Compliance Officer and MLRO, Hong Kong

Our Mission
Reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home, and become the leading cross-border fintech for emerging markets.

The Team
-> Founded by Harvard grads / 3rd-time founders --- also founded Segovia (successful exit) and GiveDirectly (>300M revenue, fastest-growing NGO).
-> Top performers from top and varied organizations (e.g., Bain, Bolt, Google, McKinsey, SafeBoda, Uber, Zipline) --- we like moving fast, and we hire people that do as well.
-> Driven by mission, guided by values (see below) - in deed, not just word.
-> Team as global as the mission, >30 languages from 25 countries (i.e., if you're interested in learning to make Chicken Moambe, we're the place).

About Us
Taptap Send is backed by top VCs (Spark, Canaan, Reid Hoffman, Breyer Capital, etc.), rapidly growing and a great place for those looking for both impact and a fast-paced tech startup environment. Read more about the journey in Reid Hoffman's words or TechCrunch article

Launched in 2019, Taptap is tapping into a transformative shift in global finance: from banks to phones. While this has affected wealthier countries as well, it has been nothing short of a revolution for the emerging markets where the overwhelming majority of population had been unable to access digital finance previously. Taptap Send allows immigrants to send money home instantly and with no fee*, saving money in the process. With a formal market size of >700B alone, we've got a lot more saving to do for our users. Our mission is to reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home, and become the leading cross-border fintech for emerging markets. And that's just the beginning...

*We charge fees for transfers on fixed exchange rate corridors (e.g., XOF, XAF).

Our Investors
Spark Capital, Canaan, Reid Hoffman, Breyer Capital (Jim Breyer), Unbound (Shravin Mittal), Wamda (Fadi Ghandour), Firstminute Capital, Slow Ventures (Sam Lessin), Helios Partners (Souleymane Ba), Crossbeam Ventures (Ali Hamed), Nikesh Arora, Samih Toukan, and many other context-specific angels

The Role

We're seeking a Compliance Officer and MLRO (CO/MLRO) with 5+ years of experience to lead our MSO licensing process and establish compliance operations for Taptap Send in Hong Kong.

This role is based in Hong Kong so you must either be currently based there, or willing to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Lead the MSO licensing process in Hong Kong, including preparation of application materials, liaison with regulators, and coordination with external advisors.
• Set up local compliance operations and establish an effective compliance framework aligned with Taptap Send Group's standards.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidance issued by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), and other local authorities.
• Build trust and act as the primary liaison with regulators and other stakeholders.
• Manage and coordinate regulatory reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submissions and proactive communication of material changes.
• Develop, maintain, and update policies and procedures relevant to Hong Kong operations.
• Conduct compliance testing and monitoring, ensuring prompt remediation of identified issues.
• Prepare internal compliance reports for management and the board.
• Report suspicious transactions to the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) in accordance with legal requirements.
• Oversee due diligence on new customers, partners, and products.
• Collaborate with Group Compliance and third-line audit teams to strengthen controls and ensure consistent global standards.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of Hong Kong AML/CFT laws and regulations, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO).
• 5+ years of experience in compliance within a regulated financial institution, money service operator, or fintech.
• Experience managing regulatory engagements and/or leading licensing or setup projects preferred.
• Knowledge of international remittances, payments, or FX is a strong plus.
• Experience using compliance technology tools (e.g. transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, KYC platforms).
• High attention to detail with the ability to think strategically.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset and the ability to build processes from scratch.
• Excellent communication skills and stakeholder management experience.
• ACAMS, ICA, or equivalent qualification preferred.

Taptap Values

Impact first

Team next

Accept reality

Propose solutions

Win with grit

Be proactively candid, with yourself and others

Love the particular

Own it

Create positive energy

Maybe, even have fun

Taptap Send is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment decisions are decided on the basis of qualifications, experience and business need. We strongly encourage applications who are members of underrepresented communities to apply.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know. Any information you provide us in this respect will only be used to accommodate your requirements.

Note: we recognize imposter syndrome is real - any candidate that does not perfectly fit every characteristic of this role is still strongly encouraged to apply.