Manager, Know Your Customer (KYC)

Circle; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 145,000 - 192,500; Full time

Job summary

Circle is a leading internet financial platform enabling digital assets, payments, and programmable blockchain infrastructure. We seek an experienced senior leader to drive KYC/AML operations across onboarding and reviews, leveraging AI-enabled workflows and scalable governance.

You will manage and mentor analysts, collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Commercial teams, and uphold the highest standards of compliance and audit readiness.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of AML/KYC experience for corporate customers with scalable governance.
• 3+ years of experience managing analytics teams and driving performance.
• 2+ years of crypto experience and familiarity with digital assets.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools within compliance/workflow settings.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Product/Engineering/Business teams.
• Willingness to operate in evolving regulatory environments and upskill.
• Strong communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee customer KYC, onboarding, and periodic review processes with specialized due diligence, including policy documentation.
• Manage case volumes across workflows to meet SLAs and maintain quality.
• Oversee drafting of risk acceptance memos with clear, actionable writeups.
• Lead and develop a KYC analytics team to ensure consistency and risk-based decisions.
• Partner with stakeholders to review client programs, identify gaps, and improve controls.
• Identify AI-driven enhancements to KYC processes to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with Commercial teams and escalate complex issues when needed.
• Ensure documentation quality, audit readiness, and QA across onboarding and reviews.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Product to provide tooling support for Compliance Operations.
• Monitor regulatory developments and adapt KYC/AML processes accordingly.
• Build cross-functional partnerships with QA, Monitoring, Audit, and exam teams.

Skills

AML/KYC leadership

Team leadership

Crypto experience

AI-enabled workflows

Cross-functional collaboration

RegTech/FinTech exposure

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Quantitative/technical background preferred

Tools

Google Workspace

Slack

Mac environment

AI research tools

Job description

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through digital assets, payment applications, and programmable blockchain infrastructure. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest regulated stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation. Learn more at circle.com.

What You’ll Be Part Of

Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we’re expanding into some of the world’s strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.

What You’ll Work On

• Overseeing customer KYC, onboarding and periodic review processes specialized due diligence , including the documentation of policies, procedures.
• Manage case volumes across workflows to ensure timely execution and consistent adherence to service-level agreements (SLAs)
• Oversee the drafting quality of Customer Risk Acceptance memos by delivering constructive feedback that drives comprehensive risk identification, sound mitigations, and crisp, decision-ready writeups
• Lead and develop a team of KYC analysts, driving quality, consistency, and risk-based decision‑making across onboarding and review activities.
• Lead customer compliance walkthroughs and reviews of clients’ programs and controls, identify gaps/deficiencies, while partnering constructively with stakeholders to deliver a strong customer experience.
• Identify, design, and implement AI‑driven enhancements to KYC workflows to improve efficiency, scalability, and analytical rigor
• Collaborating with Commercial teams and acting as a point of escalation for complex issues.
• Ensure the highest standards of documentation, audit readiness, and quality assurance across all onboarding and periodic review processes
• Partnering with Circle’s engineering and product teams to ensure Compliance Operations is supported with the most effective tools and technological support.
• Monitor regulatory, enforcement, and industry developments in the digital asset ecosystem, proactively adapting KYC and AML processes
• Build strong cross‑functional partnerships with QA, Monitoring & Testing, Audit, and exam teams.

What You’ll Bring To Circle

• 10+ years of relevant experience in AML and KYC reviews for corporate customers, including designing, managing, and implementing scalable KYC processes and governance frameworks.
• 3+ years of experience managing teams of analysts, driving performance, quality, and operational excellence.
• 2+ years of relevant crypto experience
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI‑enabled tools within compliance or KYC workflows, with the ability to implement responsible AI‑driven enhancements while maintaining regulatory defensibility and strong internal controls.
• A passion for harnessing the power of digital currency, blockchain technology, and emerging technologies — including AI — to modernize financial crime compliance operations.
• An innovative and solution‑oriented mindset, with a track record of identifying inefficiencies and implementing practical, technology‑driven improvements.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross‑functionally with Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders to operationalize compliance requirements into scalable systems.
• Experience and comfort operating in a rapidly evolving regulatory and technological environment, with the agility to adapt to change and continuously upskill.
• Strong leadership, relationship management, and project management skills, with the ability to drive initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in RegTech, FinTech, consulting, or digital asset environments preferred.
• CAMS, CFCS, CFE, or similar certification preferred.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Slack, and Mac environment; familiarity with AI‑assisted research or workflow tools strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; quantitative, technical, or data‑oriented degree preferred.

Base Pay Range: $145,000 - $192,500

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other protected status required by the laws in the locations where we hire. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.

Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out to [e-mail] for support. We respect your privacy and will connect with you separately from our interview process to accommodate your needs.