043: Compliance by design - move fast without breaking things | Ilana Eisner

Ilana Eisner is Griffin's Head of Compliance. She started her career at the Financial Ombudsman Service, spent eight years there when she only planned on one, then moved to Shawbrook Bank, qualified as a solicitor, then joined Griffin. In this episode, Mo Backer sits down with Ilana to talk about what compliance actually looks like inside a fast-moving bank - and why it doesn't have to be the thing that slows you down. Ilana explains why compliance works best when it's built in at the design stage rather than bolted on afterwards, what a genuinely good relationship with the FCA and PRA looks like, and why "knowledge plus AI" is the sensible way to use AI in a compliance role. She also shares what it's like to operate in the gray (where most of the interesting conversations happen), why regulators are just people who want honest communication, and why the best piece of advice she has for anyone in compliance is also the simplest: understand the business as much as you understand the regulation. What we cover: From law school during the recession to the Financial Ombudsman Service Eight years at the Ombudsman (she only planned on one) Moving to Shawbrook Bank to see the other side Qualifying as a solicitor Joining Griffin as Head of Compliance Why compliance works best at the design stage The three lines of defence in practice Building relationships across the business (not just saying no) Operating in the gray: where the interesting conversations happen Proactive vs reactive compliance Horizon scanning: what's coming and how to prepare How to communicate with regulators (and what good looks like) Being dual regulated (FCA and PRA) What makes Griffin's compliance culture distinctive Advice for people early in a compliance career Knowledge plus AI: how to use AI in compliance without getting burned Why human conversations will always matter in compliance Griffin Uncut is Griffin's podcast featuring conversations with the people building the future of financial services - including, apparently, the compliance team. :) Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction: The compliance person on the podcast 0:45 - Ilana's background: Law school during the recession 1:30 - Eight years at the Financial Ombudsman Service 2:30 - Moving to Shawbrook Bank: Seeing the other side 3:10 - Qualifying as a solicitor 3:40 - Joining Griffin as Head of Compliance 4:40 - Moving fast and staying compliant: Is it possible? 5:50 - Compliance by design, not by accident 6:51 - Three lines of defence in practice 7:30 - Building relationships across the business 8:35 - Operating in the gray 9:11 - Understanding the business as much as the regulation 10:08 - Does a legal background help with compliance? 11:42 - Simplifying the complex: The art of compliance communication 12:19 - Proactive vs reactive compliance 13:10 - Horizon scanning: What's coming down the line 13:50 - Communicating with regulators: What good looks like 14:21 - The regulator hat (Griffin merch pending) 16:22 - How to build a good relationship with regulators 18:50 - Regulators are just people who want honest communication 19:45 - Working across different sizes of the business 20:52 - Advice for people early in compliance 21:12 - Love what you do: Ilana's philosophy 22:38 - Is AI a shortcut or a trap in compliance? 23:00 - Knowledge plus AI: The only sensible approach 25:18 - Why human conversations will always matter 26:10 - Closing thoughts Links: Griffin: https://griffin.com Griffin Uncut: https://griffin.com/podcast Griffin Sandbox: https://app.griffin.com/register #compliance #fintech #GriffinUncut #FCA #PRA #FinancialServices #Griffin