MLRO, UK

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.

We are seeking an experienced and driven MLRO to lead the financial crime compliance programmes across Payward Ltd (PWL) and Payward Services Ltd (PSL), two FCA-regulated UK entities within the Kraken Group. This is a senior role with end-to-end responsibility for the effectiveness of the firms’ anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and sanctions controls.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of financial crime risk management. This includes maintaining a robust control framework, advising on risk treatment across products and clients, and overseeing the operation and continuous improvement of transaction monitoring and sanctions screening systems.

The opportunity

• Oversight of the AML/CTF and sanctions compliance frameworks across PWL and PSL

• Develop, implement and maintain the firm’s AML/CTF policies, controls and procedures, ensuring that any global policies, controls and procedures meet UK regulatory requirements

• Oversight of transaction monitoring, internal SAR and external SAR/DAML reporting

• Oversight of CDD, EDD, enhanced monitoring and sanctions screening processes for the UK

• Approve all new high risk client relationships and all periodic review outcomes of existing HRCs

• Maintain and regularly update the firms’ business-wide financial crime risk assessments

• Provide expert advice on AML and sanctions compliance across the customer lifecycle, including onboarding, periodic review, and investigations

• Coordinate internal assurance activity and support external audits and regulatory reviews of the financial crime framework

• Deliver training and awareness programmes to ensure staff understand their financial crime responsibilities

• Prepare regular reporting and MI for senior management, risk committees, and the board

• Lead delivery of UK MLRO team monthly review of UK corporate clients

• Produce an annual MLRO report to the Board of Directors that assesses the overall AML/CTF framework and highlights emerging risks and improvements planned

• Review monthly compliance and AML MI in order to identify trends, issues and ensure appropriate mitigation / escalation to the Board where appropriate

• Attend relevant Committee meetings and Board meetings, support Executive decision making, escalate AML program related issues

• Lead on strategic AML framework initiatives/implementations (e.g. Travel Rule)

• Horizon scanning - monitor regulatory developments and ensure timely updates to internal policies and procedures

• Liaise with law enforcement and regulatory authorities as required:

  • Regular engagement with FCA supervisory team

  • PoC for NCA

  • Support LEAs with setting up accounts

What you bring

• Significant experience in AML/CTF and financial crime compliance within a regulated financial services firm

• Deep understanding of the UK Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of Crime Act, UK sanctions regime (OFSI), and relevant industry guidance (e.g. JMLSG)

• Proven track record of operating or overseeing transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and customer due diligence systems

• Skilled in translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable policy and operational controls

• Confident communicator, able to influence senior stakeholders and represent the firm in external engagements

• Proactive, detail-oriented, and resilient — with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage competing priorities

Nice to haves

• Significant experience in AML/CTF and financial crime compliance within a regulated cryptoasset, e-money, or payments firm

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.

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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