At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial crime and risk operations for global payments.
- Company: Join Merge, a leading stablecoin payments infrastructure platform.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on customer support and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the evolving world of digital finance.
- Qualifications: Experience in compliance, KYC/KYB, and transaction monitoring is essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
About Merge: Merge is a regulated stablecoin payments infrastructure platform enabling enterprises to move money globally in real time. We combine stablecoin rails with local instant payment systems to deliver faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border payments and treasury workflows. Merge serves fintechs, investment platforms, marketplaces, and corporate treasury teams globally.
About the role: As a Risk Operations Specialist, you will support the day-to-day operation of Merge's financial crime and risk framework across fiat and stablecoin transactions. You will work across the customer lifecycle - from onboarding and KYC/KYB through ongoing monitoring, transaction reviews, investigations and escalation. The role will involve working closely with Compliance, Operations, Product, Engineering, Customer Success and Payments teams.
Key responsibilities
- KYC / KYB & Customer Onboarding
- Conduct KYC/KYB reviews for individuals and businesses during onboarding.
- Review corporate structures, UBOs, directors, shareholders and source of funds/wealth.
- Perform CDD and EDD on higher-risk customers and counterparties.
- Conduct PEP, sanctions, adverse media and other screening.
- Assess customer risk and determine appropriate risk classifications.
- Identify inconsistencies, gaps or red flags in customer documentation.
- Support periodic and event-driven customer reviews.
- Escalate higher-risk cases to Compliance / MLRO where required.
- Transaction Monitoring
- Review transaction monitoring alerts across fiat and stablecoin transactions.
- Investigate unusual transaction patterns, velocity, counterparties and transaction flows.
- Identify potential AML, fraud, sanctions and financial crime risks.
- Analyse transaction history and customer behaviour to determine whether activity is consistent with the customer's profile.
- Investigate alerts and document clear, evidence-based conclusions.
- Escalate suspicious activity in accordance with internal procedures.
- Support preparation of STR/SAR cases and regulatory reporting where required.
- Payments & Risk Operations
- Develop a strong understanding of cross-border payment flows, including SEPA, SWIFT, correspondent banking and stablecoin transfers.
- Review payment exceptions, rejected transactions, unusual beneficiary activity and payment-related risk events.
- Support controls around fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat flows.
- Monitor operational risk indicators and identify emerging patterns.
- Work with Operations and Payments teams to resolve customer and transaction issues while maintaining appropriate compliance controls.
- Support fraud and financial crime investigations.
- Sanctions & Financial Crime
- Conduct sanctions and PEP screening and investigate potential matches.
- Review adverse media and other external risk indicators.
- Support investigations involving fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions exposure.
- Monitor emerging financial crime typologies relevant to digital assets and cross-border payments.
- Maintain appropriate case documentation and audit trails.
- Stablecoin Transaction Compliance
- Review blockchain transactions and wallet activity where relevant.
- Use blockchain analytics and KYT tools to assess wallet and transaction risk.
- Understand risks associated with mixers, high-risk jurisdictions, sanctioned addresses, scams, fraud and other illicit activity.
- Support Travel Rule compliance and related operational processes.
- Develop familiarity with MiCA/CASP requirements and the interaction between digital asset and traditional payment compliance.
- Compliance Operations & Controls
- Maintain accurate records of KYC, transaction monitoring and investigation cases.
- Ensure cases are handled within agreed SLAs.
- Perform quality checks on KYC and transaction monitoring decisions.
- Identify recurring operational issues and recommend improvements.
- Help develop and maintain SOPs, workflows and compliance controls.
- Support internal and regulatory audits.
- Produce operational MI and reporting for Compliance and Risk management.
- Help improve automation and tooling across compliance operations.
- Customer Support & Risk Operations
- Support customer queries related to KYC/KYB, AML checks, transaction monitoring and compliance requirements.
- Assist with customer requests for additional documentation, source of funds/wealth and EDD.
- Investigate customer-reported issues involving delayed, rejected, blocked or held transactions.
- Work with Customer Success, Payments and Operations to resolve risk-related customer issues while maintaining compliance controls.
- Escalate higher-risk cases and identify recurring issues to improve customer experience and risk processes.
At Merge, customer support is a shared responsibility across the organization. Every team member is expected to contribute to customer support activities when required, helping investigate issues, resolve customer queries, and ensure a high standard of customer experience.
Job Requirements
- Experience in compliance, AML, financial crime, risk operations, KYC/KYB or transaction monitoring.
- Experience within a regulated financial institution, EMI, PI, bank, fintech, or digital asset business.
- Strong practical experience in KYC/KYB, CDD/EDD and transaction monitoring.
- Experience investigating transaction monitoring alerts and making risk-based decisions.
- Understanding of AML/CFT, sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening.
- Experience working with complex customer or transaction investigations.
- Good understanding of cross-border payments and payment flows.
- Strong analytical and investigative skills.
- Excellent written documentation and case-management skills.
- Ability to work independently and make sound risk-based decisions.
- Strong attention to detail without losing sight of operational efficiency.
Risk Operations Specialist in London employer: MERGE
Merge is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the fast-paced fintech sector. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, competitive compensation, and the chance to be at the forefront of revolutionising global payments. Located in a vibrant tech hub, Merge provides a unique environment where creativity thrives and meaningful contributions are recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Risk Operations Specialist in London
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like MERGE. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from MERGE.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like MERGE. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Risk Operations Specialist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in MERGE and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show MERGE how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at MERGE
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with MERGE.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with MERGE's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
