Manager, Know Your Customer (KYC)

Circle; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 192,500; Full time

Job summary

Circle is seeking a senior AML/KYC leader to oversee customer due diligence, onboarding and periodic reviews. You will manage a team of analysts, drive risk-based decisions, and collaborate with Product and Engineering to implement compliant, scalable workflows.

We value AI-enabled enhancements, strong governance, and the ability to navigate a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape in the digital asset space. A BS degree and crypto experience are required or preferred.

Qualifications

• Over 10 years of AML/KYC experience for corporate customers, including scalable processes and governance.
• 3+ years of experience managing teams of analysts, driving performance and operational excellence.
• 2+ years of crypto experience and familiarity with digital asset environments.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools within compliance workflows with regulatory defensibility.
• Passion for digital currency and blockchain tech to modernize financial crime compliance operations.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders.
• Experience in RegTech, FinTech, or digital asset environments preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree; quantitative/technical/data-oriented background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee KYC onboarding and periodic reviews, including specialized due diligence.
• Manage case volumes across workflows to meet SLAs.
• Oversee drafting of Customer Risk Acceptance memos and provide constructive feedback.
• Lead and develop a team of KYC analysts with focus on quality and risk-based decisions.
• Lead customer compliance walkthroughs and reviews of client programs and controls.
• Identify, design, and implement AI-driven enhancements to KYC workflows.
• Collaborate with Commercial teams; act as escalation for complex issues.
• Ensure documentation, audit readiness, and quality across onboarding and reviews.
• Partner with engineering and product teams to support compliance tooling and processes.
• Monitor regulatory developments and adapt KYC/AML processes accordingly.
• Build cross-functional partnerships with QA, Monitoring & Testing, Audit, and exams.

Skills

AML/KYC experience

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

AI-enabled tools in compliance

Communication

RegTech/FinTech domain

Google Workspace

Slack

Education

Bachelor's degree

CAMS/CFCS/CFE certifications

Tools

AI-assisted 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.