HRus Partners, on behalf of our client, a firm that is in the process of obtaining an SCA Category 5 license for Promotion & Introduction, we are currently looking for a Category Manager. The Category Manager works closely with compliance, risk, business development, marketing, legal, and senior management to ensure the licensed activities are delivered appropriately and safely.
Responsibilities:
- This person ensures that all introduction, promotion, and advisory activities conducted under the license are compliant with regulatory requirements, that products/partners introduced are credible and documented, and that operational and governance controls around the Category are robust.
- Liaise with the regulator on queries, audits, inspections concerning Category 5 activity.
- Ensure internal awareness/training of staff on the limits and boundaries of what is permissible under the license.
- Keep abreast of regulatory updates, SCA rule changes, and ensure the business model evolves compliantly.
- Draft, maintain, and enforce internal policies, procedures, manuals, guidelines specific to the Introduction / Promotion / Advisory function.
- Implement controls, escalation paths, checks and balances (e.g. sign-offs, segregation, monitoring).
- Supervise staff working under the Category (marketing, business development, introduction agents)
- Provide or organize training about relevant regulatory rules, ethical conduct, conflict of interest, best practice.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate risks (reputational, operational, compliance) inherent in introduction / promotion operations.
- Sit for and pass any regulator-required examinations for persons in this role.
- Maintain ongoing compliance with regulator's continuing obligations and fitness criteria.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (preferably in Finance, Law, Business, Economics, or related field). Advanced degree or relevant certifications desirable.
- At least 5+ years in financial services, ideally with experience in regulated brokerage, advisory, or promotional roles; experience in supervising compliance or regulatory risk roles; familiarity with financial products (securities, derivatives, funds).
- Solid understanding of SCA / ESCA rules, financial promotion/marketing regulations, introduction frameworks. Prior experience in regulated markets or with regulators is a strong advantage
- In many cases, the regulator will require the person to be resident in the jurisdiction or at least maintain a local office presence.
- Fluent English and Arabic
- Must satisfy stringent fit & proper criteria: integrity, absence of criminal record, full disclosure of conflicts, no history of regulatory enforcement actions.
