Head of Compliance & MLRO

As Mercuryo’s Head of Compliance and MLRO (UK), you will be responsible for carrying out the vision and the mission for the team as the company continues to scale. You will work closely with key stakeholders in Financial Crime Compliance Operations, Legal, Risk, Product, Engineering and other functional areas to ensure Mercuryo is compliant with all relevant regulations.

Your Role

• Regulatory Oversight – develop, implement and maintain the firm’s compliance framework in accordance with FCA requirements (e.g. Payment Services Regulations 2017, Electronic Money Regulations 2011, MLRs 2017, Consumer Duty).
• Regulatory Contact – act as the primary point of contact with the FCA and other relevant regulators.
• Regulatory Reporting – ensure timely and accurate regulatory reporting (e.g. RegData returns, notifications, Connect system).
• Advisory – provide regulatory advice to senior management and the Board on applicable laws, rules and guidance.
• Policies and Procedures – construct, review and maintain compliance policies, procedures and processes to ensure that the systems and controls framework is adequate and up to date.
• Horizon Scanning – implement Horizon Scanning processes and ensure stakeholders are made aware of any changes expected.
• Agent Oversight – ensure controls are in place to adequately oversee and monitor any Agent and Distributor relationships.
• Risk Oversight – maintain oversight of enterprise risks, risk registers, incident reporting, operational resilience, outsourcing oversight and operational risk.
• Assurance – conduct compliance reviews, perform compliance monitoring and surveillance to ensure that policies, procedures, and practices are being followed and adhered to.
• Board Reporting and Escalation – provide regular internal management information on compliance related activities, for onward escalation, including the development of compliance governance packs.
• Suspicious Activity Reporting – manage the process for and report SARs for Mercuryo.
• Operational Enhancements – act as the point of contact for compliance advisory tickets and requests – ensuring you maintain a risk based and balanced approach to advising the business.
• Breach Management – manage the escalation, root cause analysis and remediation of financial crime compliance breaches.
• Compliance Monitoring and Control Testing – implement risk‑based monitoring and assurance programmes on core oversight activities such as KYC/B, transaction monitoring, screening, complaints, customer outcomes, outsourcing, financial promotions, etc.
• 2nd Line Compliance Operations – work on compliance operations such as gifts and entertainment registration, regulatory reporting, conflicts management, EDD sign off, quality assurance and testing.
• KYB/KYC Standards – provide KYB and client due diligence advisory and act as an escalation point regarding Mercuryo's risk appetite.
• Training – assist on the development and delivery of compliance training to the organization.
• Business Partnerships – be an integral part of the technology and product teams, ensuring compliance remains at the forefront of good product development and governance.
• Compliance Program – support the development and maintenance of the UK compliance program, including Consumer Duty, AML, Fraud, regulatory, risk enhancements.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working in a regulatory, law enforcement, e‑money, payment services, crypto, consultancy or a retail banking environment – or similar regulatory background.
• You will be hungry to step into a Head of Compliance and MLRO role from a Senior Manager or Deputy MLRO position – or already have experience as a Head of Compliance / MLRO.
• You will need to be a compliance generalist for this role – we would love to see that you have experience across Policy & Procedure development, Risk Assessment, Assurance, Advisory and Oversight within all financial crime areas, as well as regulatory compliance, consumer protection, data protection and risk.
• A keen eye for detail and the ability to confidently challenge the business units and advise on solutions to problems.
• Hands‑on experience of designing and implementing Regulatory and Financial Crime Compliance and Operational programmes around consumer protection, regulatory compliance onboarding, CDD, transaction monitoring and screening.
• The ability to build strong relationships, make impactful contributions and influence business strategy.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal).

What We Offer

• Competitive market rate salary and performance‑based incentives.
• 22 days annual leave with an additional 6 company days, plus bank holidays.
• Comprehensive health insurance plans.
• Maternity & Paternity leave support.
• Extensive benefits program.
• Flexible work schedule and remote work options.
• Modern offices and co‑working spaces across 6 countries.
• Working equipment.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Opportunity to shape the initiatives you’re working on.
• Diverse and friendly team.
• We are open‑minded to new ideas.

MERCURYO is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to providing employees with a work environment that is progressive and open‑minded. Our employment philosophy is to hire the best people and empower them to do the best work of their lives. Employment decisions are based on business needs and individual merit, without regard to race, colour, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, marital status, gender, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Mercuryo is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations during the application process for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance to complete your application, please contact our Talent Team.