Head of AML & CTF (PCF-52)

Building the Future of Open Finance

Payward - the parent company behind Kraken, NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, Payward Services and CF Benchmarks - has spent the last 15 years building one of the most modern and globally accessible financial infrastructure platforms in the industry, built to advance an open, global financial system.

Before you apply, we encourage you to explore our culture page to understand what drives us and how we work.

The team

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world's longest-standing crypto platforms, trusted by over 10 million individuals and institutions across the globe. It offers spot trading, margin, futures, staking, and OTC services, with products built for both individual investors and institutional clients.

Payward has a world-class team with crypto conviction that provides multiple financial services to our clients worldwide, united by our desire to discover and unlock the potential of crypto and blockchain technology.

Payward Europe Solutions Ltd (PESL), Payward Inc.’s EU based crypto asset service provider offering brokerage, transfer and custody services for EEA clients, is hiring a Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Compliance. This person is the designated Pre-Approval Controlled Function (PCF-52) under the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness & Probity regime.

We are looking for a builder who continuously improves compliance programs to stay ahead of market growth and upcoming regulation. If you want to build the compliance infrastructure that defines what responsible crypto and regulated financial services look like in the EU, using the best technology available, at one of the most recognized names in the industry, during the most consequential regulatory moment in fintech history, this is the opportunity.

This role leads PESL's AML/CFT compliance framework, ensuring that the business maintains effective systems, controls, governance, and reporting to comply with all applicable Irish and EU anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing, sanctions, and related financial crime obligations. You will act as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer and support PESL’s Crypto Asset Services Provider license working closely with colleagues across our EEA and global businesses.

You will hold a senior control function with direct access to senior management and the board, and authority to escalate material issues independently. You will have significant influence in shaping compliance infrastructure for one of the EU’s largest crypto brokerages, part of the Payward group of companies rapidly expanding its products and services. You will be a commercially savvy leader who proactively helps the business to grow.

The ideal candidate should be “systems thinker” who deploys technology solutions including AI with the goal of automating everything possible consistent with regulatory requirements to scale the program as a risk based, operationally effective, data driven machine. This is the opportunity to build a compliance function that looks nothing like what you've been running - one where the answer to volume growth is never "hire more analysts." Our flat structure promotes autonomy, proximity to senior staff, and speed. We promote internal mobility to enhance career development.

Appointment is subject to approval by the CBI and PESL’s Board of Directors. The person will report to the Head of Compliance, PESL and PESL’s CEO with accountability to the PESL Board.

The opportunity

• Lead and maintain the firm’s AML/CFT compliance framework in line with applicable legal, regulatory, and internal policy requirements.
• Act as the senior accountable officer for AML/CFT compliance governance, oversight, and escalation.
• Develop, implement, and periodically review AML/CFT policies, standards, procedures, and controls.
• Oversee the firm’s enterprise-wide AML/CFT risk assessment and ensure that risks are identified, assessed, mitigated, and reported appropriately.
• Design, implement and oversee policies, procedures and controls for AMLR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1624) compliance
• Partner with the business to bring to market products and services quickly
• Implement operational efficiencies deploying an automate everything mindset
• Ensure robust controls are in place for customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, ongoing monitoring, screening, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity escalation.
• Oversee the firm’s suspicious transaction/reporting processes, including internal escalation, external reporting, and maintenance of appropriate records.
• Provide oversight of sanctions compliance controls, including screening governance, escalation processes, and regulatory developments, where applicable.
• Advise senior management and the board on AML/CFT matters, emerging risks, regulatory expectations, and control enhancements.
• Prepare and deliver regular AML/CFT management information, reporting, and risk updates to relevant governance forums, senior management, and the board.
• Act as the principal point of contact for the Central Bank of Ireland and other relevant authorities on AML/CFT matters.
• Ensure regulatory findings, audit issues, compliance reviews, and internal control gaps are remediated in a timely and effective manner.
• Oversee AML/CFT training and awareness programs to ensure staff understand their obligations and relevant risk indicators.
• Work closely with Compliance, Legal, Risk, Operations, Product, Customer Engagement, and technology teams to embed AML/CFT requirements into business processes, systems, and change initiatives.
• Support new product, jurisdiction, customer segment, and outsourcing assessments to ensure AML/CFT risks are appropriately considered before launch or implementation.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of third parties and outsourced service providers performing AML/CFT-related activities on behalf of the firm.
• Promote a strong culture of financial crime compliance, accountability, and ethical conduct across the organization.

What you bring

• Experience in crypto, fintech, or another regulated, fast-paced industry with a high volume of transactions.
• Significant experience in AML/CFT, financial crime compliance, or regulatory compliance within a regulated financial services firm.
• Previous experience as a PCF-52 with a CASP or financial services firm
• Strong knowledge of Irish and EU AML/CFT legislation, regulatory expectations, and applicable guidance.
• Experience designing, implementing, and overseeing AML/CFT compliance frameworks in complex or high-growth environments using technology.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with regulators, senior management, boards, audit, and second- and third-line oversight functions.
• Strong understanding of AML/CFT risk assessment, CDD/EDD, transaction monitoring, screening, suspicious activity reporting, and governance.
• Experience managing compliance issues in relation to new products, technology, outsourcing, and cross-border operations.
• Strong judgment, independence, and ability to challenge effectively at senior levels.
• Must satisfy Fitness & Probity standards, including competence, capability, honesty, integrity, and financial soundness.
• Risk-based decision-making
• Cross-functional collaboration

Nice to haves

• Previous experience with MiFID II/Market Abuse Directive

Unless a specific application deadline is stated in the job posting, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Please note, applicants are permitted to redact or remove information on their resume that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, assessing candidates in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Our commitment

Payward is powered by people from around the world and we celebrate the diverse talents, backgrounds, contributions, and unique perspectives that everyone brings to the table. We hire based on merit, seeking out people with the right abilities, knowledge, and skills for the job. We encourage you to apply for roles where you don't fully meet the listed requirements, especially if you're passionate or knowledgeable about crypto.

We may ask candidates to complete job-related skills or work-style assessments as part of our hiring process. These assessments evaluate competencies relevant to the role and are applied consistently across candidates for similar positions. Results are considered alongside experience and interviews, and are not the sole basis for any employment decision.

As an equal opportunity employer, we don't tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind, whether based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

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