MLRO (Digital Assets)

Location

London

Employment Type

Full time

Department

Financial Crime

Our Mission
Reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home, and become the leading cross-border fintech for emerging markets.

The Team
Founded by Harvard grads / 3rd-time founders; previously successful exits and revenue milestones across related ventures. Top performers from Bain, Bolt, Google, McKinsey, SafeBoda, Uber, Zipline, etc. Driven by mission and values; team is global with >30 languages from 25 countries.

About Us
Taptap Send is backed by top VCs and growing rapidly in a fast-paced tech startup environment. Launched in 2019, the company is focused on enabling immigrants to send money home instantly with reduced costs, targeting a large global market. Our mission is to reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home, and become the leading cross-border fintech for emerging markets. We charge fees for transfers on fixed exchange rate corridors (e.g., XOF, XAF).

Our Investors
Spark Capital, Canaan, Reid Hoffman, Breyer Capital, etc.

The Role

As the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for digital assets, you will help build our digital assets compliance programme and scale as we launch with customers in the UK and globally. You will provide leadership, expertise, and operational execution across multiple verticals.

This role sits within the Taptap Send UK and works closely with the local team and global group. You will be primarily responsible for all aspects of the second line of defence as they relate to digital assets in the UK (and beyond), ensuring compliance with FCA guidance and other regulatory requirements while engaging with regulatory bodies as needed. You will also support expansion into other jurisdictions, tailoring AML controls for digital assets to comply with evolving regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Due Diligence & Onboarding: Design the KYC/KYB onboarding process for customers holding digital assets with focus on anonymity, source of funds verification, and wallet screening. Oversee enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers and counterparties.

• Transaction Monitoring & Financial Crime Prevention: Oversee the implementation and ongoing refinement of transaction monitoring systems, crypto-specific risk indicators, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity detection. Ensure timely submission of SARs to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

• Regulatory Compliance & AML Oversight: Ensure full compliance with UK legislation (MLRs, POCA, Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act) and FCA requirements for cryptoasset firms. Maintain and enhance internal financial crime policies and risk-based procedures.

• Regulatory Engagement: Act as the primary point of contact for the FCA and other UK enforcement/regulatory bodies regarding digital assets. Manage regulatory queries, audits, and reviews, fostering a transparent relationship.

• Policy & Process Development: Develop, own, and maintain all digital assets-focused AML/CTF policies and procedures aligned with FCA expectations and best practices in the digital asset sector.

• Regulatory Reporting: Provide relevant inputs for all FCA-required reporting.

• Risk Monitoring & Compliance Testing: Continuously assess financial crime risks related to digital assets and design/execute ongoing compliance testing and assurance reviews.

• Internal Reporting: Prepare clear updates for executive leadership, risk committees, and the board; provide strategic input on performance, incident trends, and emerging risks in the digital asset space.

• Training & Culture Building: Design and deliver AML and compliance training focused on crypto-specific risks; foster a strong compliance culture and ownership of regulatory responsibilities.

• Audit & Internal Controls: Support audits and ensure controls, documentation, and governance demonstrate a robust financial crime framework.

• Global Expansion: Collaborate with compliance, product, and regulatory leads to design a global digital assets AML program and support licensing in other markets.

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 5+ years in compliance, AML, or financial crime roles within regulated financial institutions, fintech, or payments; strong emphasis on digital assets compliance and cross-border payments/remittances/FX.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of UK regulations and global digital assets AML/CFT trends (FATF, EU, US, etc.).

• SARs/STRs: Experience with Suspicious Activity/Transaction Reports to authorities.

• AML & Financial Crime Expertise: Experience in transaction monitoring, SARs/STRs, and investigations.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage regulators, law enforcement, financial institutions, and internal leadership.

• Technology & Compliance: Experience using technology to enhance compliance (monitoring, screening, automation).

• Analytical & Detail-Oriented: Strong ability to assess risks, interpret regulations, and implement controls.

• Education & Certifications: CAMS, ICA, or equivalent; Chainalysis/Elliptic certifications preferred.

Who You Are

• Execution-Oriented & Strong Operationally - You can execute strategies and implement effectively.

• Mission-Driven - Passionate about financial inclusion and fintech impact.

• Highly Organized - Capable of managing multiple compliance priorities.

• Resilient & Adaptable - Able to navigate regulatory landscapes and provide practical solutions.

Taptap Values

Impact first

Team next

Accept reality

Propose solutions

Win with grit

Be proactively candid, with yourself and others

Love the particular

Own it

Create positive energy

Maybe, even have fun

Taptap Send is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience and business need. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented communities. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. Any information you provide will be used to accommodate your requirements. Note: candidates who do not perfectly fit every characteristic are encouraged to apply.