First Line Financial Crimes Compliance Lead

Lead complex projects and problem resolution efforts related to risk management. Collaborate with teams to identify and analyze risks that may impact operations and assets. Develop and implement strategies for risk mitigation and compliance. Assess current business trends to inform risk management practices and improvements. Drive global process improvements through effective project management and stakeholder engagement. Provide on the ground, day-to-day financial crimes compliance leadership, including sanctions and PEP screening programs, customer due diligence processes, transaction monitoring, and investigations functions, among other core AML pillars Translate global financial crimes compliance policies, procedures and risk appetite statements into locally-tailored frameworks that reflect European-specific regulatory requirements, enforcement priorities and operational realities Participate in risk assessment activities for the market, leveraging the global methodology, identifying key risk areas across products, customer segments and transaction types, and developing targeted mitigation strategies that balance compliance effectiveness with business enablement Partner with local business, product and sales teams to provide solution-oriented compliance guidance for new product launches, market expansions and complex merchant opportunities, driving clear decision-making and detailed operational requirements Support automation strategies to strengthen the operational execution of financial crimes investigations, ensuring timely and thorough analysis of alerts, appropriate escalation of suspicious activity, and submission of high-quality regulatory reports (including STRs/SARs, and other jurisdiction-specific filings) Collaborate with global compliance teams to provide market-specific input on policy development, technology solutions and program enhancements, ensuring global initiatives are designed with local implementation feasibility in mind Build and maintain expertise in AML/CFT and sanctions regulatory landscape, working with second line leaders to assess regulatory developments and ensure timely implementation of regulatory changes Develop partnerships with local legal, product, technology and operations teams to bring compliance solutions to life, driving from concept through detailed requirements to operational implementation Provide first line training and education to local business teams on financial crimes compliance requirements, building a strong compliance culture and empowering teams to make risk-informed decisions 8+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience. GFCCP is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as the first line Financial Crimes Compliance leader for our European licensed operations, responsible for translating global compliance frameworks into locally-tailored, operationally-effective risk management strategies. This role requires deep expertise in AML/CFT, sanctions compliance and payments regulation specific to European, combined with the ability to think creatively about implementing sound risk management strategies that are both effective and efficient. The Financial Crime Lead will be responsible for business enablement initiatives, sanctions and PEP screening requirement implementation, supporting the operational execution of customer and transaction investigations, tracking trends and patterns in the market while maintaining close alignment with global compliance leadership and second-line oversight teams. 7+ years of experience in financial crimes compliance, with deep expertise in AML/CFT and sanctions compliance specific to European regulations 5+ years of leadership experience, including managing compliance teams in a first-line capacity Extensive knowledge of EU AML Authority Strong understanding of payments industry operations, including payment processing, merchant acquiring, digital wallets and cross-border transactions Proven ability to translate high-level policies into detailed operational requirements and practical compliance solutions Demonstrated success in business enablement, including providing clear compliance guidance that enables growth while maintaining robust risk management Solution-oriented mindset with ability to think creatively about implementing effective and efficient compliance programs Excellent analytical skills and ability to identify, assess and mitigate financial crimes risks Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to influence and partner effectively across all organizational levels and functions Experience working with regulators and external stakeholders, including managing regulatory examinations and building constructive regulator relationships Proven ability to drive decisions and deliver results in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including ability to present complex compliance matters to executive audiences Experience with compliance technology solutions and ability to partner with technology teams to drive tool enhancements