Rebecca Marks 5 Years with Nicholas Associates Group

This month marks five years since Rebecca Rhodes joined Nicholas Associates Group as Compliance and Engagement Officer. During that time, Rebecca has played an important role in supporting the Group’s commitment to high standards, ensuring processes run smoothly while helping colleagues stay informed and engaged with compliance requirements across the business. Her attention to detail, collaborative approach, and dedication to maintaining best practice have made her a valued member of the team.

To mark her five-year milestone, we caught up with Rebecca to reflect on her journey so far, the experiences that have shaped her role, and what she enjoys most about working within the Group.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your five years with the business?

Honestly, the most rewarding part has been working with such a fantastic group of people. We’re very much a people‑centric business in everything we do, and being surrounded by a supportive, collaborative and genuinely caring team makes all the difference. The relationships I’ve built, both within Compliance and across the wider organisation, have made the last five years truly enjoyable. It’s rare to work somewhere where people actively look out for each other and want to see you succeed, and that’s something I really value.

How has the compliance function developed during your time here?

The compliance function has grown significantly in team size and in capability. Compliance never stands still; it continually evolves in response to new legislation, changing markets and the rapid advancement of technology. Over the last few years, we’ve embraced smarter ways of working, including new CRM’s, all with the aim to improve efficiency and strengthen controls.

 

The compliance function has changed a lot over the last five years, mainly because the world around us has changed too. As a team, we’ve adapted through COVID, tight and uncertain recruitment markets, financial pressures, and shifts in government and legislation.

 

Despite all of this, we’ve continued to strengthen how we work. We’ve introduced new systems, improved our processes, and focused on being supportive and approachable while still keeping the business protected. The support from the wider group has helped us stay steady through challenging times, and it’s made us more resilient.

What do you enjoy most about the engagement side of your role?

I really enjoy the variety; no two days in compliance are ever the same! I get to work with people from across the entire organisation, each bringing different challenges, perspectives, and ideas. Whether I’m supporting consultants, partnering with operations, or helping navigate complex risks, I love being able to build relationships, solve problems and make processes clearer and smoother. Engagement is such a big part of what makes compliance effective, and I enjoy being that approachable support who people can turn to.

What’s one achievement you’re particularly proud of?

I’m proud of how I’ve helped shift perceptions of compliance from being “policing” to being a collaborative partner. Building trust and improving engagement with teams across the business has been hugely rewarding. We’re not your average compliance team.

What are your priorities or focus areas for the next few years?

My priority is to continue supporting and protecting the business as we grow, ensuring we stay compliant, resilient, and ahead of regulatory change. I want to help develop processes that are not only robust but also efficient, scalable, and easy for teams to use.

 

I’m also focused on driving continuous improvement. Ultimately, my goal is to help the organisation operate at its best, safely, ethically and with confidence so we can all be our best 😊