Head of Compliance, EMEA

P2P; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global crypto exchange is seeking a Head of Compliance for Europe to spearhead operational execution of compliance strategies. This role involves transforming the compliance team into a high-performing unit, ensuring regulatory standards while supporting commercial agility. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of compliance experience within financial services or FinTech, an understanding of EU regulations, and strong people management skills. Competitive compensation and various benefits are provided.

Benefits

Competitive total compensation package

L&D programs and education subsidy

Team building programs and company events

Wellness and meal allowances

Comprehensive healthcare schemes

Qualifications

• 8+ years of compliance experience in financial services or FinTech.
• Ability to drive projects to completion under tight deadlines.
• Understanding of EU regulations and UK regimes.

Responsibilities

• Drive the compliance program across all OKX entities in Europe.
• Elevate the performance of the team to a unified regional force.
• Audit current workflows to eliminate inefficiencies.

Skills

Compliance strategy operationalization

Project management in high-pressure environments

Regulatory balance with operational speed

Team leadership and management

Data negotiation for performance

Complex regulatory communication

Job description

Who We Are:

At OKX, we believe that the future will be reshaped by Crypto, ultimately contributing to every individual's freedom. OKX began as a crypto exchange giving millions of people access to crypto trading and over time becoming among the largest platforms in the world. In recent years, we have developed one of the most connected Web3 wallets used by millions to access decentralized crypto applications (dApps). OKX is a trusted brand by hundreds of large institutions seeking access to crypto markets on a reliable platform that seamlessly connects with global banking and payments.

We are deeply committed to shaping a fairer, more transparent and accessible society through blockchain technology. This is why we publish proof of reserves monthly, and continue to ship new innovative security features.

About the Team:

The Compliance function at OKX is evolving. We are not just a control function; we are a strategic partner to the business. We are a team of risk-minded problem solvers and operational executors who ensure the business runs safely at speed. We advise on regulatory obligations while relentlessly optimizing our processes to allow OKX to scale efficiently.

What You'll be Doing:

As the Head of Compliance, Europe, you will be the operational engine behind our European compliance strategy. Reporting directly to the Head of International Compliance and Operations, you will move beyond high-level advisory to become a true executor, responsible for bringing the compliance team to its next level of maturity.

Your mandate is clear: make OKX's European compliance run faster and better. You will lead a diverse team of country heads and MLROs, transforming them into a cohesive, high-performance unit. You will drive operational excellence, reduce friction in our controls, and support strong compliance controls without slowing down commercial growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive the strategic direction and the execution of the Compliance program across all OKX entities within Europe.
• Manage and elevate the performance of Country Heads of Compliance and MLROs, moving the team to a more unified, fast-moving regional force.
• Audit current workflows and ruthlessly eliminate inefficiencies. Implement robust, scalable frameworks that reduce manual workload and utilize data/tech to speed up decision-making.
• Liaise with first, second, and third-line teams to build a control environment that exceeds regulatory standards while maintaining commercial agility.
• Oversee compliance reviews and investigations.
• Produce data-driven compliance reports for management and the Board. You will focus on metrics, SLAs, and KPIs that demonstrate the speed and effectiveness of the compliance function.
• Participate in Board committee and sub-committee meetings, whether as a member or on an as-needed basis.
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex issues, providing decisive, commercially aware guidance to business stakeholders.

What We Look For in You:

• 8+ years of experience in compliance within financial services, FinTech or cryptocurrency industries, with a specific track record of operationalizing compliance strategies.
• You don't just identify problems, you fix them. You have a proven ability to work fast, meet tight deadlines, and drive projects to completion in a high-pressure environment.
• Experience reporting into or working closely with Operations teams. You understand how to balance regulatory safety with operational speed.
• Deep understanding of EU regulations (MiCA, GDPR, AMLD5/6) and UK regimes. You know how to navigate the fragmented European regulatory landscape.
• Strong people management skills with experience leading dispersed teams. You know how to rally a team around a common goal and drive performance.
• You are comfortable using data to measure team performance, identify bottlenecks, and justify resource allocation.
• Crisp, high-impact communication skills. You can explain complex regulatory concepts to product teams and operational challenges to regulators.

Nice to Haves:

• Direct experience scaling a crypto or high-growth fintech company in Europe.
• Prior experience working in the crypto industry.
• CAMS, ICA, or equivalent certification.

Perks & Benefits:

• Competitive total compensation package
• L&D programs and Education subsidy for employees' growth and development
• Various team building programs and company events
• Wellness and meal allowances
• Comprehensive healthcare schemes for employees and dependants
• More that we love to tell you along the process!