Money Laundering Officer, Roma

Job Description

• We are seeking a skilled and experienced MLRO (Money Laundering and Reporting Officer). The ideal candidate will play a critical role in overseeing and managing the company's anti-money laundering and compliance programs, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements across multiple countries (with a focus on UAE and expanding to other countries such as Poland, Canada, USA). The MLRO will collaborate with cross-functional teams and, external stakeholders, and regulators to uphold a robust compliance framework and mitigate potential financial risks.

Responsibilities

• As our very first MLRO, you’ll work independently but alongside colleagues across the globe in other functional areas (e.g. sales, partnerships, engineering, product). You will work directly with our founder and founders’ office to ensure we clear all the compliance requirements to get started and operate in a smooth and compliant manner in a given region.
• Develop and implement comprehensive anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance programs that align with regulatory requirements and best practices in the UAE, Poland, Canada, and other relevant jurisdictions
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies and external auditors in the UAE, Poland, Canada, and other relevant jurisdictions, ensuring timely and accurate communication and reporting on compliance-related issues.
• Monitor changes in AML and compliance regulations, and provide guidance and recommendations to the executive team to ensure compliance with regulatory obligations.
• Conduct regular risk assessments and audits to identify potential areas of non-compliance, and implement corrective measures and controls to mitigate financial risks effectively.
• Provide training and guidance to employees on AML and compliance matters, fostering a culture of awareness and accountability throughout the organization.
• Stay informed about global regulatory developments and emerging trends in AML and compliance, leveraging this knowledge to drive continuous improvement and excellence in the company's compliance practices across different countries.
• Assist with the creation, maintenance, and review of policies, procedures, and controls to identify, prevent, mitigate, and manage regulatory risk.
• Assist with the review of marketing promotions, client communications, and website content.
• Update investment and disclosure documentation in line with regulatory, legislative, and business changes.
• Preparation of board and compliance reports.
• Maintain VARA records and all required VARA registers. Assist with regulator correspondence and reporting for the VARA.
• Set up the appropriate internal processes and policies for crypto and payment compliance for Zamp e.g. AML, FATF, Travel rule, KYC/KYB, others.
• Ensure Zamp compliance with all regulations and industry standards on payments and transactions.
• Lead conversations with regulators and ensure compliance to all licenses (for payment services and digital assets).
• Investigate breaches and incidents and ensure timely resolution and improvement to control environment
• Manage the complaint handling process, in particular, escalated complaints.
• Manage relationships with key internal and external parties and promote a positive compliance culture.
• Identify and partner with the appropriate partners and tools needed for compliance - and help get onboarded and initiated.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years’ relevant experience in a legal or compliance role with a substantial knowledge of relevant rules and regulations and the day-to-day compliance affairs
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Law, Finance, or a related field. A relevant compliance certification is a plus
• UAE VARA/ ADGM Compliance experience is a strong plus. Exposure and/or knowledge of cryptocurrency trading and exchanges is a plus
• Relevant professional certifications (RG146 etc.)
• Experience with securities, OTC derivatives, or CFD exposure 
• Experience in a compliance role with a focus on anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and global compliance requirements across various jurisdictions
• Proven experience in developing and implementing AML and compliance programs in a complex regulatory environment, within the financial services industry
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
• A proactive attitude, a strong work ethic, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment

This role may be a good fit if you:

• Love working in a fast-paced, global organisation maintaining close contact with relevant teams across multiple locations.
• Possess excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to provide useful and efficient counsel.
• Are able to communicate with team members across functions effectively and succinctly.
• Are a self-starter, hustler and curious to learn.
• Thrive in ambiguous environments.