Global Head of Commercial Compliance – Financial Institutions in London

Global Head of Commercial Compliance – Financial Institutions in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead compliance strategy for financial institutions and ensure robust controls for product innovation.
  • Company: Join Nium, a leading global fintech revolutionising cross-border payments.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, wellness programs, flexible work, and continuous learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Diverse team across 18+ countries, fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of global money movement in a dynamic, innovative environment.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in compliance with expertise in cross-border payments and international regulations.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

About Nium

Nium is the leading global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments. We were founded on the mission to deliver the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. Our platform enables banks, fintechs, and global businesses to move money instantly, everywhere. Co‐headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore with offices in 14 markets worldwide, we are entering one of the most exciting chapters in our journey. In July 2025, we delivered the largest month in our 10‐year history with record revenue, record volumes, and EBITDA profitability. Today, Nium moves nearly $50B in payments annually, almost entirely for enterprises, while continuing to strengthen an already healthy balance sheet.

It is an incredible time to join us, and we are only just getting started. Our payout network spans 190+ countries and 100 currencies, with 100 corridors in real time. We power seamless transfers to accounts, wallets, and cards, support local collections in 35 markets, and run a card issuance business live in 34 countries. Backed by regulatory licenses in more than 40 markets, we make it simple for our partners to onboard, integrate, and scale globally. This scale and innovation have earned us recognition as one of CNBC's World's Top Fintech Companies 2025, winner of Best Cross‐Border Payments Solution at the PayTech Awards, and inclusion in FXC Intelligence's Top 100 Cross‐Border Payments Companies list. In 2024, we raised US$50 million in Series E funding at a US$1.4 billion valuation to accelerate network expansion, product innovation, and talent growth. With the B2B payments market projected to hit US$175 trillion by 2030, Nium offers ambitious builders the chance to shape the future of global money movement with the scale of a leader and the energy of a high‐growth company.

About the Role

As the Vertical Head of Commercial Compliance for the Financial Institutions segment, you will be working as part of Nium's global, dynamic compliance team. This role will lead the compliance strategy for Financial Institution businesses and is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the compliance framework. You will ensure that product innovation and commercial expansion are supported by robust, scalable compliance controls.

Key Responsibilities

  • Compliance Strategy & Framework Development: Work with MLROs for various licensed entities to design and operate a comprehensive compliance framework for FIs, covering AML/CTF, sanctions, KYC/KYB, and transaction monitoring, tailored to platform businesses.
  • Commercial & Product Advisory: Proactively partner with sales, marketing, and product teams to embed compliance‐by‐design into new products, services, and expansion initiatives.
  • Regulatory Commercialization: Translate global regulatory changes (e.g., stablecoin settlement, AI‐driven payments) into actionable commercial opportunities for the FI vertical.
  • Risk Assessments: Conduct regular risk assessments and internal audits of commercial activities to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Due Diligence: Strengthen due diligence processes for third‐party relationships.
  • Contractual Review: Support legal teams in reviewing high‐risk commercial contracts to ensure compliance with trade controls and anti‐bribery laws.
  • Monitoring & Surveillance: Implement automated monitoring, trade surveillance, or reporting systems to detect potential violations.

Requirements

  • Fintech Veteran: 10+ years in compliance, with deep expertise in cross‐border payments, commercial banking or fintech. Experience in compliance within a complex international financial institution or for financial institution businesses.
  • Commercial Mindset: You view compliance as a foundational product feature that helps win deals, not a barrier that stops them.
  • Global Navigator: Expert knowledge of global regulatory frameworks in major markets, including Singapore, United Kingdom, Europe, North America.
  • Tech‐Forward: Comfortable working with AI‐native tools and stablecoin settlement rails.
  • Technical Knowledge: Deep expertise in international banking regulations, AML/KYC requirements, market conduct rules, and institutional product knowledge.
  • Hands‐on Capability: Proven experience implementing compliance technology solutions (automation, transaction monitoring) rather than just advisory roles.
  • Leadership Presence: Strong ability to influence senior management and work effectively with cross‐functional teams (Legal, Risk, Product).

What we offer at Nium

  • We Value Performance: Through competitive salaries, performance bonuses, sales commissions, equity for specific roles and recognition programs, we ensure that all our employees are well rewarded and incentivized for their hard work.
  • We Care: The wellness of Nium'ers is our #1 priority. We offer medical coverage along with 24/7 employee assistance program, generous vacation programs including our year‐end shut down. We also provide a flexible hybrid working environment (3 days per week in the office).
  • We Upskill Ourselves: We are curious, and always want to learn more with a focus on upskilling ourselves. We provide role‐specific training, internal workshops, and a learning stipend.
  • We Constantly Innovate: Since our inception, Nium has received constant recognition and awards for how we approach both our business and talent opportunities.
  • We Celebrate Together: We recognize that work is also about creating great relationships with each other. We celebrate together with company‐wide social events, team bonding activities, happy hours, team offsites, and much more!
  • We Thrive With Diversity: Nium is truly a global company, with more than 33 nationalities, based in 18+ countries and more than 10 office locations. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Global Head of Commercial Compliance – Financial Institutions in London employer: Nium

Nium is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, particularly for the Director - Head of Sales Development Representatives role based in San Francisco. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through tailored training programs and a commitment to diversity, Nium offers competitive salaries, performance bonuses, and a flexible hybrid working environment, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the fintech space.

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Contact Details:

Nium Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Global Head of Commercial Compliance – Financial Institutions in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fintech space, especially those who work at Nium or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by understanding Nium's products and compliance strategies. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your experience aligns with our mission and values.

Tip Number 3

Be ready to discuss real-world scenarios where you've tackled compliance challenges. We love candidates who can share specific examples of how they’ve implemented solutions in complex environments.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Nium family.

We think you need these skills to ace Global Head of Commercial Compliance – Financial Institutions in London

Compliance Strategy Development
AML/CTF Knowledge
KYC/KYB Expertise
Risk Assessment
Due Diligence Processes
Contractual Review
Monitoring and Surveillance Systems

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Global Head of Commercial Compliance role. Highlight your experience in compliance, especially in cross-border payments and fintech, to show us you’re the perfect fit!

Showcase Your Expertise:Don’t hold back on sharing your deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks and compliance strategies. We want to see how your skills can help us innovate and grow in the financial institutions space.

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Nium!

How to prepare for a job interview at Nium

Know Your Compliance Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of compliance frameworks, especially around AML/CTF, KYC/KYB, and transaction monitoring. Nium is looking for someone who can design and implement these frameworks, so be ready to discuss your experience in detail.

Show Your Commercial Mindset

Demonstrate how you view compliance as a key part of driving business success rather than just a regulatory hurdle. Prepare examples of how you've embedded compliance into product development or sales strategies in the past.

Be a Global Navigator

Familiarise yourself with global regulatory frameworks, particularly in key markets like Singapore, the UK, and Europe. Be prepared to discuss how these regulations impact financial institutions and how you've navigated them in your previous roles.

Tech-Savvy Approach

Nium values a tech-forward mindset, so highlight your experience with compliance technology solutions. Discuss any tools or systems you've implemented for monitoring or reporting, and how they improved compliance processes.