We caught up with our Compliance Officer, Sam Davies, to talk about her change of direction from administration into compliance, her role in managing business risk and how MPA is supporting her professional development.

How did you get into Financial Services? 

“When I was only 21, I still had no clue what I wanted to do for a career, but I joined a big financial institution as an Admin Assistant. My primary role was supporting a pension miss-selling project and, having joined on a six-month temporary contract, I stayed at the same company for 10 years. It was great training and gave me a good knowledge of the finance industry.

“As the work for this company was mostly pensions-related, I wanted to expand my skillset and knowledge, so I moved to an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) firm and fulfilled various roles, including administration, paraplanning and report writing.

“I joined MPA six years ago as a Senior Administrator, and two years into the job, an opportunity came up to work in compliance – I’d always had a passion for compliance, so I jumped straight in! I worked a hybrid role for almost three years, working between the administration role and the compliance role. I moved full time to compliance in May 2023.”

Why did you choose to focus on compliance?

“I like it! I know it’s weird, and not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is mine! Compliance can be seen as a negative, putting up roadblocks, but, for me, it’s about more than telling people what they can and can’t do; it’s about helping them.

“I want to change the perception of compliance here at MPA by helping, supporting and making a difference. I enjoy compliance and really care about doing the right thing – for me, it’s more than just ticking a box.”

What does your role as a Compliance Officer involve?

“My main focus is ensuring that as a Company we act with the highest ethical standards and integrity, provide a high standard of service and act in the best interests of our clients.

I’m the point of contact for all compliance support, whether it be advice, guidance or a sounding board for all our staff. I regularly review client files to ensure that they meet our high standards, as well as supporting our Advisers and their development needs.

“I’m involved in reviewing documentation to make sure it meets the latest legislation and reflects regulatory changes in processes and procedures. I also support our Head of Compliance with a variety of tasks including Financial Conduct Authority reporting, which comprises two main annual reports and several smaller reports.

“The day job is always busy, but the variety means it’s never boring.”

What training are you undertaking as part of your role?

“I wanted to widen the scope of my role and get more involved in broader compliance and risk management, so I spoke to the MPA Board about doing some further training and they were really supportive. I started my Compliance and Risk Officer Apprenticeship at the end of last year, and it’s been great.

“There’s a lot of work, comprising exams, workshops and coursework, but it’s really rewarding. I was pleased to pass my R01 and LP2 exams, and the course has been invaluable for my personal and professional development.

“MPA has been very flexible and given me lots of support, particularly as I need to cover the course during work hours, and I’ll hopefully complete it by the end of the year. Next up, I want to carry on with my Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.”

What do you enjoy about working at MPA?

“It’s genuinely a great place to work. I’ve been here for over six years, when it was much smaller, with fewer staff. Since then, the business has grown, but it still has a family feel at its core.

“Everyone at MPA is keen to help people progress, which isn’t always available to people in other organisations. Here, hard work is recognised and you feel appreciated – that’s priceless.”

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?

“I love spending time with my family, and especially my three-year-old grandson. His personality is really starting to shine through now; he’s very funny and a real joy to be around.

“Juggling family life around working and studying is a bit of a challenge so I try and keep weekends free to have proper family downtime. I enjoy live music, camping and festivals and love walking – I adore the Lake District – I’m also learning the Ukulele!”

For more information about MPA’s range of financial advice services, visit www.mpafm.co.uk/services