Steve Birney

Director of Compliance @FLB Accountants LLP

Reading, GB

Firm-Wide Compliance & Regulatory Oversight:Lead the compliance function, partnering with senior leaders to uphold ICAEW practice assurance standards, covering laws, client acceptance, competence, and quality control.Collaborate with external specialists for independent assessments and coordinate findings with audit partner reviews.Process Governance & Documentation:Manage firm manuals, standardising documentation and centralising templates for consistency and error reduction.Conduct quarterly process reviews and provide actionable feedback to process owners.Internal Audits & Compliance Monitoring:Develop internal audit procedures to assess and enhance process effectiveness.Support annual compliance tasks, including ICO membership and ICAEW returns.AML/CFT Compliance Leadership:Oversee AML/CFT policies and risk assessments aligned with CCAB guidelines.Provide senior partners with AML/CFT activity reports, highlighting breaches and corrective actions.Deliver AML/CFT training for partners and senior leaders, ensuring CDD compliance.Data Protection & Risk Management:Implement data protection initiatives with access controls and retention policies.Conduct reviews of data practices and oversee improvements.Staff Training & Development:Oversee mandatory training programs on AML, data protection, and professional standards.Work with L&D to maintain CPD records aligned with ICAEW requirements.Ad-Hoc & Leadership Contributions:Assist with client proposals, onboarding, and commercial reviews.Provide FC/FD-level advisory services and commercial insights to clients.Contribute to senior partners’ strategic planning on emerging compliance issues.

Bangor University

Upper 2nd, History