Stewart Lancaster

Head of CASS Oversight at Close Brothers Asset Management

Speaker

Stewart is a seasoned financial services professional with over 20 years of experience in asset management, specialising in client assets (CASS) compliance. He is currently a Board member, Director and Head of Operations Control within a leading UK merchant banking group with over £15 billion in assets under management.

As the Head of Operations Control Stewart is responsible for ensuring the operational effectiveness of the systems and controls that safeguard the firm's compliance with CASS regulations. He also reports to the firm's governing bodies and regulators on CASS matters, oversees the key outsourced providers, and chairs the PIMFA CASS Working Group. Stewart holds a diploma in Investment Operations from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment, where he is a Chartered Fellow and a member of the client assets panel. He is also a Chartered Manager and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Stewart has a proven track record of developing and implementing robust operational risk and control frameworks in asset managers, as well as handling Section 166 FCA requests and investigations. He is an industry speaker and a published author on CASS compliance best practices, operational risk management, and public speaking. Stewart is passionate about delivering the highest possible value to the firm's clients, stakeholders, and regulators, while fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.