Compliance Manager/Money Laundering Reporting Officer (“MLRO”)

The Bitcoin Manual; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a UK Compliance Manager to spearhead compliance efforts in the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. This pivotal role involves designing a comprehensive compliance program, interfacing with regulatory bodies, and ensuring adherence to UK financial regulations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in compliance within financial services or crypto firms, showcasing their ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks. Join a forward-thinking team committed to reshaping the future of finance and making a significant impact in the crypto space.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in compliance roles within regulated financial services or crypto firms.
• Strong knowledge of UK money laundering regulations and FCA reporting.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a robust compliance program for UK operations.
• Interface with the FCA for regulatory inquiries and reporting.
• Manage day-to-day compliance operations and risk management.

Skills

Compliance Management

AML/CFT Regulations

KYC Procedures

Risk Management

FCA Reporting

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance or Law

Tools

Blockchain Analytics Software

Job description

Join the Future of Money

At Strike, we're building a world where everyone has access to Bitcoin—a truly open, global, and public digital infrastructure for money. Together, we're leading a financial revolution that promises a more fair, honest, and equitable future for everyone. Strike is the global Bitcoin app—a simple, fast, and secure way to buy bitcoin and send money worldwide. Available in over 100 countries, including the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Africa, Strike is redefining global finance. Join us in our mission to create a more inclusive financial future for all.

Role:

Strike is looking for a UK Compliance Manager/Money Laundering Reporting Officer (“MLRO”) based in the United Kingdom to work on all UK compliance matters. This role will have primary responsibility for our UK compliance program, be the primary interface with the UK’s FCA, and act as the MLRO and head of compliance for future UK operating entities. This role is an important part of our Global Compliance team, reporting directly to the Chief Compliance Officer.

It is crucial that you bring existing compliance experience at a regulated UK financial services entity or registered cryptoasset firm, or similar payments entity, as well as knowledge of UK and EU compliance frameworks such as the UK’s money-laundering regulations, FSMA, and financial promotions regime. The ideal candidate will have experience in establishing, maintaining, and controlling compliance frameworks in a crypto, fintech, or payment firm, as well as experience interfacing with the FCA and FCA regulatory reporting regimes, and prior experience as a control function responsible individual with the FCA such as a nominated money laundering reporting officer, SMF 16 or SMF 17.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and implement a robust compliance program to support Strike’s business in the UK, including financial crime/AML, sanctions, financial promotions, reporting, and risk management.
• Maintain a robust governance and control environment to support Strike’s future business in the UK in line with regulatory requirements, and with group expectations and enterprise standards.
• Interface with the FCA including any regulatory enquiries, examinations, licence maintenance, reporting, and day-to-day communications.
• Serve as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for UK operating entities in the future as needed, which may include internal committee roles.
• Provide focused day-to-day compliance advice to senior management, business teams, product teams, and other support functions.
• Work closely with business, product, and operations teams when designing new products to ensure that all compliance objectives are met.
• Monitor regulatory developments, assess impacts, amend policies, and work with key internal stakeholders on any required changes. Draft and manage regulatory applications to the FCA as needed.
• Have ultimate oversight responsibility over the day-to-day compliance operations conducted by our AML and KYC teams for UK matters, including handling monitoring and sanctions alerts, EDD reviews, and SARs. Act as the primary escalation point for any issues raised by our internal onboarding and monitoring teams for UK customers.
• Manage day-to-day risk for the UK business, including drafting and monitoring risk policies, risk assessments, updating risk metrics, and compiling qualitative and quantitative data to measure risks and controls.
• Report on compliance risks to one or more boards or committees.
• Support global initiatives and the global compliance function with the overall goal of building and maintaining a harmonised global compliance program.
• Work on multiple priorities simultaneously, demonstrating strong organizational and time management skills.

Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of experience within regulated financial services or crypto firms in senior compliance roles with robust knowledge on key topics (KYB / KYC, AML/CFT, Sanctions etc.) and money laundering regulations (e.g., the Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Terrorism Act 2000, UK Sanctions Law).
• Located in the UK, with right-to-work in the UK.
• Experience interfacing directly with UK FCA.
• Practical experience in FCA reporting, and other regulatory reporting or filings such as suspicious activity reports.
• Fluent in English (verbal and written) is required. Other European languages are beneficial but not required.
• Good organisational, partner management skills and willingness to expand technical knowledge in a broad range of projects.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills, and strong interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Well organised self-starter, able to prioritise quickly, think from first principles, and meet deadlines under pressure, whilst retaining good judgement and risk management.
• Ability to take ownership of work products and consistently deliver results in a high growth and high-quality-bar environment.
• You must be comfortable with a team-first approach in a remote work environment, and excited about Strike’s mission and potential.

Nice-to-haves:

• Knowledge of the Bitcoin industry and willingness to gain expertise of the financial crime typologies in the Bitcoin space.
• Experience building and managing compliance teams.
• Experience in operationalising compliance functions.
• Experience drafting and managing regulatory licence applications in the UK or Europe.
• Experience with investment firms, and operating under FSMA or MiFID II.
• Direct compliance or MLRO experience in the bitcoin, crypto, or payments area.
• Experience using blockchain analytics software.
• Start-up experience.

This role is for UK based candidates only.

If you don't meet all the requirements but think you might still be right for the role, please apply anyway. We're always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.