Head of Risk, Compliance and MLRO

WHO WE ARE At Trustly, we're building a smarter, faster, and more secure financial future by revolutionizing the world of payments. As a global leader in Open Banking Payments, we are establishing Pay by Bank as the new standard at checkout, providing unparalleled freedom, speed, and ease to millions of consumers and merchants worldwide.
Our Ambition: To build the world's most disruptive payment network and redefine what the payment experience should feel like.
Trustly is a global team of innovators, collaborators, and doers.  If you are driven by a strong sense of purpose and thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and high-growth environment, join us and be part of a team that's transforming the way the world pays.
ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic leader to join our executive team as the Head of Risk and Compliance/ Chief Risk and Compliance Officer UK. This individual will also be nominated as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) (holding PSD Individual nominations for these roles).
This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing all aspects of the company's Risk, Compliance, and Anti-Financial Crime frameworks. You will be the primary point of contact for the FCA, NCA, and other regulatory bodies, ensuring the firm not only meets but exceeds its regulatory obligations.
As the head of the second line of defence, you will provide critical oversight for our subsidiary's operations, working closely with their Head of Compliance to ensure group-wide alignment. The successful candidate may also be required to serve as a statutory director and a member of the Board of Directors. What you'll do

• Your responsibilities will be broad, encompassing all Risk, Compliance, and Anti-Money Laundering policies for the company.

Governance, Strategy & LeadershipServe as a key advisor to the Board, CEO, and Senior Management on all risk and compliance matters.Play a crucial role in developing and maintaining the firm's Risk Appetite Statement, ensuring risk strategy aligns with the overall business strategy.Ensure that accurate, timely, and relevant risk and compliance information is provided to the Board, Senior Management, and regulators.Take full ownership of all Risk, Compliance, and AML/CTF policies, ensuring they are fit for purpose, regularly reviewed, and effectively embedded.Liaise with the Third Line of Defence (Internal Audit) to ensure controls are effective and remedial actions are tracked to completion. Risk Management Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of the company's Risk Management Framework.Ensure all material risks (operational, financial, regulatory, etc.) are identified, assessed, controlled, and mitigated.Conduct comprehensive Risk Assessments of the entity's operations, including business, products, customers, and outsourcing relationships.Ensure adherence to the Risk Strategy & Appetite Framework, including continuous monitoring and reporting. Compliance Develop, implement, and maintain an effective, UK-wide compliance framework, policies, and controls.Oversee the monitoring of compliance with all relevant regulatory obligations (e.g., PSRs, Open Banking regulations), including proactive surveillance to identify potential breaches.Advise the business on payment regulatory questions related to product development, merchant agreements, end-user terms, and partner relationships.Ensure and uphold data confidentiality, integrity, and availability, acting as the owner for reporting any data privacy incidents to relevant authorities.Provide oversight of the client fund safeguarding and reconciliation functions.Act as the final point of escalation to evaluate and decide on actions for all reported cases. Financial Crime & MLROAct as the nominated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Nominated Officer, holding personal responsibility for the firm's anti-financial crime framework.Serve as the primary contact for the National Crime Agency (NCA), Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), and law enforcement, managing all external SAR submissions.Establish, maintain, and oversee an effective anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) framework.Own the firm's general AML Risk Assessment, customer risk assessment methodologies, and transaction monitoring models.Provide final sign-off and review of all higher-risk customer relationships.Own and develop efficient KYC and underwriting processes to prevent the firm from being used for illicit transactions, including sanctions screening. Regulatory & UK OversightAct as the primary contact person for the FCA and other authorities, maintaining a proactive and transparent relationship.Manage all risk and compliance-related regulatory reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.UK Oversight: While the subsidiary has its own MLRO and Head of Compliance, you will be responsible for the parent company's oversight of the subsidiary's risk and compliance functions. This includes:Ensuring strategic alignment of risk frameworks and policies across the group.Reviewing group-level risks and controls.Providing strategic guidance and support to the subsidiary's leadership. Who you are

• Experience: A minimum of 6-10 years of relevant experience in risk and compliance roles within an FCA-regulated payments or e-money institution.
• Nominated Officer Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of demonstrable experience as a nominated MLRO and/or Head of Compliance.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Expert-level understanding of the UK regulatory landscape, including the Payment Services Regulations (PSRs), FCA Handbook, Proceeds of a Crime Act, Money Laundering Regulations,  JMLSG guidance, and Open Banking.
• Financial Crime Expertise: Deep and practical expertise in KYC, transaction monitoring, sanctions, SAR reporting, and managing investigations.
• Leadership: Proven experience in a senior leadership role with the ability to influence C-suite executives, board members, and regulators.
• Regulatory Relations: Demonstrable experience as the primary point of contact with the FCA and NCA.
• Previous experience as a statutory director or board member would be advantageous.
• Experience managing compliance in a complex group structure (parent/subsidiary) would be highly beneficial.
• Holding a relevant professional qualification (e.g., ICA Diploma, ACAMS) would be an asset.
• A legal background or qualification would be preferable.
• Strategic Thinker: Ability to see the bigger picture and align risk management with business goals.
• Unquestionable Integrity: A strong ethical compass and the courage to make difficult decisions.
• Excellent Communicator: Ability to distill complex regulatory concepts into clear, concise advice for stakeholders at all levels.
• Resilient & Pragmatic: A hands-on, problem-solving attitude with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced scale-up environment.

Our Fantastic Benefits (varies by location) 20 to 30 days of holiday to support a healthy work-life balance Monthly team outing allowance to enjoy social events with your colleagues Parental leave top-up additional support for new parents On-site perks to make your workday smoother Well being support our health allowance covers gym memberships, massages, and much more to help you feel your best PLUS additional benefits designed to enhance your work-life experience
Shape Your Role and Make an Impact Join a dynamic environment where you can take ownership, drive change, and continuously embrace new challenges. We're looking for dedicated and highly motivated individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy collaborating across different areas of the organisation. If your skills and experience align with this role, we'd love to hear from you Apply now and submit your CV in English. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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