About the role

We are looking for an experienced KYB & Compliance Lead to own Finmo's merchant onboarding, KYB lifecycle, and operational compliance framework. This is not a passive, process-driven role. It is an opportunity for someone who wants to:

• Take ownership of onboarding and compliance decisions, not simply execute checklists.

• Operate at the intersection of Compliance, Risk, Operations, and Product.

• Bring investigative judgment, not just document processing discipline.

• Help shape the next generation of onboarding through AI-assisted KYB and intelligent automation.

• Partner directly with regulators and support licensing initiatives across multiple jurisdictions.

• Build scalable AML/CFT and KYB programmes that support Finmo's continued global growth.

You will be responsible for end-to-end onboarding execution, AML/CFT operations, merchant risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement of onboarding workflows, ensuring Finmo can onboard merchants quickly, safely, and in line with global regulatory expectations.

Beyond onboarding, you will play a key role in supporting licensing applications, regulatory engagements, and the ongoing enhancement of Finmo's global compliance framework.

This role requires someone proactive, commercially minded, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced technology company with strong knowledge of AML/CFT, KYB, financial crime, merchant risk, payments, and regulatory expectations across multiple jurisdictions.

Most importantly, you will bring a passion for building robust onboarding controls, scalable KYB processes, effective AML programmes, and fostering a strong culture of compliance and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Merchant Onboarding & KYB

• Own and drive end-to-end KYB onboarding from submission through assessment to final approval.

• Break down complex business models and identify genuine risk, not simply perform checklist reviews.

• Map ownership structures, identify Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs), and validate legitimacy of businesses.

• Make clear, well-reasoned, and defensible onboarding decisions.

• Take accountability for onboarding outcomes and customer experience.

AML/CFT Programme Management

• Manage and continuously enhance Finmo's AML/CFT operational programme.

• Perform customer due diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), ongoing monitoring, and periodic reviews.

• Review sanctions, PEP, adverse media, and transaction monitoring alerts.

• Ensure AML/CFT controls remain effective and aligned with evolving regulatory requirements.

• Support policy reviews, AML risk assessments, and control enhancements.

Fraud Monitoring & Transaction Reviews

• Manage fraud flagging and transactional review queues.

• Perform manual investigations of flagged transactions and suspicious activities.

• Escalate potential financial crime risks where appropriate.

• Partner with Risk and Operations teams to continuously improve fraud detection and controls.

Risk-Based Decision Making

• Own merchant risk approvals within delegated authority.

• Support high-risk customer assessments and Enhanced Due Diligence reviews.

• Balance commercial objectives with regulatory obligations using sound judgment.

• Ensure every onboarding and compliance decision is documented, justified, and audit-ready.

Regulatory & Licensing Support

• Support licensing applications and ongoing licensing obligations across multiple jurisdictions.

• Assist with regulator requests, inspections, audits, and information submissions.

• Work confidently with regulators and external stakeholders on compliance-related matters.

• Monitor evolving regulatory developments across payments, fintech, and digital assets, translating regulatory expectations into practical operational processes.

Process Improvement & Automation

• Identify bottlenecks and opportunities to improve onboarding and compliance operations.

• Design smarter onboarding journeys through:

• AI-assisted onboarding

• Automated KYB workflows

• Risk scoring automation

• Better use of RegTech solutions

• Partner closely with Product and Engineering teams to implement scalable compliance technology.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the operational bridge between Compliance, Product, Risk, Operations, Legal, and Engineering.

• Translate regulatory expectations into practical onboarding and operational processes.

• Act as the subject matter expert for KYB, onboarding, AML/CFT, and merchant risk.

• Mentor junior team members and provide guidance across the organisation.

Audit & Regulatory Readiness

Ensure all onboarding and compliance decisions are:

• Traceable

• Well documented

• Justified

• Consistent

• Fully audit-ready

Maintain readiness for reviews from:

• Regulators

• Banking partners

• External auditors

• Internal audit

• Compliance assurance teams

Contribute to building a strong culture of compliance, integrity, accountability, and operational excellence.

Required Knowledge & Experience

• Minimum 6 years of experience in Compliance, KYB, AML/CFT, Financial Crime, Risk Operations, or Merchant Onboarding within fintech, payments, financial institutions, or digital asset businesses.

• At least 5 years of experience supporting digital tokens and assets, or tokenised financial services, including regulatory compliance and licensing initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience supporting digital asset or token licensing applications across multiple jurisdictions.

• Comfortable engaging directly with regulators and managing regulator-facing matters.

• Experience supporting global compliance programmes across multiple jurisdictions.

• Strong hands-on experience managing:

• Merchant onboarding

• KYB reviews

• AML/CFT programmes

• Risk assessment and classification

• EDD investigations

• Fraud monitoring

• Transaction reviews

• Strong knowledge of AML/CFT regulations, sanctions screening, PEP screening, financial crime controls, and onboarding best practices.

• Familiarity with onboarding and compliance platforms such as Hawk, Trulioo, Onfido, World-Check, Sumsub, ComplyAdvantage, Chainalysis, Elliptic, or similar solutions.

• Experience working within payments, fintech, MSBs, card acquiring, digital assets, VASPs, or regulated financial institutions.

• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience working closely with Legal, Product, Engineering, Operations, and Risk teams.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, scaling technology environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in cross-border payments, treasury platforms, digital wallets, remittance, digital assets, or tokenised financial services.

• Experience working with regulators such as MAS, HKMA, VARA, ADGM, FCA, or equivalent regulatory authorities.

• Professional certifications such as ACAMS, ICA, or equivalent compliance qualifications.

• Experience implementing RegTech solutions, AI-assisted compliance tools, workflow automation, or risk-scoring systems.

• Project management or process improvement certifications (Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or equivalent) are advantageous.