Ben is a Senior Consultant for Consumer Credit and Lending and Team Leader within our Managed Services team. He specialises in the Consumer Credit, Mortgages and General Insurance sectors, providing daily compliance services and support to a wide range of clients. Ben is a core member of the Managed Services team and can frequently be found supporting his colleagues with various projects and queries. He is also an active member of the APCC.
Ben joined Compliancy Services in September 2020 after spending over 12 years in a selection of compliance roles where he led, developed and managed teams of Compliance Officers. Prior to his compliance monitoring and management roles, Ben also spent some time as a mortgage & protection consultant, leading into his specialism within the sector.
In addition to his experience, Ben is also highly qualified with an ICA Certificate in Compliance, an Advanced Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice, a Certificate of Regulated General Insurance and a BSc in Hospitality Business Management from Sheffield Hallam University.
Outside of work Ben is a keen footballer, runner and cyclist, he also enjoys horse racing, especially when going to the races at Ascot with his family.
Jonathan is a Director of our Prudential team, where he specialises in helping our clients to assess their regulatory capital and liquidity requirements; to implement IFPR including developing ICARAs and wind down plans; and to assist with their regulatory reporting obligations.
He joined Compliancy Services in 2021, having spent almost 14 years with the top 20 accountancy and consultancy firm, Buzzacott. He joined Buzzacott as an audit graduate, working his way to become an Associate Director in their FCA advisory and reporting team. Jonathan has extensive experience advising FCA regulated businesses that include hedge-fund managers, broker-dealers, private equity, asset management and investment advisory firms. Before working with Buzzacott Jonathan spent time in accounting and finance roles at Deloitte and Basildon Town Council.
As well as being an experienced compliance professional, Jonathan is also a qualified ACA chartered accountant and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Outside of the office, Jonathan enjoys playing cricket and football. He also likes to travel and listen to music, playing the piano to a Grade 7 standard.
Peter Astleford is Non-Executive Chairman at Compliancy Services. He has over 30 years’ experience as a leading financial services lawyer, providing advice to fund managers, banks, brokers and corporates with regard to financial services regulatory work and investment funds.
He was a partner at Dechert LLP between 1997 and 2017, during which time he created and led the firm’s financial services group in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Prior to joining Dechert LLP, Mr. Astleford practised as a solicitor at a boutique city firm, joining as an associate in 1994 and becoming a partner in 1995. Between 1990 and 1994, he worked at INVESCO MIM PLC, the London listed holding company to the international financial service group, first as a group legal adviser and latterly as head of corporate services.
Peter also qualified as a solicitor in 1986 with Linklaters, where he practised in London and Brussels.
Rosemari is a Senior Consultant within our Capital Markets team. She provides specialist compliance support to a portfolio of clients ranging from small banks, FX brokers, crypto firms to corporate broking firms. Rosemari specialises in providing high quality support to her clients and helps them by conducting compliance monitoring programmes, assisting with training development and delivery, writing policies and procedures and reviewing their governance and compliance frameworks.
Rosemari joined Compliancy Services in 2014 as Head of Operations before moving to work with Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) as Regulatory Manager three years later. After almost a year with KPMG, Rosemari returned to Compliancy Services as a Senior Consultant in our Capital Markets team. Since then, she has been providing clients with premium compliance support and guidance as a key member of our Capital Markets function.
In addition to a successful career in financial compliance and adept knowledge of financial crime, anti-money laundering (AML), S166 remediation, Internal auditing and GABRIEL returns, Rosemari also holds a degree in Design Studies from University College Salford. When she isn’t supporting her clients, Rosemari enjoys open water swimming (mostly in approved reservoirs), finding new recipes to try from her collection of over 120 cookbooks and supporting the Springboks.
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 and in February 2020 he progressed to become a Payment Services Consultant.
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 began his journey towards achieving the ICA Diploma in Anti Money Laundering, which he completed in 2021. Matt 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 many sports, including cricket, running 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.
Luke is the Marketing Executive within our marketing team. He is responsible for managing and supporting marketing campaigns & channels, updating and maintaining our website, assisting with content creation and supporting wider commercial activities and projects.
Luke joined Compliancy Services in 2019 as a Marketing Assistant and was promoted to Executive in 2021. Before joining us, Luke attended Lancaster University where he graduated with BSc (Hons) in Marketing and Design in 2019 and undertook a six-month marketing and design consultancy project with a small team for a well-known food regulation and compliance firm.
In addition to his BSc, Luke is currently studying towards a Level 6 CIM Marketing Management Apprenticeship and hopes to combine this with a CIM Level 6 Diploma in Professional Marketing at the end of the course.
When he isn’t working, Luke enjoys watching international rugby and supporting England. He is also has a keen darts player having captained his university college team, played for his university A team and competed in many individual and team competitions over recent years.
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.
Levash is the Regulatory Support Team Leader within our Managed Services team. She specialises in Anti-Money Laundering and supports clients on a daily basis, most commonly providing financial crime assurance reviews. When she isn’t supporting clients, Levash takes a leading role within the Managed Services team and supports her colleagues with various projects and queries. She is also an active member of the International Compliance Association (ICA).
Lavash joined Compliancy Services in 2017 as a Central Project Consultant before progressing to Regulatory Support Team Leader in 2020. Before joining us, Levash worked in a number of finance and compliance roles, most notably, as Compliance and Risk Consultant at London Compliance Solutions and Regional Operations Manager in FNB Private Clients – Firstrand Bank Limited.
In addition to her experience, Levash is also highly qualified with an International Diploma in Anti Money Laundering from the ICA, a Certificate in Combatting Financial Crime from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI) and a Bachelor of Law from the University of KwaZulu Natal – South Africa.
Outside of work Levash can be found ferrying her two children to various sporting activities, enjoys being outdoors and supports the Springbok rugby team.
Colin is a Senior Consultant within our Capital Markets team. He works with a number of clients mainly covering the Mortgage, Insurance, Corporate Finance, Wealth Management and CFD sectors. On a day to day basis, Colin supports his clients by helping them to meet their regulatory obligations and assists them with their questions, queries and projects.
Colin joined Compliancy Services as an Associate Consultant and Training Director in 2009 and spent nearly 10 years in the role before joining our Capital Markets team in 2018. Since then, he has become a valuable member of the team and progressed to a Senior Consultant. Before joining Compliancy Services Colin worked at HBoS for 33 years during which time he held senior positions in the branch network and Training departments. During his 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.
In addition to his experience, Colin is also Associate Chartered Institute of Banking – Institute of Financial Services, Associate Chartered Securities Institute – CISI and he has a Diploma in Management Studies.
When he isn’t supporting his clients, Colin enjoys watching rugby union, gardening and reading up on history.
