Compliance Matters

Rebecca Sowerby,

IFGL Chief Compliance Officer

Tell us about your career journey so far!

Compliance was not what I had in mind when I started out in financial services. To be honest, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I did know that I enjoyed helping people solve problems. For the first few years of my career I fulfilled a variety of administration roles, using them to better understand the businesses I worked for, the products they sold and why customers would buy them. A move in to complaint handling and then risk management helped me realise that playing to my strengths not only made work more enjoyable but also more productive. It was around this time that I also studied for and attained my degree in Law; something that I never thought would be possible when I was at school. From this, I became more involved in commercial litigation matters, before finally making a move in to Compliance.

Women in business have a tendency to under-sell themselves and I was no different. While I am a firm believer in allowing your work to speak for itself, with output and results getting you noticed, there is no denying that having the confidence to self-promote is also helpful. Having recently completed the ICAEW Women In Leadership course, it is amazing how many women find self-promotion difficult. Understanding, valuing and playing to unique strengths and skills builds confidence.

What would an average working day look like?

I’m not sure there is such a thing as an average working day! It’s a real mixture of supporting the team with their work and personal development, dealing with queries from across the business and supporting the strategic initiatives of the Group. Every day is different, providing me with the opportunity to help others and to continue learning as we support the growth of the business.

What do you look for in the culture of the firm you're working for?

Compliance can be tricky in a business where the culture is not aligned. A poor culture can cause friction, a lack of sharing of information and escalation of issues, poor decision making and potentially regulatory intervention. Compliance is an integral part of any business, supporting and guiding operational areas, providing assurance to the Board and maintaining cordial relationships with regulators. It is imperative that the tone from the top of any business supports a strong compliance culture; one where conversations are open and honest with fair, informed and timely decision making.

Best bit of your job?

There are two things. It’s a bit of a cliché, but the first is the people. I’m surrounded by people at all levels who work hard and are experts in their field, but who also care about each other and take time out to support one another, both professionally and socially. The second thing is the company’s ambition. It can be challenging, but the opportunities for personal growth and development are supported and tangible.

What do you get up to outside the office?

I love to spend as much time as possible outdoors, usually riding horses, although I have been known to go walking and cycling too. Riding and looking after horses is my way of unwinding and keeping reasonably fit. There are also great life lessons to be learnt from them that easily translate in to the business world. Firstly, they help you to develop a high level of emotional intelligence which can really help with ‘reading a room’ or gauging the mood of individuals when navigating a potentially difficult conversation. Secondly, horses have kept me grounded and very much a realist; one minute you’re achieving your goals and the next, you’re falling off!