About March
March Compliance was founded in January 2002 as HedgeSupport LLP, and has traded ever since as an independent boutique governance, risk and compliance consultancy.
We also offer regulatory umbrella services via Alternatives St James LLP ("ASJ"), a firm under the common ownership of March, which has been regulated by the FCA since February 2006. ASJ was founded to provide a regulatory umbrella to investment advisors and marketing firms who can take advantage of its authorisation under an Appointed Representative agreement through which ASJ remains responsible for their compliance and conduct.
Firms remain contracted to ASJ on either a temporary basis whilst awaiting FCA authorisation, or as a more permanent arrangement to enable regulated activities to be undertaken. ASJ provides comprehensive support and guidance to each of its Appointed Representative, and is committed to ensuring ongoing compliance with FCA rules.
Please contact us to find out more about ASJ and whether its services can be of benefit to you.
Alternatives St James LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference 430914.
Meet The Team
Steve McGuinness
Partner
Steve founded March Compliance as HedgeSupport in 2002. He has an extensive background in financial services including three years as the COO of a volatility based hedge fund, head of product control for NatWest equities, and head of the finance function for Credit Lyonnais.
Steve is a UK chartered accountant and a graduate of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He has taught a range of professional courses and works as an expert witness on financial cases.
Steve is currently an Approved Person in a number of executive and non-executive roles, including Alternatives St James LLP.
Chris Cummins
Partner
Chris has spent the past fifteen years in global compliance director posts for a number of regulated firms in the UK, as well as in Dubai and Germany.
Chris is a subject matter expert in payment services and compliance relating to complex retail investment products. His key skills and qualifications include ISO 27001, anti-corruption, asset management, corporate governance and (ISC)² – International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium.
Chris holds an MsC in IT security, and an MPhil and LLM in International Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation from the University of London's School of Advanced Legal Studies. He has also been called to the Bar of England and Wales.
Jessica Marchant
Consultant
Jessica began her career in financial services in 2008 as a senior associate within Corporate Audit at State Street.
In 2012 she joined BCP Asset Management, one of Ireland’s largest independently owned Investment Product Providers with over €3 billion AUM.
Jessica has advised four regulated Family Offices in both London and Singapore. Prior to joining March Jessica assisted Boston and Alexander LLP, a UK regulated AIFM, with the launch of a new thematic real estate fund. Jessica brings strong family office and client relationship experience to March.