Chief Compliance Officer

Edenthorpe Search; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Edenthorpe Search is supporting a crypto exchange launch in the United States with a senior Chief Compliance Officer to lead the US regulatory build-out. Initially engaged on a consulting basis, the role transitions to permanent as the US entity is established.

The successful candidate will report to the US-based CEO, shaping regulatory strategy, licenses and the compliance function for a high-growth exchange.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in compliance within cryptocurrency/digital assets.
• Experience obtaining/managing US regulatory licenses & registrations (CFTC/NFA).
• Active Series 3 registration/license is essential.
• Ability to engage regulators and senior leadership effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the US compliance and regulatory strategy for the launch of the crypto exchange.
• Secure and maintain US regulatory licenses and registrations.
• Build the compliance framework, policies, controls and governance from the ground up.
• Lead engagement with US regulators and regulatory bodies.
• Establish AML/KYC, sanctions, transaction-monitoring and financial-crime controls.
• Advise CEO and leadership on regulatory strategy, product launches and compliance risk.
• Support transition from consulting to permanent US entity.
• Build and lead the ongoing compliance function as the business scales.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

AML/KYC

Regulatory engagement

Risk management

Job description

Edenthorpe Search is supporting an established international digital-asset business as it launches a new crypto exchange in the United States. We are seeking a senior Chief Compliance Officer to join at a formative stage and lead the US regulatory and compliance build-out.

The successful candidate will initially be engaged on a consulting basis while the new US entity is established, before transitioning into the entity once incorporated. Reporting directly to the US-based CEO, this is a high-impact appointment with responsibility for helping build the regulatory framework, securing the required licenses and establishing the compliance function for the new exchange.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the US compliance and regulatory strategy for the launch of a new crypto exchange.
• Take a central role in securing and maintaining required US regulatory licenses and registrations.
• Build the compliance framework, policies, controls and governance infrastructure from the ground up.
• Lead engagement with relevant US regulators and regulatory bodies.
• Establish robust AML/KYC, sanctions, transaction-monitoring, market-conduct and financial-crime controls.
• Advise the CEO and senior leadership on regulatory strategy, product launches and compliance risk.
• Support the transition from the pre-incorporation consulting engagement into the permanent US entity.
• Build and lead the wider compliance function as the business scales.

Required experience

Significant senior compliance leadership experience within cryptocurrency/digital assets is essential, ideally gained within a crypto exchange, digital-asset trading platform or closely related regulated business.

Candidates should have demonstrable experience obtaining, managing or supporting US regulatory licenses and registrations, together with strong knowledge of the US digital-asset regulatory environment, including CFTC/NFA and other relevant federal and state requirements.

An active Series 3 registration/license is essential. Strong AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC, transaction-monitoring and financial-crime expertise is required, together with credibility engaging directly with regulators and senior executive leadership. Experience building a compliance function within a start-up, launch or high-growth environment would be particularly valuable.

The role can be based remotely anywhere in the United States. The company's US office will be in Chicago, and the successful candidate must be willing to travel to Chicago as required.

This is an opportunity to become one of the foundational executives of a new US crypto exchange, shaping its regulatory strategy and compliance infrastructure from inception.