Deputy Risk and Regulatory Compliance Officer

Deputy Risk and Regulatory Compliance Officer / Manager (Digital payments - merchant acquiring)

Office based role, located either at or London or Milton Keynes offices.

As a seasoned Senior Regulatory Compliance Officer with extensive experience in merchant acquiring payments, you have successfully achieved your objectives and are now ready for your next challenge. Join a rapidly evolving AI-first Electronic Money Institution (EMI) and step into a Deputy role where you can leverage your expertise to drive innovation and compliance excellence...

Why Viva.com

Viva.com is Europe's first acquirer powering merchant payments acceptance across 24 countries and over 1,215 devices. In the UK, Viva.com operates as an E-Money Institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), offering an omnichannel payments platform that empowers businesses of all sizes to accept and manage payments — in-store, online, or on the go.

Viva.com leads in Tap on Any Device technology, offers a high-conversion Smart Checkout for online payments, and provides a robust marketplace solution, enabling flexible, scalable, and future-proof payment journeys tailored to every business model. All technology is built in-house on Microsoft Azure, ensuring speed, security, and innovation at scale.

Through its direct connections to local payment schemes and alternative payment methods, Viva.com supports 40+ payment options. Key features include Real-Time Settlement, Offline Payments, acceptance fees as low as 0% with the use of Viva.com's business debit card, and Merchant Advance.

With a growing ecosystem of 450+ tech partner-innovators, Viva.com is leading the shift to All-in-One business solutions, empowering merchants to adopt cutting-edge technology seamlessly and scale their business with ease.

Learn more at viva.com

About the role: 

We are currently seeking an experienced, skilled, and detail-orientated Deputy Risk and Regulatory Compliance Officer to join our Risk and Compliance Team. In this role, you will be instrumental in developing, maintaining, and continuously enhancing our compliance and risk management framework. You will be expected to foster a strong risk culture throughout the organization by promoting awareness, knowledge, and training in collaboration with the Chief Risk Officer and Head of Regulatory Compliance.   

As a Deputy Risk and Regulatory Compliance Officer, you will  

• Work closely with the Chief Risk Officer and Head of Regulatory Compliance and deputize when required.  

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive compliance monitoring plan.   

• Support the monitoring of business activities for compliance with internal policies and external regulations.  

• Manage direct reports, providing mentorship and coaching to foster their professional growth and enhance their skills. Cultivate a supportive environment that encourages knowledge sharing and continuous improvement among team members.   

• Proactively consider changes to laws and regulatory requirements and ensure that the organization is informed, and also to lead on the implementation of any required business changes.   

• Facilitate training sessions for employees on compliance policies and risk management practices.  

• Work closely with various departments to advise on risk and compliance matters, ensuring that business strategies align with regulatory and ethical standards. This includes managing senior stakeholders within the business to influence any desired changes.   

• Lead on scoping and execution of internal and external audits related to risk and compliance. Implement corrective actions and enhancements based on audit findings.  

• Participate in the investigation of compliance issues and risk incidents. Prepare reports and documentation for internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies.  

• Take an active role in the development and coaching of team members. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning by identifying training needs, providing constructive feedback, and supporting career growth opportunities for team members in the risk and compliance function.   

• Execute and embed a comprehensive risk management strategy aligned with the company's objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This will include ownership of the Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework, the risk appetite, and risk thresholds. 

• Ensure that the UK business tracks all of its Key Risk Indicators (KRI's) on a regular basis, and monitor on and report breaches to the ERC 

• Chair (when necessary) and ensure ownership of the ERC Committee to provide the SLT with a mechanism to oversee all key risks to the UK business 

• Report all material risks to the Board of Directors, and ensure that all key risks are adequately monitored. 

• Lead the development and enhancement of compliance and risk management information (M.I.) and use this information to develop business-wide compliance and risk strategies. 

• Project manage regulatory change initiatives and ensure good governance and delivery of key projects (e.g. APP scams) 

• Help to deal with ad hoc inquiries either from the business and/or the Group 

• Help to deal with and manage the flow of information requests and the overall relationship with our key  regulator (FCA). 

• Manage and support the ongoing implementation of Consumer Duty work across the organization, ensuring it is continually aligned with the expectations set out by the FCA 
  
  

Essentials: 

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance/Economics, Business Administration, or related field from a top institution. 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in: 

• Risk management, 

• Regulatory Compliance, 

• Regulatory or related field, 

• Excellent understanding of payment industry standards and regulatory requirements (PSD2, E-money regulations, Consumer Duty, Operational resilience etc) 

• Excellent understanding of risk assessment methodologies, risk appetite, enterprise wide risk frameworks and compliance frameworks. 

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with a strong emphasis on Excel and PowerPoint. 

• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization and with external stakeholders.  

• Strong ethical judgment and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion. 

• A proactive, detail-oriented individual who can work independently and as part of a team. 

• Fluent English language skills, both written and verbal. 

Advantage:  

• A master's degree or professional certifications (e.g., CRCM, CRISC).  

• Experience of working with Payments, Finance, and/or E-Money Institutions.  

Personal Profile:   

• Demonstrates superior written and verbal communication skills coupled with sharp commercial acumen.  

• Possesses outstanding interpersonal abilities, crucial for building strong, enduring relationships.  

• Confident and professional in interactions with individuals at all levels, showcasing the ability to engage a diverse range of stakeholders.  

• Capable of working independently, utilizing initiative to navigate and resolve complex issues.  

• Comfortable making independent, judgment-based decisions with significant potential impacts on viva.com and its customers.  

• Exhibits exceptional organizational capabilities and an unparalleled attention to detail.  

• Approaches work with a passionate, tenacious attitude, and a solution-oriented "can do" mindset.  

• A true team player, deeply committed to contributing to the success and future growth of viva.com, taking pride in personal and collective achievements.  
  
  

• Highly competitive annual base salary;
• Bonus scheme based on targets' achievement;
• Private medical health scheme;
• Free fruit bowl;
• Office based gym (Milton Keynes Office only);
• We work in an open, transparent working environment that actively promotes ingenuity and team work;
• You will be fully trained and continuously supported;
• Working in an international Fintech company with a large cultural diversity;
• A fast paced and collaborative working environment;
• Motivated and dynamic colleagues;
• Work with the latest in payments acquiring technology;
• Opportunity to grow progressively in your domain;