Head of Compliance UK & Regulatory Operations (Group)

We are seeking a highly accomplished, commercially savvy and strategically-minded leader to serve as the strategic Compliance Executive for the Group. You will lead UK regulatory operations while spearheading the compliance framework for our global product and markets roadmap.. This is a unique and pivotal dual-mandate role. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring full regulatory adherence of our two regulated UK entities while simultaneously driving the global compliance strategy for products and new licences across the entire Group business. This position necessarily requires deep expertise in UK regulation (FCA), specifically for a payments and e-money institution, but uniquely combined with a proactive approach, excitement and flair for embedding compliance into the global product development lifecycle and expansion of our regulatory footprint. The Role - What will you be doing? UK and Strategic Compliance Lead You will serve as the strategic Compliance lead globally as well as the leader for our UK regulated entities, BCB Payments UK Ltd and BCB Markets UK Ltd, ensuring they meet our policy and regulatory framework requirements. Take full ownership of regulatory affairs, licensing, and direct engagement with the FCA. Oversee second line monitoring, safeguarding, internal audit findings remediation, ensuring issues are resolved with speed and precision. Global Product & Expansion This role has a global Compliance Advisory remit on all aspects of BCB’s product development and governance journey, plus global expansion efforts as we increase our regulatory footprint with new jurisdictions and new licences. You will ensure that as we enter new markets and launch new products, we incorporate a compliance-by-design approach. You will partner directly with Product teams to embed compliance controls into the development lifecycle from day zero, conduct gap analyses and risk assessments for new jurisdictions and product approvals, and oversee horizon scanning. Business Partnering & Reporting You will provide Compliance advice to business stakeholders in a clear, concise, and tailored manner, representing the Compliance function in internal committees and working groups. You will continually improve and strengthen our compliance framework, identify emerging risks, and embed a strong culture of compliance across the firm. Provide comprehensive, regular reporting on the status of UK compliance risks, regulatory changes, and remedial actions to the UK Board, relevant governance committees. Create and develop compliance management information (MI) & Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). Experience & Requirements You bring 10+ years of experience within the FCA-regulated payments, e-money, crypto, or banking sectors. You’ve spent at least 3-5 of those years in a senior leadership or Head of Compliance capacity, navigating the complexities of the UK regulatory landscape. You have a proven ability to act as a force multiplier for executive leadership, managing cross-functional strategic initiatives and motivating teams to deliver under pressure. You possess expert-level knowledge of PSRs, EMRs, the FCA handbook, and safeguarding rules. Crucially, you aren't intimidated by the "new": you have a deep interest in the evolving crypto asset sector and the global regulatory frontier. You maintain expert-level understanding of UK AML, CTF, and Sanctions regulations. While you aren't the MLRO, you speak their language fluently. You are as comfortable drafting a policy from scratch as you are debating a compliance strategy with senior leadership. You provide commercially viable, actionable advice that balances rapid innovation with rigorous risk management. You've spent years providing 2nd line advisory for product development and global expansion. You are as comfortable in a "hands-on" regulatory engagement with the FCA as you are influencing and collaborating with senior leadership. You are autonomous, proactive, and ‘get it done’. You th