Head of Compliance

Head of Compliance - FinTech/Payments/Crypto

London

Hybrid

A rapidly growing international financial services and payments organisation is seeking an experienced and commercially focused Head of Compliance to lead its UK regulatory framework while helping shape the firm's broader regulatory and product strategy.

This is a highly visible leadership position that combines responsibility for UK regulated activities with strategic oversight of compliance advisory across product innovation, market expansion, and licensing initiatives. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring regulatory obligations are met while enabling business growth in a fast-evolving financial services environment.

The role would suit an individual who enjoys operating at both strategic and operational levels, engaging directly with regulators, executive stakeholders, and product teams to build scalable compliance solutions that support innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Leadership

• Act as the Head of Compliance for the firm's UK regulated entities.
• Maintain and enhance the compliance framework, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead regulatory engagement and relationship management with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
• Oversee regulatory reporting, governance arrangements, monitoring programmes, and compliance assurance activities.
• Ensure effective management of safeguarding obligations, audit findings, regulatory actions, and remediation programmes.
• Provide leadership and direction across second-line compliance activities and risk oversight.

Product Governance & Compliance Advisory

• Partner closely with product, technology, and commercial teams to embed compliance considerations throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Provide strategic compliance input on new products, services, and business initiatives.
• Support the implementation of a compliance-by-design framework across the organisation.
• Conduct regulatory assessments, gap analyses, and approval reviews for new products and business propositions.
• Deliver pragmatic, commercially focused guidance that balances innovation with regulatory expectations.

International Expansion & Licensing

• Support the firm's growth strategy through regulatory analysis of new markets and jurisdictions.
• Advise on licensing requirements, regulatory permissions, and market-entry considerations.
• Assess regulatory implications of international expansion initiatives and emerging business models.
• Monitor global regulatory developments and emerging trends to ensure the business remains well-positioned for future opportunities.

Governance & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, executive committees, and boards.
• Present clear and concise updates on regulatory developments, compliance risks, and remediation activities.
• Develop meaningful compliance management information (MI), key risk indicators (KRIs), and reporting frameworks.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance and ethical conduct throughout the organisation.
• Represent the compliance function across governance forums, committees, and strategic projects.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate is likely to possess:

• 10+ years' experience within regulated financial services, including payments, e-money, banking, fintech, digital assets, or related sectors.
• Proven experience operating as a Head of Compliance, Deputy Head of Compliance, Compliance Director, or in a similarly senior compliance leadership role.
• Strong working knowledge of UK regulatory requirements, including:
• Payment Services Regulations (PSRs)
• Electronic Money Regulations (EMRs)
• FCA Handbook requirements
• Safeguarding obligations
• UK AML, Financial Crime, Sanctions, and CTF frameworks
• Experience engaging directly with regulators and managing regulatory relationships.
• Proven ability to advise on product governance, regulatory change, and business transformation initiatives.
• Experience supporting new licensing applications, regulatory permissions, or international expansion projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at Board and Executive Committee level.
• A commercial mindset and the ability to provide practical, risk-based solutions within a growth-oriented business.
• Professional compliance qualifications such as ICA, ACAMS, or equivalent.

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