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Helen is our expert in the North. Based in Ormskirk, she is Cert CII qualified and looks after clients in the region to support them with compliance and help them manage regulatory challenges.
Specialisms: FCA Change in Control, Sup 15 Notifications, and Regulatory Perimeter
When did you start working for ICS and what was your original role?
I started working for ICS in March 2020, initially joining as a Senior Consultant, then becoming Head of Broking Consultancy and then when CMS merged with ICS, I took on the lead for the North.
How did you end up in insurance?
Like a lot of people, not intentionally! Having left university in 2003, I was debating teaching and whilst I was deciding what to do I got a job at a local family-owned insurance broker - Paymentshield, just as it was starting to really expand.
I became really curious about the ‘why’ of all the processes we had to follow and why we had to complete certain training and when a monitoring position opened up I grabbed it. I then became a policy officer supporting the technical team. My job was to help disseminate the regulations, feed into projects and ensure policy and processes were all in order and reflected what was required.
After further promotions and seeing the acquisition of Paymentshield by Towergate, I left in 2012 and started to work at UKGI as a technical consultant before becoming Head of the Technical Team and eventually leaving in 2020 to join ICS.
What was your first job?
My very first job was in a local greengrocer which was great because we got loads of free fruit and veg - very healthy! After that I did the usual shop and bar jobs.
What are your areas of specialism?
I specialise in FCA Change in Control and Sup 15 notifications and the Regulatory Perimeter, including introducing secondary regulatory markets such as consumer credit. I also support webinar and workshop delivery which I do remotely and on site for clients.
What are your key focuses in your current role?
I manage a fantastic team of compliance consultants and the business support team. Alongside that, I look after new enquiries and prospects and support our senior team to build the ICS strategy.
I really enjoy managing my own portfolio of clients and my aim is to support them to develop their compliance frameworks, keep updated with regulation and help them to implement the rules in a proportionate way. I also support with regulatory reporting and applications and am the go-to person for queries and general advice.
What do you love about your job?
People always say this about insurance but it is all about the people and building relationships, I am lucky to work with some brilliant colleagues and clients. The role is also really varied because we support such a diverse range of firms, whilst keeping up to speed with an evolving regulator.
What are your key priorities for your clients?
It is important for me to support them to embed compliance in their business in a practical and proportionate way. I also value being on hand for them when needed to help them to unpick any regulatory issue they might be faced with.
What are the key issues affecting your clients at the moment?
It’s got to be proportionate regulation at the moment. There’s such a volume of reporting required by MGAs and brokers, particularly in relation to Product Oversight and Governance. Many of the small to medium firms also struggle with the information requests from insurers. It’s really important to back these firms because these smaller brokers can often really apply focused customer support to their clients and we want to back them to do that!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time and why?
I’ve got a Sprocker Spaniel who has a lot of energy so being outside and walking is a key priority. I’m lucky to live near the coast and have countryside on my doorstep but the North Wales coast and the Lake District are also within 90 minute reach.
Aside from that I’ve recently discovered Yoga, which is great for building strength but also relaxing.
I love music and going to gigs. This year I’m finally getting to see Coldplay again, after last seeing them in 2009. I am also booked to see Jeff Lynne’s ELO so I am excited about that too. I do want to try and get to more local gigs as Liverpool’s local music scene is fabulous. Watching motorsport - F1 and motorbike racing also feature when I get a chance.
