Description:
Join the team as a Head of Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, where you will have the opportunity to shape, implement and maintain the compliance framework for the UK crypto environment. This is a high-impact role that involves direct engagement with FCA supervisors, playing a key role in advising senior leadership on regulatory matters and driving the firm's UK compliance strategy.
Why this role, now
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 bring cryptoasset dealing, intermediation, custody, stablecoin issuance and staking arrangement within the FSMA perimeter for the first time. The FCA published its core final rules and guidance (PS26/9) on 30 June 2026.
The authorisation gateway opens on 30th September 2026, with applications accepted up to February 2027 under transitional and saving provisions, and the mandatory regime is expected to take effect on 25 October 2027.
You will drive the preparation and delivery of an extensive suite of licensing materials, implementing key processes across the firm that you will continue to own once live.
Key Responsibilities:
Compliance Oversight (SMF16)
- Own the firm's regulatory compliance framework, ensuring material compliance concerns are escalated to the Board.
- Design, implement and maintain the firm's compliance policies, procedures, controls and registers across all UK regulated activities.
- Operate a risk-based compliance monitoring and assurance plan, reporting findings and remediation to governance and risk committees.
- Discharge Consumer Duty and conduct-of-business obligations as they apply to the firm's products and marketing, including financial promotions controls.
- Deliver compliance training and embed regulatory requirements into product design, onboarding and operational processes.
- Maintain the firm's regulatory reporting calendar and ensure timely, accurate submissions.
Money Laundering Reporting Officer (SMF17)
- Act as the firm's nominated officer and MLRO, owning the AML/CTF, sanctions, fraud and anti-bribery frameworks in line with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended) and JMLSG guidance.
- Receive internal suspicion reports, make disclosure decisions, and file Suspicious Activity Reports to the National Crime Agency; manage DAML requests.
- Own the firm-wide and customer risk assessments, CDD/EDD standards, ongoing monitoring, PEP and sanctions screening, and the UK Travel Rule for cryptoasset transfers.
- Oversee transaction monitoring and blockchain analytics arrangements, including quality assurance over any outsourced financial-crime operations.
- Serve as primary point of contact for law enforcement, the NCA and OFSI, and manage sanctions designations, freezes and reporting obligations.
- Produce the annual MLRO report and periodic financial-crime MI for the Board.
Governance, leadership & framework build
- Contribute to the firm's governance framework, allocating and evidencing prescribed responsibilities under SMCR.
- Build, resource and lead the UK compliance team.
- Foster a strong compliance culture that supports safe innovation rather than obstructing it.
Desired Skills:
- Prior FCA approval for both SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and SMF17 (MLRO), evidenced within a comparable regulated firm — ideally a cryptoasset, e-money or payments business.
- Strong working knowledge of the UK regulatory environment for cryptoassets, including the FSMA (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026, PS26/9 and the incoming authorisation regime.
- Deep technical command of UK AML/CTF legislation (MLRs 2017 as amended), the UK sanctions regime, and the SMCR conduct framework.
- Demonstrable direct engagement with FCA supervisors — correspondence, inspections, authorisation, remediation or thematic reviews.
- Ability to satisfy the FCA's fit and proper test, and UK residency for regulatory purposes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, able to produce Board and committee papers and operate with limited direct supervision.
- Experience taking a firm through an FCA authorisation or registration gateway.
- Familiarity with blockchain analytics tooling, the Travel Rule, stablecoins, custody and lending risk.
- Exposure to operating within a group structure and reconciling group policy with UK-specific SMF accountability.
- Working knowledge of adjacent regimes — MiFID, EMRs/PSRs, or MiCA — supporting cross-border coordination.
- A relevant professional qualification (e.g. ICA Diploma, ACAMS/CAMS) and/or a legal background.
- Pragmatic, commercial judgement in a fast-paced fintech environment, with people-management and stakeholder-leadership experience.
Benefits:
- Complimentary food and drinks
- On-site gym
- A day off for your birthday
- Free parking
- Regular team bonding events
- Competitive salary
- Annual bonus
- Benefit from a rewarding Staff Incentive Share Scheme
- Support with training and personal development opportunities
Even if you do not necessarily fit the profile of skills from the above, we would still love to hear from you and encourage you to apply anyway.
