Head of UK Compliance & MLRO

The Role

The Head of UK Compliance is responsible for the management of all compliance topics for Mollie UK whilst ensuring alignment with the second-line strategy of the wider Mollie Group. 

The successful candidate will be a member of the Mollie UK Board of Directors and will report directly to the Group Head of Compliance. This role sits within Mollie’s Compliance Team and is based in our London office. 

Your Opportunity

Mollie is looking to hire an exceptional Head of Compliance in the UK. In our journey to make money management effortless for every business across Europe and the UK, we are looking for a versatile and passionate compliance professional. 

As a fintech company, Mollie provides an opportunity for creating a risk aware entrepreneurial culture that empowers our business to make smart risk-based decisions whilst seeking out opportunities for growth and innovation. Mollie’s customer focused way of working will enable you to interact directly across our business domains to support them in delivering quality solutions and products for our customers.  

In your role as Head of UK Compliance, you will provide strategic oversight, design and implementation of Mollie UK’s second-line activities whilst also being actively involved in day-to-day compliance topics for a high growth market within the Mollie Group. This requires an individual with the flexibility to provide strategic thought leadership and direction whilst also being adept at providing pragmatic advice direct to Mollie’s business stakeholders. 

What You Will Be Doing

• Act as a Board Member for Mollie UK and participate in meetings of other bodies / committees (both of Mollie UK and at Mollie Group level) as Head of UK Compliance; 

• Operate as a core team member within Mollie’s Compliance Domain;

• Advise, guide and collaborate with key stakeholders and cross-functional teams within Mollie to ensure compliance is integrated into business processes and new initiatives;

• Provide strategic second-line advice to help expand Mollie’s product and service offerings in the UK market; 

• Provide daily oversight and advice relating to financial crime and customer integrity matters for the UK business and act as Mollie UK’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer; 

• Develop a strong and productive working relationship with the FCA (and other relevant UK regulatory or government bodies);

• Work with the Mollie UK Board to provide assurance on the key operational and compliance risks of the UK business;

• Liaise with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and internal and external auditors;

• Conduct periodic risk assessments to identify potential compliance gaps and develop effective action plans;

• Monitor and assess existing policies, procedures, and controls to ensure ongoing compliance together with providing early warning, guidance, and advice on upstream and regulatory change, assessing the key implications for the UK business;

• Prepare accurate compliance and risk reports to management and regulatory bodies; 

• Coordinate and monitor regulatory inspections, investigations, thematic reviews, inquiries, self-assessments, surveys, questionnaires, and consultations to ensure timely and quality submissions; and 

• Be responsible for the continued implementation of Mollie UK’s risk frameworks and compliance monitoring plans to ensure appropriate systems and controls. 

What You Will Bring

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience within the financial services sector which should include mid to senior level roles in a second-line compliance function; 

• Experience within a payment services provider, financial institution or consultancy firm is highly regarded; 

• Broad and strong technical knowledge and understanding of the financial services industry and specifically, payments services and current issues impacting businesses in the sector (including relevant regulatory, compliance and risk requirements);

• Knowledge of responsibilities as a Director of a UK company;

• Strong understanding of the requirements of a PSD Individual as authorised by the FCA (previous experience is a PSD Individual a plus); 

• Advanced degree in (preferably) law, comparable study or demonstrably a comparable level of knowledge and thinking. A certified compliance education is a strong plus; 

• In-depth knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards for financial institutions operating in the UK and the European Union; 

• The successful candidate will have a strong grasp of the Payment Services Regulations in the UK including strong affinity with the FCA Handbook and associated materials; 

• Familiarity with AML / CFT monitoring tools and systems will be highly regarded; 

• A proactive, agile, and analytical approach with a strong sense of structure and organisational skills; 

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and influence stakeholders at all levels;

• A positive and ambitious perspective, with an ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment; and

• Excellent English oral and written communication skills (fluency in another European language is a plus). 

This role will suit a suitably senior and ambitious compliance professional ready to take the next step in their career into a ‘Head of’ role.