A rapidly expanding FinTech, renowned for its breakthrough product, is keen to increase its footprint and make their transition to the European financial markets. Hence keen to attract a Chief Compliance Officer (with a strong compliance and regulatory background from the Financial
Services/Payments industry to launch and scale the European business).

About the firm: founded by a small team from three Unicorns, who launched a new international money transfer service for Europe and need your help to make it happen.

The young and agile set up is a combination of discipline and excellence showcased by its team of specialists and prior track record by having built Unicorns all characterized by believing in the product, the team and their vision, coupled with a winner mentality.

Background: The ideology behind the set up is to change the way people perceive Financial Services, in specific in the money transfer space and make it within reach for a specific segment, not a mass market. This Fintech seeks to bridge that gap and bring more accessibility, awareness and cost effectiveness for power user customers of money transfer apps.

Human Capital: There is a strong belief in in vesting in its Human Capital, thus very selective in terms of its recruiting endeavors, onboarding a diverse set of high caliber professionals with the finest track record and foremost, the right mindset.

Vision: The vision is to become a top international money transfer business in the next five years which is in line with the funding and trust received from four global top ranked Venture Capitalists.

Need: As next steps to achieve their vision, the firm is looking to expand its services to the European markets and seeks an imminent compliance leader (MLRO CCO) who understands how payments institutions operate, having advised on everything from safeguarding to AML controls over many years. Comfortable holding the pen on policies, procedures and other documentation related to their compliance framework and know the importance of writing things down.

Main technical trait: You understand the licensing process of payments institutions by the FSMA /NBB and are confident in leading them through it. A Compliance Risk leader in the financial services space with solid experience in international payment services in Europe.

Cultural traits: This incumbent needs to have a "can do" mentality to help become licensed in Belgium and build out their local entity from scratch, with a view on a European role. A solid understanding of the compliance posture of the Belgian (EU preferred) market from a professional
and cultural standpoint. Excited to problem solve with product and engineering teams to bring innovative products to markets. Really someone who says ‘ in the benefit of the customer. Ability to articulate and materialize issues and developments if and when they have a compliance or operational perspective.

Geographic focus: After extensive research, Belgium as a location is the best option due to the regulatory environment. Post the appointment of the CCO, the firm seeks to add Country Managers and other key resources to further grow in Europe. The Belgium office will be the core of their EU operations and will draw from distributed top European talent. Due to the passport regime, they can be flexible in countries to navigate through Europe. The idea is to not be heavily UK centralized with regards to Management, but more spread through continental Europe, in order to have exposure to the full scale of top European talent.

Strategy: The strategy is to build a business around customers who are more serious about making a switch, more high end customers, not too affluent, but financially savvy. Delivering a high level of service, coupled with tailored use cases. Within this market segment, the value and focused product experience is substantial enough to make that switch.

Team: To help the business thrive, this FinTech is keen to attract someone who has experience with building a business from scratch startup environment. Has worked in/with small teams and enjoys hands on work. You’ll be joining a team of special forces, not generals. In case of ambiguity, take ownership of the problem and fix it. A non bureaucratic environment with extremely high qualified employees.

Incentives: The company rewards their leadership management with equity to align their interest and motivation into the growth of the firm. The view here is to provide their employees an ability to have a long term impact and incentive within the company ( rather than a short term focus based only on a bonus.

About you

• You reside in Belgium or are otherwise eligible to be a corporate director of their local entity there.
• You understand the licensing process of payments institutions by the FSMA /NBB and are confident in leading them through it.
• You’re a compliance leader who understands how payments institutions operate, having advised on everything from safeguarding to AML controls over many years
• You’re comfortable holding the pen on policies, procedures and other documentation related to their compliance framework. You know the importance of writing things down.
• You can demonstrate an ability to work cross functionally to help solve problems for customers.
  Constantly iterating is important to you.
• You work well independently and as part of a small team, and you don’t worry too much about
  hierarchies.

About the role

• You’ll help become licensed in Belgium and build out their local entity from scratch.
• You’ll use their existing foundations to localize a compliance function that protects customers and the financial system from harm. In time, you’ll develop ways to identify and track their risk exposure, compliance with rules and internal policies and communicate these findings across the business.
• You’ll implement a structure where you identify that it is missing in order to enable them to scale
  rapidly across the continent. To do this you will build, test and constantly refine as they learn more
  about their customers.
• You’ll help offer an unrivaled service to their customers by anticipating their use cases and understanding where friction might lie. Instead of inconveniencing customers, you’ll help delight them.