Head of KYC Operations

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:  

The KYC Operations team are part of the Client Implementation team who sit within Copper’s Operations Department.  

The KYC Operations team will be responsible for completing and overseeing Know Your Customer (“KYC”) and Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) due diligence on Copper’s clients to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and to safeguard Copper against financial crime risk. 

ROLE PURPOSE:  

The Head of KYC Operations leads the strategic and operational delivery of Know Your Customer processes across the firm. This role ensures compliance with AML regulations, drives operational efficiency, and enhances client onboarding and ongoing due diligence experiences. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Strategic Leadership 

• Contributing to the continuous improvement of onboarding controls and refinement of KYC processes and procedures. 
• Lead transformation initiatives to improve KYC workflows and client journeys 
• Represent KYC operations in senior governance forums and risk committees 

Operational Oversight 

• Ensuring appropriate KYC and CDD checks are completed in line with Copper’s Compliance Policies in each operating jurisdiction. 
• Ensure adherence to internal policies and global regulatory requirements 

Risk & Compliance 

• Partner with Compliance to coordinate communications and interactions with regulators during audits and reviews 
• Leading the team to ensure there are comprehensive and robust quality checks on the cases completed by the Onboarding Analysts 
• Mitigate operational risks and ensure robust quality assurance processes 
• Collaborate with Compliance and Risk teams to align on regulatory expectations 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build strong relationships with internal partners, including senior leadership 
• Act as the primary interface with regulators during audits and reviews 
• Support client communications and manage escalations related to KYC 

Team Development 

• Coach and develop high-performing KYC professionals 
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and compliance excellence 
• Implement training frameworks and career development pathways

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE 

Essential  

• Extensive experience (10+ years) in KYC/AML operations within financial services 
• Proven leadership within a KYC team 
• Deep understanding of global financial crime regulations and KYC standards 
• Excellent KYC and CDD subject matter knowledge with 3-4 years managing a team onboarding institutional clients
• In depth understanding of the UK Money Laundering Regulations, EU Fifth Money Laundering Directive and global sanctions regimes

Desirable 

• Understanding of and genuine interest in Crypto, Fintech and Financial Services 
• Possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a qualified university 

THE BENEFITS OFFERED

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.

• Paid Time Off - A minimum of 35 days of paid time off per year, inclusive of annual leave and public holidays. Employees also receive one additional day of annual leave for each year of service.
• Comprehensive Medical Insurance - Inclusive of dental, optical, audiology, and mental health coverage, with medical history disregarded
• Life Insurance
• Enhanced Pension Contributions - Includes an enhanced employer matching contribution
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

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.