Chief Compliance Officer - USA

About us:

BVNK provides modern payment infrastructure for businesses. We unify banks and blockchains in a single platform. With BVNK, businesses can send and receive stablecoin payments, convert between currencies, and add stablecoin payments to their checkout. Using our flexible platform, and robust global licensing and compliance expertise, innovators can launch new payment products quickly and compliantly.

We are a diverse team spread across the UK, Europe, South Africa, the US, and APAC, with a shared belief that all payment flows will interact with crypto in the coming decade, and BVNK will be at the forefront of this transformation of the financial system. We have raised $50M in Series B funding from top investors including Haun Ventures, Tiger Global, and Coinbase Ventures, and we're looking for smart, ambitious people to help us build the next generation of payments. 

We're incredibly honored to have made Newsweek's list of The Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces 2 years running (2023 and 2024) and to have been recognized by LinkedIn as one of the Top 20 Startups in the UK in 2024.

About this role in the team:

As BVNK expands its operations in the U.S., the Compliance team plays a critical role in establishing and maintaining a regulated business environment. This role is pivotal in building the compliance infrastructure required to develop and launch regulated products in the U.S., working closely with teams across product, engineering, legal, commercial, finance, and banking. You will be at the center of shaping BVNK's regulatory strategy as we grow in the U.S., ensuring compliance while driving innovation in the crypto payments space.

As Chief Compliance Officer, you will lead the U.S. compliance team, directly advising senior leadership on complex regulatory matters and overseeing the development of compliance procedures for our expanding U.S. operations. You will collaborate with the global team to ensure that we meet the regulatory standards and maintain strong relationships with key U.S. regulators and law enforcement agencies.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Lead BVNK’s U.S. compliance function, ensuring all products, operations, and policies meet federal and state-level regulatory requirements.

• Oversee the maintenance of state money transmitter licenses, ensuring timely renewals, regulatory exams, and ongoing compliance obligations.

• Develop and execute a sustainable compliance and governance framework that aligns with U.S. regulatory expectations while enabling scalability.

• Work closely with Product and BizOps teams to embed compliant but commercially viable compliance strategies into BVNK’s U.S. operations.

• Build and maintain relationships with U.S. regulators, law enforcement, and industry bodies, acting as BVNK’s key compliance representative.

• Oversee regulatory reporting, audits, and state-level testing to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and proactive issue resolution.

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and controls that support business growth while mitigating financial crime, AML, and sanctions risks.

• Collaborate with global compliance teams to ensure BVNK’s U.S. framework aligns with global regulatory obligations and best practices.

• Act as a senior compliance advisor to the CEO and leadership team on U.S. regulatory developments, risks, and strategic compliance initiatives.

• Oversee and scale the U.S. compliance team, ensuring high performance, ongoing training, and a culture of compliance excellence.

• Represent BVNK at industry events, advocating for compliance as a strategic differentiator with customers and partners.

• Travel as required, including international travel for collaboration with global teams.

What We Need from You:

• 5+ years of C-suite or executive-level experience in compliance, or 10+ years in senior leadership within a compliance function, preferably in financial services, fintech, or crypto sectors.
• Proven track record of managing U.S. regulatory compliance, including direct engagement with U.S. financial regulators, law enforcement agencies, and oversight of nationwide Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs).
• Ideally, experience within a U.S. regulated crypto financial institution, with a deep understanding of virtual asset compliance frameworks and New York State's BitLicense requirements/expectations.
• Extensive experience in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring operational compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Expertise in translating complex regulatory requirements into practical, scalable compliance solutions that align with business objectives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strategic mindset for balancing compliance obligations with commercial growth.
• Degree-level education and professional certification in compliance or a related field.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and advise senior leadership on compliance risks and regulatory developments.

What you can expect from us:

• Fair and competitive salary at every stage of your growth
• Meaningful ownership in the business through our employee option scheme
• Flexible working hours, with hybrid working at its heart
• A culture built on passionate growth-minded people
• A flexible approach to holiday
• Opportunities to travel to our offices around the world
• An open and creative environment where you can help us define the future of BVNK, its culture, and its opportunity sets

At BVNK, we are focused on building a diverse and inclusive team. While you may not meet all of our requirements, we’d encourage you to apply if you meet the majority of our expectations. You may be a great fit for this role or another role in our team.