Risk and Compliance Director and MLRO - Liechtenstein

Since being founded in 2018, Copper has been building the standard for institutional digital asset infrastructure with a focus on custody, collateral management, and prime services.

Led by Amar Kuchinad, Copper's Global CEO, the firm provides a comprehensive suite of custody, trading and settlement solutions that reduce counterparty risk and bring greater capital and operational efficiency to digital asset markets. At the heart of Copper's offering is Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology – the gold standard in secure custody. Copper’s multi-award winning custody system is unique in that it can be connected to centralised exchanges, DeFi applications and even staking pools without the assets leaving the custody.

Built on top of this state-of-the-art custody, ClearLoop is the first solution in the market that overcomes a growing industry challenge; counterparty risk with exchanges. This solution underpins a full prime services offering, connecting global exchanges, and enabling customers to trade and settle directly from the safety of their MPC-secured wallets. By reducing settlement time for transfers to a few milliseconds (without blockchain network dependency) and offering enhanced security measures, ClearLoop is rapidly reshaping the way asset managers trade and manage capital.

In addition to industry-leading security certifications, Copper has one of the strongest insurance coverages in the industry from an A+ rated insurer, positioning the firm as the partner of choice for institutions seeking to safeguard their assets.

Department/Team Purpose:

Copper Markets (Liechtenstein) AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Copper Technologies (UK) Ltd and licensed under the TVTG regime by the FMA Liechtenstein, forms an integral part of Copper’s global compliance and risk function.  

The Risk & Compliance Department in Liechtenstein operates as both a strategic partner to the business and a core line of defense, working closely with the wider Copper compliance team – a collaborative, intellectually driven group of professionals dedicated to integrity, precision, and innovation.  

We take our work incredibly seriously, tackling novel issues and supporting the business with focus, precision, integrity, and a relentless cheerful approach. We know and support each other deeply as professionals and humans. 

We proudly hold a range of passports and qualifications and speak as many languages as we have team members - diversity and inclusion at all levels is deeply valued. 

Role Purpose:

As the Risk & Compliance Director of Copper Markets (Liechtenstein) AG, you will service as a key member of the local Executive (ExCo) and play a critical leadership role in shaping the entity’s risk and compliance framework. You will act as the appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Risk Manager under the TVTG regime – and, once the entity obtains its MiCA license, you will also assume these responsibilities under the MiCA regulatory Framework.  

In this capacity, the Risk & Compliance Director will lead and develop the local Risk & Compliance team while contributing strategically to Copper’s broader global compliance program. This role will work closely with Copper’s Swiss and global teams across Compliance, Legal, and Risk, ensuring alignment with group-wide standards and initiatives. The role will also be responsible for managing the regulatory relationship with the Financial Market Authority (FMA) in Liechtenstein.  

The role will be instrumental in enabling scalable and responsible growth across the EU and EEA, ensuring robust adherence to evolving regulatory requirements, and reinforcing a strong, risk-aware culture within a dynamic and regulated environment. 

Key Responsibilities of the role 

• Serve as the local Risk & Compliance Director and act as the designated MLRO. 

• Participate as a member of the local Executive Committee, advising on regulatory and risk-related matters. 

• Ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations in Liechtenstein (e.g., MiCA). 

• Implement and maintain a comprehensive risk management framework covering operational, financial, and regulatory risks. 

• Act as the primary liaison with local regulators, authorities, and auditors (e.g., FMA). 

• Lead the preparation and timely submission of regulatory filings and reports. 

• Collaborate with Swiss and global Compliance, Legal, and Risk teams to align with group-wide policies and ensure efficient service delivery. 

• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on the business proactively. 

• Promote a strong culture of risk awareness and compliance across the organisation. 

• Oversee all aspects of compliance, risk, and legal obligations, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards, particularly in AML, sanctions, and reporting. 

• Lead interactions with MROs and other financial regulators. 

• Manage escalations from the Compliance team and ensure proper regulatory reporting (e.g., SARs, STRs). 

• Drive continuous improvement of the risk framework, including taxonomy, documentation, internal controls, and risk assessments. 

• Ensure timely identification, escalation, and mitigation of risks in line with the company’s risk framework. 

• Develop and update strategies, policies, and procedures in collaboration with other departments to support compliance and risk management. 

• Provide leadership to enhance the Compliance program at both local and Group levels. 

• Oversee the effectiveness of transaction monitoring tools and protocols to detect and address illicit activity. 

• Offer senior advisory support to Marketing, Product, Strategy, and other teams from a compliance and risk perspective. 

• Manage regulatory and supervisory affairs, including oversight of legal and regulatory changes relevant to the business. 

• Foster organization-wide awareness of legal and regulatory obligations through collaboration and communication. 

• Design and deliver training programs for stakeholders, especially new joiners, on compliance, risk, and regulatory frameworks. 

Experience, Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Master’s degree in business administration, Finance, or a related field. 

• 10+ years of experience in compliance, AML/KYC, and risk management within regulated financial services, preferably in Liechtenstein or Switzerland. 

• Strong leadership background with a proven track record in regulatory compliance and governance frameworks. 

• In-depth knowledge of Swiss, EU, Liechtenstein, and/or UK regulatory regimes, including experience with regulatory processes and stakeholder engagement. 

• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with regulators and lead regulatory initiatives. 

• Familiarity with digital assets, blockchain technology, and FinTech business models. 

• Experience contributing to business development and strategic projects. 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. 

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a high degree of accountability and integrity. 

• Fluent in English; proficiency in German is highly desirable (additional languages are a plus). 

• Strong technical understanding of compliance and risk-related tools and frameworks. 

Desirable 

• Degree or professional equivalent in a relevant discipline, legal or law qualification desirable. 

• CAMS, CFE, CIA or other relevant certification(s) preferable. 

• Demonstrable research skills regarding forthcoming regulatory and legal developments, assessing and determining the impact to the business. 

• Knowledge of financial markets, investment products and asset classes and willingness to expand knowledge further. 

In return for everything you can bring to Copper, we can offer you an exciting, challenging role in a fast-growing and dynamic business, with career opportunities and welcoming working environment.

If you think you have everything we're looking for and more, then we'd love you to apply for the opportunity.

Copper is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and equal opportunities in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. So, bring us your experience, perspectives, and skills. It is in our differences that we will continue to grow and ensure Copper is transforming how institutional investors engage with digital assets. Copper is a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you have a disability. If you require us to provide any assistance during the recruitment process, then we would ask you to highlight this to us and we will be happy to accommodate.