Chief Compliance Officer - Nottingham Financial Group

Community Financial System, Inc.•Latham, NY

11d

About The Position

The Chief Compliance Officer provides strategic leadership and oversight for the compliance and regulatory functions of Nottingham Financial Group, the wealth management division of Community Bank. The role designs, implements, maintains, and continuously enhances a risk-based compliance program across the firm’s broker-dealer, Registered Investment Adviser, Trust divisions, and related banking activities. The Chief Compliance Officer directly oversees Compliance staff and provides compliance oversight of associated persons, advisors, and trust officers. Working closely with executive management and business partners, the CCO translates regulatory requirements into effective policies, procedures, controls, training, and governance practices. The role serves as the primary liaison for regulatory matters and provides actionable reporting on compliance risks, testing results, regulatory developments, and remediation efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Active securities and advisory registrations required, including Series 7, Series 24, and Series 65 or 66.
At least 10 years of progressive compliance experience, including senior compliance leadership responsibilities within broker-dealer, investment adviser, banking, or affiliated wealth management environments.
Demonstrated experience interacting with and managing matters involving the SEC, FINRA, and other applicable regulators.
Strong knowledge of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, federal securities laws, broker-dealer and investment adviser regulatory frameworks, and related supervisory obligations.
Experience designing, implementing, and enhancing compliance programs, including policies and procedures, monitoring and testing, regulatory change management, risk assessments, and issue remediation.
Strong understanding of current and emerging regulatory expectations affecting wealth management businesses, including advisory, brokerage, and related banking activities.
Proven ability to lead teams, influence executive leadership, and work effectively across Compliance, Legal, Risk, Audit, Operations, and business functions.
Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and governance reporting skills.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or relevant professional designation.
Experience overseeing compliance programs across multiple regulated entities or affiliated business lines.
Experience with governance reporting to senior leadership, committees, or boards.
Experience leading or supporting regulatory examinations and implementing corrective action plans.
Familiarity with bank-affiliated wealth management compliance considerations.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the compliance and regulatory program for Nottingham Financial Group and affiliated wealth management entities within Community Bank.
Develop, implement, maintain, test, and enforce compliance policies, procedures, and supervisory controls.
Oversee and enhance the Compliance Management System, including governance, regulatory change management, risk assessments, monitoring and testing, issue management, remediation tracking, and reporting.
Establish and maintain a risk-based compliance review program covering supervisory practices, advisor activity, sales practices, customer interactions, marketing, communications, complaints, conflicts of interest, outside business activities, and trading activity.
Interpret regulatory requirements and emerging developments and translate them into practical policies, procedures, controls, and training.
Maintain and oversee required disclosure documents and regulatory filings, including Forms ADV, CRS, U4, privacy disclosures, and other applicable filings.
Serve as the primary compliance liaison for the SEC, FINRA, and other applicable federal and state regulators; manage examinations, audits, inquiries, and related remediation efforts, and support compliance and risk personnel regulated by the OCC.
Provide compliance guidance to executive leadership on regulatory obligations, supervisory matters, complaint trends, conduct risk, and potential compliance issues.
Direct issue identification, root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and sustainable remediation of compliance findings, control gaps, and regulatory concerns.
Oversee due diligence and compliance review of third-party money managers, solicitors, vendors, and related service providers, including review of agreements and conflicts in coordination with Legal and business leadership.
Review and approve marketing materials, advertising, social media content, and other public-facing communications.
Oversee review processes for employee communications, outside business activities, disclosures, and other supervisory matters, as appropriate.
Partner with Legal, Risk, Internal Audit, Operations, Technology, and business leadership to assess process flows, strengthen control design, and improve supervisory effectiveness.
Develop and deliver compliance training for advisors, supervisors, managers, and staff, including onboarding and ongoing training on regulatory responsibilities, firm policies, complaint handling, and conduct expectations.
Prepare and deliver reporting to executive leadership and governance bodies regarding compliance risks, testing results, regulatory changes, examination activity, and remediation progress.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external consultants on regulatory issues, conflict mitigation, customer agreements, and compliance program enhancements.