UK Compliance Manager & MLRO

OpenFX; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing fintech company in the UK is seeking a Compliance Manager and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO). This foundational role involves building the UK's compliance function from the ground up and managing regulatory relations. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of compliance experience, particularly in payments and financial services, with a proven track record in AML/CFT compliance. The company provides a competitive salary and a collaborative team environment focused on innovation.

Benefits

Competitive salary and equity

Opportunity for personal and professional growth

Collaborative culture

Impact on fintech innovation

Qualifications

• Experience in compliance programs in the payments or fintech sector.
• Proven MLRO experience at an FCA-regulated entity.
• Ability to manage compliance in a high-growth start-up environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and scale compliance programs addressing UK regulations.
• Act as the primary compliance contact for UK regulators.
• Monitor transaction surveillance and client onboarding process.

Skills

Compliance management

AML/CFT regulations

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

8+ years of compliance experience

Knowledge of UK financial regulations

Law degree or compliance certifications

Tools

AML monitoring systems

Blockchain analytics tools

Job description

OpenFX is on a mission to move money as freely as data, unrestricted by time zones, banking hours, or legacy systems. We are building the infrastructure that will power the next generation of cross-border payments for institutions, leveraging stablecoins and innovative strategies that are delivering low-cost, real-time settlement of transactions. The team's execution has been exceptional, and we're scaling at a remarkable pace. Our stellar early team comes with experience in leading technology and financial services companies, including J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Stripe, FalconX, Paypal & others. We’re backed by Accel, Faction, NfX, Accomplice, and other top-tier investors.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Compliance Manager and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), someone who is hands-on and can take full ownership to build and scale our compliance program in the UK. This is a foundational role critical to establishing OpenFX's compliance infrastructure for our UK-regulated entity that will operate as a key hub for our European and global operations. You will build the UK compliance function from the ground up, establishing the UK compliance policies, procedures, and systems that will enable strong growth as well as effective compliance and risk management across our payments and crypto-asset services.

You will serve as the MLRO and primary point of contact with our UK regulators, including on our FCA license applications and regulatory filings.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to building OpenFX's global compliance infrastructure, including comprehensive compliance policies, procedures, and systems for the OpenFX Group and for OpenFX's UK-regulated entity that address regulatory requirements with respect to payments and virtual currency activities, AML/CFT, sanctions, and privacy and data security, among others
• Lead and support licensing initiatives in the UK, including UK EMI licensure and FCA crypto asset registration, serving as the primary point of contact with the FCA
• Serve as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and AML/CFT Compliance Officer for our UK-regulated entity engaged in virtual currency and payment activities, owning and enhancing OpenFX's AML/CFT programs in the UK to efficiently prevent, detect, and report money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes and ensuring alignment with FCA requirement
• Leverage compliance tools, RegTech solutions, and analytics to enhance program effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability, including transaction monitoring systems and blockchain analytics platforms
• Stay current on UK and FCA regulatory developments, assess impact on OpenFX operations and develop and implement expanded compliance policies and procedures as needed
• Provide independent oversight of the UK compliance framework, ensuring that program requirements are robust and effectively implemented. Key responsibilities include overseeing client onboarding, KYC/KYB reviews, and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) to verify adherence to UK regulatory standards, as well as monitoring the effectiveness of transaction surveillance systems, providing independent challenge to suspicious activity analysis, and ensuring the accuracy and timely submission of all mandatory regulatory filings and reports
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Legal, and Operations, and provide compliance advice on market expansion, new product development, and operational changes to ensure compliance as the company scales
• Manage compliance requirements from banking partners, digital asset partners, and payment networks to ensure operational alignment and trust, and serve as the primary compliance point of contact for partner-related compliance inquiries and audits
• Report on the UK AML/CFT and sanctions program to the UK Board

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of compliance experience in payments, fintech, or financial services
• Strong understanding of UK financial regulations, including the Money Laundering Regulations, FCA Handbook requirements for AML/CFT, Payment Services Regulations, and Electronic Money Regulations
• Hands-on proven experience building and executing compliance programs, policies, and controls at a financial services company, including administration of AML/KYC processes, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting
• Proven experience serving as MLRO or in a senior AML compliance role at an FCA-regulated entity
• Attention to detail and excellent communication skills
• Proven track record working effectively with cross-functional partners and external stakeholders, including the FCA
• Commitment to teamwork and ability to work in a fast-paced start-up environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in cross-border payments, FX, and/or crypto asset compliance
• Prior work at a start-up or high-growth company
• Familiarity with compliance technology platforms, including transaction monitoring systems (e.g., Actimize, SAS, ComplyAdvantage) and blockchain analytics tools (Chainalysis, Elliptic, TRM Labs)
• Prior experience securing UK licenses (EMI, payment institution, or crypto asset registration) and working directly with the FCA
• Law degree or professional compliance certifications (ICA, ACAMS, CAMS)

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and equity package
• Impact: Help design and build a key foundation of the company's growth and long-term success
• Growth and Learning: Opportunity to work in a fast-paced startup and build the compliance function of a company at the forefront of fintech innovation
• Culture: Collaborative team environment with emphasis on personal and professional growth
• Mission: Help build the future of global financial infrastructure

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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