Compliance Lead - APAC

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Compliance Lead to lead the regulatory and compliance function for a fast-growing global payments business.

This role will take end-to-end ownership of multiple payment licence applications across different jurisdictions , while building the compliance framework, policies and operational capabilities required to support the business from licensing through to launch and ongoing operations.

The ideal candidate is highly execution-oriented and has hands-on experience working with regulators, external counsel and internal stakeholders to successfully progress financial services or payment licence applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate multiple payment licence applications across key jurisdictions , managing the process from regulatory assessment and application preparation through submission, regulator Q&A and approval.
• Act as a key compliance contact with regulators, external legal counsel, consultants and banking/payment partners throughout the licensing process.
• Translate regulatory requirements into clear business, product, operational and technology requirements.
• Build and maintain the compliance framework required for licensed payment operations, including AML/CFT, KYC/KYB, sanctions, transaction monitoring, risk assessment, regulatory reporting and governance .
• Identify regulatory gaps and drive remediation with Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk, Legal and other relevant teams.
• Establish appropriate compliance policies, procedures, controls and monitoring mechanisms as the business expands into new markets.
• Advise management on licensing strategy, regulatory risks and market-entry requirements across jurisdictions.
• Manage regulatory examinations, information requests, licence conditions and ongoing regulatory obligations.
• Build and develop the compliance function as the business scales, including defining team structure and future hiring requirements.

Requirements

• 8+ years of Compliance / Regulatory experience within payments, fintech, banking, EMI, money services, digital assets or other regulated financial services.
• Strong hands-on experience with financial services or payment licence applications , ideally having personally led or played a major role in obtaining licences.
• Experience managing multiple jurisdictions or regulatory regimes simultaneously .
• Strong knowledge of AML/CFT, KYC/KYB, sanctions, transaction monitoring and broader payment compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to engage directly with regulators and manage regulatory questions through to resolution.
• Comfortable working closely with Product, Technology and Operations teams to turn regulatory requirements into practical controls.
• Strong project-management capability and ability to manage multiple licensing workstreams, dependencies and deadlines simultaneously.
• Builder mentality - comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment where frameworks and processes need to be developed from the ground up.

Strong Advantage

• Experience obtaining or maintaining licences such as MPI, EMI/PI, MSB/MTL, SVF, AFSL or equivalent payment/financial-services licences .
• Experience supporting a payments business expanding across APAC, Europe, the Middle East and/or North America .
• Experience taking a business from pre-licence regulatory approval operational launch .
• Previous experience as a Compliance Lead, Head of Compliance, MLRO or equivalent senior compliance role within a high-growth fintech or payments company.