitoring programme — testing the effectiveness of controls, identifying gaps, and providing the board and audit committee with independent assurance that the firm is operating within its regulatory permissions.

Regulatory Change Management

Tracking and horizon-scanning for regulatory change — from FCA consultation papers through to FCA policy statements and binding rules — and ensuring the business is prepared for implementation. Working with legal, operations and product teams to embed regulatory requirements into business processes before they become compliance failures.

Board and Audit Committee Reporting

Preparing and presenting compliance reports to the board, audit committee and risk committee. Providing directors and NEDs with an accurate picture of the firm’s regulatory risk profile, material compliance issues and the status of remediation programmes.

MLRO and Financial Crime Oversight

In many regulated firms, the CCO either holds the MLRO function directly or has oversight responsibility for anti-money laundering and financial crime compliance. This includes oversight of the firm’s AML framework, suspicious activity reporting, and engagement with the National Crime Agency where required.

Permanent, Interim and Fractional CCO Recruitment

Permanent CCO Recruitment

For businesses making a long-term CCO appointment, Exec Capital runs a discreet executive search process — identifying both active and passive candidates, conducting detailed competency-based assessments, and presenting a curated shortlist within 3–7 working days. We brief each candidate individually before introduction, saving management time at the interview stage.

Interim CCO Recruitment

Interim CCOs are available for immediate deployment — typically within one to two weeks of instruction. They are used to cover departures, manage regulatory remediation programmes, support FCA authorisation processes, and provide leadership continuity during permanent searches. Our interim CCO network includes individuals with SMCR SMF experience, Section 166 review leadership, and hands-on regulatory remediation backgrounds.

Fractional CCO Recruitment

A fractional CCO works with your business on an agreed number of days per week — providing senior compliance leadership without the cost of a full-time executive. This model works well for fintech scale-ups, non-bank lenders, consumer credit firms and other regulated businesses that need CCO-level expertise but are not yet at the scale where a full-time appointment is cost-effective.

CCO Recruitment — Sectors We Cover

Sector	Key Compliance Requirements
Asset management and wealth management	FCA COLL, COBS, MiFID II, SMCR
Retail and commercial banking	PRA/FCA joint regulation, CASS, SMCR, Consumer Duty
Insurance and Lloyd’s market	FCA ICOBS, PRA Solvency II, Lloyd’s requirements
Payments and e-money institutions	FCA PSRs, EMRs, CASS client money rules
Consumer credit and lending	FCA CONC, Consumer Duty, affordability requirements
Fintech and insurtech	FCA authorisation, regulatory sandbox, Consumer Duty
Non-regulated businesses	GDPR, anti-bribery, health and safety, environmental

Recent CCO Placements

FCA-authorised consumer credit firm — Permanent CCO

A consumer credit lender with a growing digital lending book required its first dedicated CCO following FCA scrutiny of its affordability assessment processes. Exec Capital identified and placed a CCO with direct CONC and Consumer Duty remediation experience, appointed within six weeks. The new CCO led the regulatory remediation programme and managed the FCA supervisory relationship through to resolution.

Fintech scale-up — Fractional CCO

A Series B fintech business with an e-money licence required CCO-level compliance leadership but was not yet at the scale where a full-time appointment was justified. Exec Capital placed a fractional CCO working two days per week, responsible for the firm’s FCA relationship, compliance monitoring programme and board reporting. The engagement converted to a permanent appointment twelve months later as the business scaled.

Mid-size asset manager — Interim CCO

An FCA-authorised asset manager required an interim CCO at short notice following the departure of its SMCR SMF16 holder. Exec Capital introduced a qualified interim within eight days of instruction. The interim managed the FCA notification process, maintained supervisory relationships, and provided continuity of compliance leadership for a four-month period while a permanent search was conducted.

Regulatory Standards and Framework

CCO appointments in FCA-regulated businesses operate within a detailed and well-established regulatory framework. The principal standards Exec Capital applies in assessing CCO candidate suitability include:

FCA Senior Managers & Certification Regime SMCR requirements for CCO accountability, SMF16 designation and individual regulatory responsibility FCA Consumer Duty Board and CCO responsibilities under the Consumer Duty and the FCA’s outcomes-based regulatory approach UK Corporate Governance Code FRC standards applicable to premium-listed companies including the role of the audit committee in compliance oversight UK GDPR and Data Protection ICO guidance on data protection compliance obligations — a core CCO responsibility across all sectors FATF Anti-Money Laundering Standards International AML/CFT standards reflected in UK Money Laundering Regulations and FCA financial crime guidance Chartered Governance Institute Professional body guidance on corporate governance and compliance function effectiveness

Discuss Your CCO Recruitment Requirement

Whether you need a permanent CCO appointment, interim compliance leadership, or a fractional CCO for a regulated business, our team can provide a shortlist within 3–7 working days.

3–7 Working days to shortlist

1–2 weeks Interim CCO start time

Since 2018 C-suite specialists

Call 020 3834 9616 Tell us about your hire

Frequently Asked Questions — CCO Recruitment

What is the difference between a CCO and a Head of Compliance?

A Chief Compliance Officer is a C-suite executive with board-level accountability for the firm’s entire compliance framework, including direct regulatory relationships and SMCR responsibility in FCA-regulated businesses. A Head of Compliance is typically a senior manager who implements compliance policies and reports to the CCO, General Counsel or CFO. The CCO role carries broader strategic accountability and, in regulated firms, personal regulatory responsibility under SMCR.

Does every FCA-regulated business need a CCO?

Not necessarily by that title, but every FCA-authorised firm must have a named individual holding the SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) Senior Management Function under SMCR, who is personally accountable to the FCA for the firm’s compliance arrangements. In smaller firms this function may be held by the CEO, CFO or General Counsel. In larger or more complex regulated businesses, a dedicated CCO is standard practice and increasingly expected by FCA supervisors.

What is the typical notice period for a CCO appointment?

Senior compliance executives typically work notice periods of three to six months. For businesses with an urgent compliance leadership gap, an interim CCO is the most practical solution — providing continuity within one to two weeks while a permanent search proceeds in parallel. Exec Capital can run permanent and interim searches simultaneously, ensuring the business is never without qualified compliance leadership.

What qualifications should a CCO have?

For FCA-regulated businesses, the CCO should hold relevant regulatory qualifications — the ICA International Diploma in Compliance, the CISI Certificate in Compliance, or equivalent — and have direct experience of the FCA’s supervisory approach and the specific regulatory framework applicable to the firm. For listed companies, governance experience and familiarity with the UK Corporate Governance Code is important. In all sectors, a track record of building and leading compliance teams, managing regulatory relationships, and providing board-level reporting is essential.

Can a fractional CCO hold an SMCR Senior Management Function?

Yes. An individual working on a fractional or part-time basis can hold an SMF designation under SMCR, subject to FCA approval of the individual and the firm’s overall Senior Manager arrangements. The FCA assesses fitness and propriety of the individual, not the working arrangement. Many smaller regulated firms use fractional CCOs who hold the SMF16 function on a formal part-time basis, provided the time commitment is sufficient for the scope of the compliance function.

How quickly can Exec Capital place an interim CCO?

Most interim CCO placements are completed within one to two weeks of instruction. Our network includes compliance executives available for an immediate start, including individuals with active FCA registration and current SMCR experience. For regulatory emergencies — Section 166 reviews, urgent FCA deadlines, or sudden CCO departures — contact us directly on 020 3834 9616 and we will prioritise your requirement.

Sources and References

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CCO Recruitment