Hoxton Life Podcast : Navigating UK Compliance

From Admin to Head of Compliance – A Career Packed with Lessons

Gemma’s journey into financial services began over 23 years ago with an admin role at Zurich Financial Services. From there, she worked her way through various roles, eventually finding her passion for compliance consultancy. There’s no sugar-coating here, Gemma shares how quitting a job without a backup plan was incredibly daunting and one of the smartest moves she’s ever made, yet ultimately turned out to be the best decision of her career.

Compliance: More Than Just Rules—It’s a Trust-Building Superpower

At Hoxton, compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about building trust, protecting clients, and working together as a team. In the episode of Hoxton Life, Gemma makes it clear that compliance is about building trust, protecting clients, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Gemma loves the variety of her job—one day she’s reviewing HR processes, the next she’s knee-deep in acquisitions. And believe it or not, she thrives under pressure. "I’m at my best when I’ve got a deadline breathing down my neck," she jokes. "The stress pushes me to do my best work. It’s like getting that last-minute buzz before the final whistle."

“It’s like being in midfield on a football team. The advisers might be scoring the goals, but without compliance covering the back, none of it works.” - Gemma Chambers

Gemma's days are never the same; one moment, she’s reviewing HR processes or adviser acquisitions, and the next, she’s diving into the details of cross-border regulations. We love how Gemma thrives under pressure. “Deadlines don’t stress me out—they push me to do my best work,” she says. That energy makes a difference for all of us.

Working at Hoxton Wealth has introduced Gemma to the exciting (and sometimes mind-bending) world of international financial planning. She’s used to navigating the strict FCA regulations in the UK, but now she’s dipping her toes into cross-border compliance and loving the challenge.

"I haven’t mastered it all yet," she admits, "but it’s such a cool learning experience. Working with advisers from Dubai, figuring out how different regulations overlap—it’s like putting together a puzzle."

Sam and Gemma laugh about how compliance is often misunderstood, with advisers nervously asking, “What do you want now?” whenever compliance calls. "I promise I’m not here to ruin your day!" Gemma insists. "It’s about working together to protect clients and the business. We’re all on the same team."

Big Plans for Hoxton Wealth’s Compliance Team

As Hoxton Wealth grows, so does our compliance team. We’re always on the lookout for talented, motivated people to join us. “We want people who know their stuff—file review pros who are hungry to grow,” Gemma explains. “We’re expanding fast, which means room to grow for anyone wanting to step up.”

We believe in making a difference fast. "At big networks, change is like turning a cruise ship. Here, you have an idea, and things happen fast. That’s what I love—you can see the impact of your work in real time," Gemma explains.

If you're interested in joining our compliance team, get in touch and become part of our innovative, forward-thinking team.

Dreaming Big with Hoxton

While Gemma isn’t planning a move to Dubai just yet as her children keep her grounded in the UK, however, she is ready to delve into some short-term international projects. “If I could help set up a compliance function abroad, I’d be all in!” she says. This kind of enthusiasm is what makes our team special—people like Gemma who are always ready to grow, learn, and lead.

Ready to Join the Team?

If you’re ready to level up your career in compliance, financial planning, or client services, Hoxton Wealth is the place to be. We’re building something special here, and we’re looking for talented, passionate individuals to join us in roles across compliance, financial planning, client services, and more.

Want to find out more about what it’s like to work with us? Subscribe to the Hoxton Life YouTube channel and check out the careers page on our website now.

Your journey into international financial planning starts here—let’s build something amazing together!

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