These appointments are part of a new-look senior compliance team, which includes two internal appointments: Richard Nuttall, who has taken the role of director of compliance policy, and Mark Greenwood, as director of compliance services.
Bruns (pictured) has spent 14 years at Bankhall, most recently as compliance operations and oversight manager.
As part of his new role, he will be responsible for ensuring SimplyBiz Group’s field compliance team has full access to the training and information required. He will be also maintaining a collaborative approach between the group and those who use the firm’s services.
Bruns will be working closely with Nuttall and Greenwood, who have been with The SimplyBiz Group for 13 years and 11 years respectively, to ensure member firms are well placed to meet their requirements in the increasingly regulated environment.
The roles vacated by Nuttall and Greenwood are yet to be filled.
Simply Biz said Parkes brings many years of experience in recruitment and proposition design and was instrumental in the development a number of key Bankhall propositions. She is working with a number of large firms to provide bespoke solutions for more complex needs.
Regulatory drain
Gary Kershaw, compliance director of The SimplyBiz Group, said he was delighted to welcome Bruns and Parkes to the group and congratulated Nuttall and Greenwood for their new roles.
He said: “Keeping on top of regulatory requirements can be a huge drain on the time and resource of advisers – time which we believe could be much more valuably spent with their clients.
“This strengthening of our compliance infrastructure is in recognition of the ever-increasing importance – and complexity – of regulatory policy. The team will work closely together to determine the strategic direction of our compliance proposition and services.”
Parkes and Bruns said they were pleased to be joining the firm.
Parkes added that she was fully committed to the development and growth of the directly authorised marketplace.
“The SimplyBiz Group is known throughout the sector as an advocate and supporter of independent financial advice and I am proud to be able to talk to some of the UK’s biggest advisory firms about how we can help them to become even more successful,” she said.
