Director, Legal Compliance – Crypto Mastercard Transaction Services

Mastercard; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global payment technology company seeks a Director of Legal Compliance focused on crypto compliance within the MTS division. This role includes managing compliance operations, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring effective integration of crypto services across teams. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of AML, KYC, and compliance regulations, alongside significant experience in the cryptocurrency space. This position offers opportunities to shape the compliance framework and lead cross-functional collaborations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in cryptocurrency and money transfer systems.
• Strong understanding of card payments and compliance regulations.
• Experience delivering compliance training to global audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build and oversee MTS’ Operations Team managing compliance.
• Design and implement crypto compliance framework.
• Partner with Legal and Regulatory teams to integrate services.

Skills

Crypto compliance

Risk management

Transaction monitoring

Investigative techniques

AML/KYC understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Tools

MS Office tools (PowerPoint, Excel, Visio)

Job description

Overview

Director, Legal Compliance – Crypto Mastercard Transaction Services Overview

At Mastercard, we are committed to protecting our network and solutions from being used to facilitate money laundering and terrorist financing. The Director, Legal Compliance-Crypto, MTS will report to the MTS US AML/CFT Officer, MTS. MTS is a strategic enterprise asset within Mastercard’s Commercial and New Payment Flows organization. It provides compliance services across regulated and non-regulated payment flows, including crypto-related services.

This role will closely collaborate with the Director, Digital Currency Enablement, MTS. The role is designed to develop and oversee MTS’ Operations Team, with occasional involvement in MTS’ FIU cryptocurrency alert investigations and regulatory reporting.

The Role

• Build and oversee MTS’ Operations Team, which manages AML/Sanctions onboarding, due diligence, transaction monitoring, and investigations for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and crypto-related programs, including:
  • Crypto card programs
  • Stablecoins (e.g., USDC, PYUSD)
  • Send Crypto programs
  • Crypto Credential
• Design, implement, and maintain MTS’ crypto compliance framework, including updates to policies and procedures and management information systems.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to onboard crypto partners, conduct risk assessments, and develop robust compliance controls.
• Partner closely with Legal, Regulatory, Risk, Product, and Engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of crypto services.
• Lead compliance discussions on initiatives such as stablecoin settlements and crypto card programs.
• Assist with responding to regulatory exams, audits, and inquiries.
• Oversee the tuning and optimization of blockchain analytics tools used across crypto services.
• Oversee escalations from the Operations Team utilizing blockchain analytics and traditional compliance tools as needed.
• Manage and oversee training and guidance to internal teams on crypto compliance tools, risks and investigative techniques including on and off-chain due diligence, advanced on chain analytics.
• Occasionally support the FIU Team in investigating and reporting crypto-related payments.
• Maintain strong industry knowledge of regulatory developments, industry trends, and best practices in crypto compliance, and update internal policies and procedures accordingly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in manager-level crypto compliance or risk management within financial services or payments.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in cryptocurrency, stablecoins, and money transfer systems.
• Strong understanding of crypto compliance (AML, KYC, Sanctions, transaction monitoring, investigations), ideally within a regulated fintech or crypto-native environment.
• Strong understanding of card payments, digital commerce, blockchain analytics, and cross-border payment flows.
• Minimum 3 years of experience delivering crypto compliance training and presenting case studies to global audiences.
• Experience in process mapping and compliance framework development.
• Proven ability to manage onboarding and risk assessments for crypto assets and VASPs.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and drive results across teams.
• Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Deep knowledge of AML, BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, and OFAC requirements.
• Preferred certifications: ACAMS, CFE, blockchain analytics (e.g., Elliptic, Crystal).
• Advanced skills in cryptocurrency investigations, OSINT, and tracing techniques.
• Digitally fluent with experience in process automation and scalable compliance solutions.
• Proficient in MS Office tools (PowerPoint, Excel, Visio).

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.