MEET OUR TEAM

Andrew is our Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for managing financial strategy and operations at Compliancy Services.

Andrew is a financial professional with over 30 years experience in a wide range of business sectors. Prior to joining Compliancy Services, Andrew served 5 years as the Finance Director of Fairfax I.S. PLC, a boutique Investment Bank in Mayfair, London. He has also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Stern Stewart & Co, renowned for being the EVA company, a worldwide management consultancy firm.

Andrew began his career in Audit where he trained to become a Chartered Accountant at RSM, and has audited clients within a wide range of sectors. As a Senior Audit Manager, he specialised in the Financial Services Sector where Rathbone Brothers PLC and its subsidiaries were one of his prestigious clients.

Andrew is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Abou Bangoura is a consultant within our Payment Services team. He offers practical experience and knowledge to help our clients understand and manage their regulatory compliance and financial crime obligations.

Prior to joining Compliancy Services in December 2020, Abou has spent more than seven years working in compliance teams for Authorised Payment Institutions and E-money Institutions. His most recent experience was as a Compliance Officer and Deputy MLRO for Nvayo, an E-money Institution and Principal Member of Mastercard.

Abou has an ICA Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering from the International Compliance Association, having graduated from the University of Bordeaux Montesquieu with a degree in economics and management and from the University of Westminster with a masters’ degree in international commercial law.

When he is not thinking payment services regulatory compliance, he likes to watch NBA games and has a lifelong goal is to attend a NBA final.

Matthew is a Consultant within our Payment Services team. He offers practical support to help our clients manage their regulatory compliance obligations and assists them with their everyday compliance needs. As well as his experience in payments and e-money, Matthew also has an adept knowledge of Financial Crime.

Matthew joined Compliancy Services in 2017 as part of our graduate programme and has developed into a well-rounded compliance professional. In 2019, he was awarded the Rising Star of the Year at the Compliance Register Platinum Awards.

Matthew has a BSc in Economics from Newcastle University as well as a CISI Certificate in Combatting Financial Crime. While working with us he has also begun his journey towards achieving the ICA Diploma in Aniti Money Laundering, which he aims to complete in 2021. He is also an active member of The Association of Foreign Exchange and Payment companies (AFEP) and International Compliance Association (ICA).

Outside of work Matthew enjoys playing cricket and golf, where he plays off of a handicap of 4.

James, our Client Director for Payment Services, is a highly qualified financial services expert and a familiar name to many in the payments and e-money community. James leads our Payment Services Practice and provides technical support to our clients, specialising in payment services regulation and new firm authorisations. James represents Compliancy Services as a member of CryptoUK; The Association of Foreign Exchange and Payment Companies (AFEP); and The Association of Professional Compliance Consultants (APCC), where he chairs the FCA Authorisations Working Group and co-chairs the Crypto Working Group.

Before joining Compliancy Services, James spent over 22 years’ as a regulator at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). During his time with the FCA, James held a number of significant roles including: Head of Passporting 2005-2010; Authorisations Manager 2010-2016; and PSD2 Accountable Executive 2016-2017, where he was responsible for the project to implement PSD2 into UK regulation.

James' additional qualifications include; a Specialist Certificate in AML – NPPS, from the ICA; a Financial Planning Certificate and Mortgage Advice Qualification from the CII; and Certificates in Mortgage Advice & Practice, Regulated General Insurance, and Supervising in a Regulated Environment from the Institute of Financial Services

Outside of work James has many sporting interests including rugby, as a retired county player, and football, where his allegiance lies with his favourite team, QPR.

Alex is a Senior Consultant within our Capital Markets team. He offers practical support to help our clients manage their regulatory compliance obligations and assists them with their everyday compliance needs.

Before joining Compliancy Services in January 2021, Alex spent over six years’ in the financial services sector, with his most recent experience coming as a Compliance Consultant at ACA Compliance Group (previously Cordium Consulting).

In addition to his vast experience, Alex also brings with him two CISI qualifications, including a Level 3 Certificate in Risk in Financial Services and a Level 6 Diploma in Investment Compliance. He also graduated from The University of Reading where he achieved a BSc in Investment and Finance in Property and a MSc in Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance.

When he is not providing compliance support, Alex enjoys playing the piano and staying healthy by cycling and exercising in his local gym.

John is one of the UK’s foremost compliance experts in payment services, and he is Technical Director in our Payment Services Practice.

Assisting Banks, Payment Institutions and E-money Institutions manage their compliance and plan their future commercial strategies in the light of changing regulations, and has unparalleled experience of relevant payments legislation and regulation.

Immediately before joining Compliancy Services, John was Senior Manager, Compliance Advisory, for Global Transaction Banking at Lloyds Bank where he also acted as subject matter expert on payments. Prior to that he was the FSA’s Technical Specialist on Payments, dealing with the UK implementation of the Payment Services Directive and the 2nd E-Money Directive.

He was the first editor of the FSA’s PSR Approach Document and assisted with the development of PERG 15 in the Handbook, as well as assisting HM Treasury with the drafting of the UK legislation. At EU level he was a member of the European Commission’s Payments Committee, the ECB’s Forum on the Security of Retail Payments and the EBA’s Standing Committee on Consumer Protection and Financial Innovation.

Thanos is a Consultant within our Capital Markets team. He offers support to help our clients manage their day-to-day compliance obligations and assists them with their ongoing compliance needs. He provides specialist support in the areas of AIFMD, MiFID II, SM&CR and Financial Promotions and is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).

Before joining Compliancy Services in February 2021, Thanos spent over four years’ at ACA Compliance Group (previously Cordium Consulting). During his time with ACA, he worked as a Compliance Consultant, where he supported a vast portfolio of clients and spent one year with Mirabella Financial Services Limited during an internal secondment.

Thanos’ experience in compliance stems from his legal education where he earned a LLB - Hons in Law from the University of Sunderland and a LLM in International Commercial Law from University College London. He has also completed his Legal Practice Course (LPC) from the University of Law and holds a diploma in Investment Compliance from the CISI.

Outside of work Thanos enjoys travelling, swimming and staying active in his local gym.

Colin is a senior consultant in our City Markets team, working mainly with clients in the Mortgage, Insurance, Corporate Finance, Wealth Management and CFD sectors.

Colin worked at HBoS for 33 years during which time he held senior positions in the branch network and Training departments. During the last 15 years at HBoS Colin worked in Risk and Compliance where he held the positions of Regional Risk Manager and Manager of Risk and Compliance for Retail Telephony Sales.

Colin is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Associate of the Chartered Securities Institute and holds a Diploma in Management Studies.