MLRO & Head of Compliance

We are looking for a Head of Compliance and MLRO to join our leadership team and play a critical role in shaping our regulatory framework and risk culture. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of financial concepts, compliance management, and risk mitigation strategies.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As Head of Compliance and MLRO, you will be responsible for managing and maintaining all aspects of the firm’s Compliance and Financial Crime functions. Your primary remit will be to safeguard the business against fraud, money laundering, internal fraud, security threats, and related reputational risks.

In parallel, you will ensure the swift and effective detection and reporting of money laundering activities, embedding anti-money laundering legislation, regulatory rules, and industry guidance across the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Oversee and coordinate all aspects of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance, ensuring effective controls, guidance, and regulatory adherence.

- Design, implement, and regularly update a comprehensive AML program, including policies, procedures, and control measures.

- Build and lead the Financial Crime team, managing both general and crypto-specific risks, including AML/CTF, sanctions, PEPs, transactional fraud, on-chain monitoring, and market abuse (where applicable).

- Provide weekly and monthly reports to the Board of Directors, including Management Information (MI), annual AML reports, and updates on AML/CFT controls and remediation of identified gaps.

- Maintain strong and collaborative relationships with banking partners to support compliance objectives.

- Stay up to date with local AML laws, regulations, and requirements, and adapt the AML program to reflect regulatory changes.

- Ensure timely investigation, escalation, and resolution of potentially suspicious activities and transactions in line with established procedures.

- Lead the AML Compliance team in responding to findings from internal audits, self-assessments, compliance reviews, or regulatory examinations, fostering a culture of accountability, high performance, and continuous development.

- Personally manage high-profile or sensitive investigations where required.

- Collaborate with domestic and international law enforcement agencies to strengthen fraud detection and prevention efforts.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

-Based in the UK and eligible to serve as MLRO under UK regulation

-Previous experience as MLRO for an FCA-regulated PISP, EMI, or Crypto business in UK;

-Strong understanding and operational expertise in building and managing compliance programs, with hands-on knowledge of regulatory requirements for electronic money firms and cryptoasset businesses in the United Kingdom, including PSD2, the EMRs, the FCA Handbook, Open Banking, and UK AML regulations.

-AML / CTF advisory experience and good working knowledge of SARs regime;

-A team player with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal;

-Reliable, trustworthy, and committed to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

-Strong leadership skills.