Head of KYC

Coinbase, Inc.; Little Rock (AR); Remote; USD 253,000 - 297,000; Full time

Job summary

Coinbase, Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager, Head of KYC in Central Compliance to own the global KYC strategy and program execution for all Coinbase regulated entities.

You will lead a global team, design scalable KYC solutions, and partner with legal, regulatory, and product teams to ensure compliant growth across jurisdictions. The role requires 10+ years in KYC program design and strong leadership, with experience in a matrixed environment and a focus on scalable processes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing, designing, and implementing KYC programs at a financial institution
• Deep knowledge of global AML, CTF, and sanctions regulations and translating them into scalable KYC design
• Proven track record building and scaling a global KYC program from design to execution
• Experience as a senior escalation point for KYC/onboarding matters
• Ability to manage multiple regulatory initiatives in a matrixed environment
• Responsible use of generative AI with human oversight to improve workflows

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end strategic direction of Coinbase's Global KYC program across all regulated entities
• Lead a team of KYC professionals supporting program design and execution
• Drive global KYC issue management, remediation, and process improvements
• Collaborate with Sales, Product, Engineering, and Compliance for KYC initiatives on new products and jurisdictions
• Serve as Directly Responsible Individual for regulatory reporting and senior leadership KPIs
• Shape interpretation and implementation of global KYC requirements with Legal and business stakeholders

Skills

KYC program management

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

AI in compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Law/AML

Tools

RegTech platforms

AML tools

Job description

Ready to do the most impactful work of your career? At Coinbase, we are uncompromising on our mission to increase economic freedom. The bar is high, the environment is intense, and we like it that way. This isn't a place for complacency, it’s a place to be pushed past your perceived limits. If you're ready to build the future of finance alongside people who refuse to settle for "good enough," you belong here. Coinbase is a remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called “surges.”learn more about working at Coinbase

As the Senior Manager, Head of KYC within Central Compliance, you'll own the global strategy, policy, and program execution for KYC across all Coinbase regulated entities. The KYC function operates as a shared services model, providing compliance advisory to Coinbase's global business lines. You'll serve as Coinbase's subject matter expert and senior escalation point for KYC, driving program design across jurisdictions, managing a team of KYC professionals, and partnering with operations, business, product, and regulatory stakeholders to ensure Coinbase's KYC program scales with the business while meeting evolving global regulatory requirements.

What you’ll do:

• Own the end-to-end strategic direction of Coinbase's Global KYC program, including policy development, program implementation, advisory support, and enterprise-wide process design across all regulated entities.
• Lead a team of KYC professionals across second-line compliance supporting program design, setting performance standards, developing talent, and ensuring consistent execution across jurisdictions.
• Drive KYC issue management and resolution globally, providing oversight of corrective actions, systemic enhancements, and first-line KYC function performance.
• Partner with sales, coverage, account management, customer experience, product, and engineering teams to design and implement KYC initiatives for new product and jurisdiction launches.
• Serve as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for regulatory reporting and correspondence related to global KYC program inquiries, and deliver senior management and executive-level reporting on KPIs and program health.
• Shape the interpretation and implementation of global KYC requirements in collaboration with Legal and Compliance colleagues and business stakeholders, designing scalable solutions that balance regulatory compliance with business velocity.

Required Skills and Experience:

• 10+ years of experience managing, designing, and implementing KYC programs at a financial institution, including direct people management experience, preferably with digital assets and/or fintech exposure.
• Deep knowledge of global AML, CTF, and sanctions regulations (e.g., BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, FinCEN CDD Rule, 4MLD/5MLD/6MLD, OFAC sanctions) and demonstrated ability to translate regulatory requirements into scalable KYC program design across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven track record of building and scaling a global KYC program from design through execution, including policy development, risk-based frameworks, and operational process implementation.
• Experience serving as a senior escalation point for KYC/onboarding matters, with the ability to advise on client risk, provide regulatory guidance to cross-functional teams, and represent the KYC function to regulators and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent regulatory initiatives, jurisdiction launches, and program enhancements in a matrixed environment while delivering executive-level reporting on program performance.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.

*Pay Transparency Notice:** *Base salary varies by location (see range below).

Annual base salary range (excluding equity and bonus):

$252,620—$297,200 USD

• *Application Limit: *Candidates may submit a maximum of 3 applications within a 6-month period.
• *Equal Opportunity Employer: *Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants with criminal histories will be considered consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• *US Applicants: *View Employee Rights, Know Your Rights, and E-Verify Notice of Participation.
• *Accommodations: *If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation, email us your request and contact info at accommodations[at]coinbase.com.Need screen reading technology? Click here to download a free compatible screen reader and view the tutorial.
• *Data Privacy & Arbitration: *By submitting your application, you agree to our Candidate Privacy Notice. US applicants: By submitting your application, you agree to Arbitration of Disputes.