Senior Director, UK Compliance Officer & MLRO

Circle; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial technology company is seeking a Senior Director, UK Compliance Officer & MLRO. This role involves overseeing the UK regulatory compliance program, managing relationships with regulators, and ensuring compliance across offerings. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in compliance within the fintech sector, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of UK AML regulations.

Qualifications

• 13+ years as a Compliance Officer or MLRO in UK-regulated firms.
• 7+ years managing and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the UK compliance program.
• Manage interactions with UK financial regulators.
• Design and improve compliance policies and controls.

Skills

Compliance

Communication

Leadership

Tools

Slack

MacOS

GSuite

Job description

Senior Director, UK Compliance Officer & MLRO

Join to apply for the Senior Director, UK Compliance Officer & MLRO role at Circle.

Circle is a financial technology company at the forefront of the emerging internet of money, enabling value to travel globally, nearly instantly, and at lower costs than traditional systems. Our infrastructure, including USDC—a blockchain-based dollar—empowers businesses and developers to harness these innovations and capitalize on the evolution of money and technology.

What You’ll Be Part Of

Circle values transparency, stability, and growth. We are expanding into key jurisdictions worldwide, driven by speed, efficiency, and our core values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We foster a flexible, diverse environment that encourages new ideas and stakeholder engagement.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

As the UK Compliance Officer and MLRO, you will lead the development and execution of Circle’s UK regulatory compliance program. You will serve as the primary contact with UK regulators, ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations. Collaborating with Compliance, Risk, Legal, Product, and Operations teams, you will oversee controls related to licensing, KYC, transaction monitoring, sanctions, reporting, and risk governance, maintaining a strong compliance posture while supporting innovation.

What You'll Work On

• Leading the implementation of UK compliance strategy in line with legal and regulatory standards.
• Managing interactions with UK financial regulators and stakeholders for licensed activities.
• Designing and improving compliance policies, procedures, and controls.
• Collaborating with Product, Legal, and Marketing teams to ensure regulatory compliance across offerings and marketing, including crypto-specific rules.
• Monitoring regulatory changes and implementing necessary updates.
• Overseeing AML transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, suspicious activity reporting, and financial crime investigations.
• Providing compliance metrics and updates to senior management and boards.

What You’ll Bring To Circle

• 13+ years as a Compliance Officer or MLRO in UK-regulated financial or fintech firms.
• 7+ years managing and leading teams.
• Deep knowledge of UK AML regulations, FCA expectations, and financial crime frameworks.
• Experience managing regulatory interactions and audits.
• Strong understanding of compliance in product development, marketing, and customer engagement in crypto.
• Proven track record in designing compliance programs and controls.
• Excellent communication skills for influencing teams and presenting to leadership.
• Experience advising high-growth tech or crypto companies.
• Knowledge of global frameworks like EU AMLD, MiCA, FATF.
• FCA approval for SMF16 and/or SMF17 roles, with successful fit and proper assessments.
• Familiarity with generative AI models and prompt development.
• Experience with Slack, MacOS, and GSuite.

Circle is committed to creating an inclusive financial future and values diversity. Compensation is competitive and based on experience and qualifications. We are an equal opportunity employer and participate in E-Verify where required. For accommodations, contact [e-mail].

Additional Details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Legal