Global Head of Compliance & MLRO - EMI Payments

The Global Head of Compliance & MLRO will be responsible for leading the company's global compliance function and acting as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for their main UK regulated entity as well as their Canadian entity.

Client Details

AIMS listed FX & Payments Solutions firm.

Description

Compliance Leadership

• Lead and oversee the global Compliance function across multiple regulated jurisdictions.
• Develop, implement and maintain the organisation's compliance strategy, governance framework, policies and procedures.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on regulatory developments, compliance obligations and emerging risks.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and ensure appropriate implementation across the business.

Financial Crime & MLRO Responsibilities

• Act as the nominated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) in relevant jurisdictions and oversee local MLRO resources where applicable.
• Review high-risk customer relationships, complex transactions and escalated financial crime matters.
• Determine whether suspicious activity requires reporting to relevant authorities.
• Maintain and continuously enhance the firm's AML, Counter-Terrorist Financing, sanctions and anti-fraud frameworks.
• Ensure the effectiveness of transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, customer due diligence and financial crime controls.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and financial intelligence units in relation to financial crime matters.

Regulatory Management

• Act as the primary liaison with regulators and supervisory authorities.
• Oversee regulatory reporting obligations and regulatory submissions.
• Support licensing applications, regulatory permissions, audits and supervisory reviews.
• Ensure the organisation responds effectively to regulatory developments and changes in applicable legislation.
• Lead and oversee customer outcome frameworks, ensuring products, services and communications meet regulatory expectations.
• Ensure the organisation can demonstrate fair customer outcomes, appropriate governance and effective monitoring arrangements.

Risk Management & Controls

• Own and lead the enterprise-wide risk management framework.
• Develop and maintain the organisation's risk appetite framework in partnership with the Board and Executive Team.
• Ensure effective governance through a robust three-lines-of-defence model.
• Embed strong risk identification, assessment, monitoring and mitigation processes across the business.
• Oversee the implementation and effectiveness of controls across operational, commercial and product functions.
• Maintain oversight of the corporate risk register, ensuring risks are appropriately assessed, escalated and mitigated.
• Deliver regular reporting to senior management and the Board on risk exposures, emerging risks and mitigation activities.
• Maintain responsibility for compliance and risk-related policies, frameworks and programmes, including:
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
• Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF)
• Sanctions Compliance
• Fraud Prevention
• Anti-Bribery & Corruption
• Data Protection and Privacy

Scaling Compliance

• Support the continued evolution and scalability of the compliance and risk framework as the organisation grows internationally.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology, automation and enhanced controls.
• Build, develop and mentor a high-performing compliance and financial crime team.
• Partner with stakeholders across Operations, Product, Technology and Commercial functions to embed compliance and risk considerations into business processes and decision-making.

Training & Culture

• Develop and deliver compliance, risk and financial crime training programmes across the organisation.
• Foster a strong culture of integrity, accountability and regulatory awareness.
• Promote proactive identification and management of compliance and financial crime risks.
• Ensure employees understand their regulatory obligations and responsibilities.

Profile

Required Experience

• Significant experience in senior compliance leadership roles within financial services.
• Prior experience acting as MLRO within a regulated payments, fintech, or FX environment.
• Strong understanding of AML/CTF regulations and financial crime frameworks.
• Experience working with regulators and managing regulatory relationships.
• Experience scaling compliance processes in high-growth fintech or payments environments.
• Demonstrated ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical business processes.

Jurisdictional Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks in one or more of the following:
• UK regulatory environment (FCA regulated firms, payments/EMI environment)
• UAE regulatory framework (DFSA / ADGM / Central Bank regimes)
• Canadian financial regulatory framework

Job Offer

• Highly competitive daily rate.
• Flexibility of fractional, interim and potentially full-time permanent role.
• London HQ.

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