Head of Compliance and Regulations (Crypto / Payments / Fintech)

Black Pen Recruitment; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Head of Compliance and Regulation, responsible for developing and implementing compliance strategies. The role requires 6–10 years of experience in compliance within finance or fintech, strong regulatory engagement capabilities, and a solid understanding of operational compliance risks. The position is remote, located in the UK, and involves collaboration with various internal teams to ensure adherence to compliance requirements.

Qualifications

• 6–10 years compliance experience in finance, fintech, payments, or crypto.
• UK-based and acceptable to FCA for MLRO nomination.
• Experience in scaling or early-stage environments.

Responsibilities

• Understand the rules and regulations for each market.
• Manage regulator interaction for license applications and reports.
• Develop and maintain compliance framework and policies.

Skills

Compliance experience in finance, fintech, payments, or crypto

Strong compliance generalist skills

Regulatory engagement experience

Experience with compliance operations

Ability to work cross-functionally

Education

Professional certificate (e.g., CCEP)

Job description

Our client is looking for a Head of Compliance and Regulation. This role plays a key role in the development, implementation and execution of a risk management and compliance strategy. The Regulatory & Compliance Lead supports their clients Head of Legal on any relevant compliance related issues and ensures that the company complies with all relevant regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Job Type: Full-time
Workplace: Remote
Location: London, United Kingdom
Report: General Manager

Requirements

• 6–10 years compliance experience in finance, fintech, payments, or crypto
• Minimum 1–2 years crypto compliance experience
• UK-based and acceptable to FCA for MLRO nomination
• Strong compliance generalist capable of both strategy and hands‑on operational execution; experience working in scaling or early‑stage environments; able to design and build compliance processes
• Regulatory engagement experience (licensing, reporting, audits)
• Experience with compliance operations (KYC, AML, transaction monitoring)
• Ability to work cross‑functionally across global jurisdictions
• Familiarity with emerging markets (Africa, Asia, Middle East)

Advantageous

• Startup Fintech experience
• Direct experience in Middle East, African and Asian financial services and crypt markets
• Professional certificate - e.g., Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP) is a plus
• Other compliance‑related certification(s) from an accredited institution

Responsibilities

• Master a deep understanding of the rules and regulations governing each market in which they operate, including monitoring of any changes and developments.
• Manage and navigate the regulator interaction for their jurisdictions including license applications, engagement and reporting.
• Assist the Head of Legal in the implementation of policies and procedures for managing and mitigating operational and compliance risks related to the business.
• Develop and maintain up to date compliance framework, documentation and policies related to the organisation's compliance activities, and monitor the adherence to such policies.
• Oversee KYC/customer due diligence on an on‑going basis and provide AML support for transactions, including assessing any high‑risk exposures.
• Provide technical guidance to the business on relevant regulatory changes that impact our compliance program and collaborate with internal teams to identify steps necessary to mitigate regulatory risks.
• Work collaboratively with external advisors, consultants and service providers responsible for certain aspects of their compliance program, on a day‑to‑day basis.

Additional duties as assigned, including but not limited to :

• Acting as the Data Protection Officer with responsibility for advising and monitoring data protection requirements in line with local regulatory requirements.
• Acting as Money Laundering Reporting Officer for each regulated entity.