Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the UK Head of Compliance and appointed MLRO, subject to FCA approval.

• Maintain oversight of the firm's UK compliance framework and governance arrangements.

• Lead the AML/CTF and sanctions framework, ensuring controls remain effective and proportionate.

• Receive, assess, and determine suspicious activity escalations and SAR filing obligations.

• Submit Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the National Crime Agency where required.

• Oversee customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, transaction monitoring, and sanctions processes.

• Design, implement, and maintain Compliance Monitoring Programmes and remediation activities.

• Support FCA registrations, authorisation projects, regulatory applications, and supervisory engagements.

• Prepare and present Board reports, Annual MLRO Reports, and regulatory submissions.

• Monitor regulatory developments and implement changes impacting the business.

• Provide effective challenge to senior management on compliance and financial crime matters.

• Partner closely with Legal, Operations, Product, and senior stakeholders to embed a strong compliance culture.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain FCA approval for SMF16 and SMF17 responsibilities.

• Minimum 5 years of senior compliance and/or financial crime leadership experience within FCA-regulated firms.

• Experience as a Head of Compliance, MLRO, Deputy MLRO, Head of Financial Crime, Compliance Oversight Officer, or equivalent.

• Direct experience filing SARs with the National Crime Agency and managing end-to-end SAR processes.

• Strong knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks including POCA, MLR 2017, Terrorism Act, FCA Financial Crime Guide, JMLSG Guidance, and UK sanctions obligations.

• Experience within cryptocurrency, virtual assets, fintech, e-money, payments, or related sectors.

• Proven experience supporting FCA registrations, authorisations, inspections, or remediation programmes.

• Experience establishing and overseeing compliance frameworks, governance arrangements, and monitoring programmes.

• Strong Board-level communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

Preferred Experience:

• Previous experience holding both SMF16 and SMF17 responsibilities.

• Experience engaging directly with FCA supervisory teams and regulatory reviews.

• Professional qualifications such as CAMS, ICA Diploma, or equivalent.

• Familiarity with blockchain analytics tools including Chainalysis, Elliptic, Scorechain, or TRM Labs.

• Experience across both cryptoasset and payments/e-money sectors.

• Knowledge of UK Travel Rule requirements and crypto-specific financial crime typologies.

Ideal Candidate:

• Comfortable operating with a high degree of personal accountability.

• Independent, confident, and capable of exercising sound judgement.

• Able to influence senior leadership while maintaining regulatory integrity.

• Pragmatic and commercially aware without compromising regulatory standards.

• Resilient under pressure and effective in complex regulatory environments.

• Viewed as a trusted adviser and credible representative to regulators and stakeholders.

Growth Opportunity:

• Lead and shape the UK compliance framework of a growing fintech and digital assets business.

• Act as the recognised SMF16 and SMF17 holder for the UK entity.

• Support significant regulatory initiatives and expansion plans.

• Work closely with executive leadership and Group Compliance on strategic priorities.