Chief Compliance Officer - WorldFirst UK

We’re WorldFirst, an international payments business helping move money around the world. We became part of Ant Group in 2019, accelerating our mission to create the world’s best platform for international trade by combining WorldFirst’s products with Ant’s solutions aimed at enabling the digitalization of the modern services industry globally. We have a shared purpose ‘to make it easy to do business anywhere.’ Together, we are advancing our shared aim of bringing innovative, inclusive and affordable services to small and medium-sized businesses and online merchants in the rapidly growing area of cross-border trade. We have operational support teams in 32+ offices around the world, to support our millions of customers globally.

WorldFirst is looking to hire a Chief Compliance Officer based in the UK to maintain its UK licence as well as acting as a strategic business partner. The position will be part of a growing European & UK Compliance team supporting Ant International, in particular the provision of payments and financial services to corporate customers.

We are looking to hire a detail-oriented, collaborative and agile regulatory compliance professional who is able to take the initiative to work closely with internal business, operations and various functional key-stakeholders in WorldFirst and Ant International, to support the achievement of business targets and objectives, and to comply with and fulfil regulatory obligations and expectations.

A suitable candidate will be a seasoned and experienced Chief Compliance Officer for a financial institution in the UK with strong interpersonal, project management and stakeholder management skills, and one who thrives working in a fast-paced environment.

• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:

• Design, develop and implement the UK compliance framework that aligns with long-term organisational goals and adhere to FCA regulations and guidelines;
• Lead regulatory engagement, maintain open and constructive relationships with the FCA and other regulatory bodies, as well as engagement with auditors and banking partners from a compliance perspective;
• Communicate compliance updates and regulatory changes to senior management and relevant stakeholders;
• Monitor and assess the organisation's compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies;
• Stay abreast of changes in regulatory requirements, industry standards and update compliance policies accordingly;
• Identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks across the organization;
• Collaborate with other departments to integrate compliance considerations into business processes and decision-making.

• Develop and enforce compliance policies and procedures to guide the organisation's operations.
• Design and deliver compliance training programs to educate employees on regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Foster a culture of compliance within the organisation by promoting ethical behavior and adherence to regulatory standards.

• Strong understanding of the UK and international regulatory landscape, with the ability to anticipate changes and assess their impact on business strategies.
• Demonstrates capability to balance regulatory obligations with commercial objectives, ensuring compliance supports sustainable growth.
• Ability to communicate complex compliance issues in a clear, pragmatic way that resonates with commercial teams and senior leadership.
• Proven track record of acting as a trusted advisor to the Board and Executive Committee, influencing strategic decisions with sound compliance judgment.
• Demonstrates ability to embed compliance into the broader business agenda.

• Minimum 5 years as a Chief Compliance Officer in a financial institution and 8 years (+) in general regulatory compliance. Work experience in e-commerce, payments or card schemes industry is preferred.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and manage different stakeholders within the organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in fast-paced environment. Able to provide pragmatic and considered advice under tight deadlines.
• Possess a practical approach to problem-solving and be able to counsel internal clients with clear and concise advice.
• Goal driven, result oriented and focus on the deliverables.
• Strong ability to understand internal and corporate governance, processes and controls.
• Strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite i.e. Word, Excel and PowerPoint.