Compliance Officer (Figure Markets Ireland Limited)

About Figure Markets

Figure Markets is democratising finance through blockchain.  We’re building the exchange for everything - a decentralised custody marketplace for crypto, stocks, bonds, credit and more.  We’re bringing best in class leverage, margining and liquidity to our exchange, while offering our members extensive borrowing options and unique investment opportunities.

Figure Markets is built on the Provenance Blockchain, and we use its native token, Hash, on the exchange.  Provenance Blockchain embodies truth over trust and provides a foundation for Figure Markets to bring transparency and efficiency in a decentralised world.

Figure Markets is backed by leading venture capital firms and strategic partners, including Jump Crypto, Pantera, Distributed Global, Faction Lightspeed, NewForm Capital and CMT Digital.  Figure Markets was founded by a seasoned team of entrepreneurs and operators from tradfi, fintech and defi, including Mike Cagney and June Ou.

About Figure Markets Ireland

Established in 2023, Figure Markets Ireland Limited (“Figure Markets Ireland”) completed its registration with the Central Bank of Ireland (“Central Bank”) as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (“VASP”) November 2024, and is currently working on obtaining authorisation under Markets in Crypto Asset Regulations (“MiCAR”) and Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID”).

About the Role

Based in Ireland and reporting directly to the Chief Compliance Officer of Figure Markets Ireland, the successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and managing the Compliance Monitoring and Controls Testing Programme for Figure Markets Ireland and beyond. You will become a trusted advisor as we build Figure Markets Ireland into a leading licensed Exchange across Ireland and the EEA.  In this role you will partner with colleagues across Figure Markets Group, including in the US, to design and oversee a robust Compliance Monitoring and Controls Testing Programme (“CMCTP”) .

We support remote working within Ireland with some face time required in Dublin/Kilkenny.

You will work within the Figure Markets compliance and risk teams with a specific focus on compliance monitoring and controls testing across all Figure Markets Ireland’ functions, and processes, whether carried out in-house, or outsourced to service providers.   You will be a subject matter expert on end-to-end implementation of a CMCTP, including compliance analytics tools, drafting model documents, and performing annual model validation of processes, to detect non-compliant or unusual activity and investigate and report in accordance with regulatory requirements.

This is a Central Bank of Ireland (Central Bank) Control Function (CF-2) Ensuring, controlling or monitoring compliance by a regulated financial service provider with its relevant obligations), and applicants must be confident of always meeting the applicable standards of the Fitness and Probity regime.

What You’ll Do

• Compliance Monitoring and Controls Testing Program: You will design, implement and manage development and implementation of a risk-based CMCTP to help identify and manage compliance risks across our business ensuring that there is comprehensive and proportionate compliance assurance, testing and monitoring for Figure Markets Ireland and agreed additional aspects of the Ireland/EEA business. Responsible for monitoring whether the measures, policies, controls and procedures implemented by Figure Markets Ireland comply with Figure Markets Ireland’s financial crime obligations and also oversee the effective application of controls applied by business lines and internal units (first line of defence).
• Compliance Management: Provide day-to-day assistance and advice on compliance matters to Executive Management, Managers and Employees. Support wider compliance and risk team as necessary, including deputising for the CCO, when necessary.
• Compliance Risk Management: ensure that the CMCTP Risk Register is updated where necessary, and in any case when deficiencies are detected, new risks emerge or the legal or regulatory environment in which we operate has changed (e.g. new products, new geographies, new service providers). Recommend to the Board and Executive Management corrective measures to be taken to address identified weaknesses in the compliance framework, including weaknesses identified by competent authorities or by internal or external auditors.
• Culture: Promote transparency and accountability within Figure Markets Ireland including a strong culture of financial crime compliance across Figure Markets Ireland.
• Policy and Procedures: Draft, review and evaluate company policies and procedures to ensure they are up-to-date and compliant with current regulations. Ensure that the policies, procedures and internal control measures are adequate, in place, kept up to date, proportionate, and implemented effectively on an ongoing basis, taking into account the characteristics of Figure Markets Ireland and the compliance risks to which it is exposed.  Manage Board approved governance documentation aligned to EU regulations, and all associated regulations ensuring the future-proofing for future regulatory legislation, rules and guidance (where possible), Compliance Management including Compliance Management Charter, Compliance Management Policy, Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Risk Registers.
• Licensing: Support Figure Markets Ireland in obtaining and maintaining regulatory licences and/or registrations, including proactive identification of changes required to maintain registrations or licences as required.
• Audit and Examinations: Manage independent audits, regulatory examinations and support internal audit inspections and reviews.
• Annual Compliance Plan: Support the CCO in creating a detailed annual compliance plan and comprehensive program of work for the year ahead.
• Collaboration: Collaborating with other internal teams including the control functions of Compliance, Risk and Internal Audit and all business operations teams which include Business Development, Engineering, Finance, Information Security, Legal, Marketing, Operations, Product, and Technology, to address compliance issues which may impact the supported business.
• Reporting: draft and present compliance reports to provide information about the level of exposure to compliance risks, and the measures taken or recommended to reduce and effectively manage these risks including relevant Management Information and Key Risk Indicators to Executive Management, Compliance, Risk, the Audit and Risk Committee and the Board. Raise and report regulatory breaches to the CCO and Risk as required.
• Training and Education: assess any specific training needs within Figure Markets Ireland and ensure that adequate theoretical and practical training is provided to the persons exposed to different levels of compliance risk. Adjust the content of the specific training programmes delivered to persons with different levels of exposure to compliance risk on a risk-sensitive basis as described in Central Bank and EBA guidelines and determine indicators of assessment to check the effectiveness of training provided.  Assist in developing and delivering training programs on compliance-related topics to employees.
• Stay Informed: Assess and oversee the implementation of new regulatory compliance requirements, perform regulatory horizon scanning, and advise executive management accordingly. Analyse existing and proposed legislation, regulatory changes and industry practices which may impact the business to ensure our processes remain compliant (regulatory universe). 
• Primary Support: Support the CCO in all compliance matters, serving as a primary point of contact when called upon, for external stakeholders, including regulators, auditors, clients, and investors, addressing inquiries, conducting risk reviews, and demonstrating the firm's commitment to compliance risk management excellence.

What We Look For

• Experience: 10+ years of experience in the EU compliance management field in FinTech industry, specifically in crypto, eMoney, payment servicers, MiFID or other cross-border financial services sector, preferably with the previous experience in the role of Central Bank approved Head of Compliance in Ireland (PCF-12) or Head of AML & CFT Compliance (PCF-52).
• Start-Up: Experience of building the CMCTP in a startup / from scratch.
• Governance: In depth knowledge of core compliance management principles (e.g., governance, three lines of defence model), experience with building out financial crime compliance programs at varying maturity levels.
• Analytical Thinking: Analysing and breaking issues down to resolve them. Make systematic and rational judgement based on relevant information and experience.
• Balance: Ability to balance strategic focus with tactical implementation and efficient execution.
• Project Management: Strong organisation, project and time management skills with ability to plan and prioritise workload; ability to multitask and meet deadlines with quality product.
• International Expertise: Knowledge of international best practices, including EBA, GRC, and ISO considerations.
• Strategic Thinker: Ability to develop and execute compliance management strategies that support business goals and drive organisational success.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at all levels. Ability to convey information clearly and concisely to groups or individuals to ensure they understand the information and message, presenting information suited to the characteristics and needs of the audience.  Act as main representative for financial crime matters within the company for both internal and external matters, including the Central Bank.  Fluency in the English language is a must.  Any other language will be considered an asset.
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-changing and fast-paced startup environment, being flexible while able to prioritise and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in a business related field.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and growth opportunities
• Company quarterly performance based bonus
• Equity stock options package
• Employer funded comprehensive health, vision, dental insurance and wellness program for employees and their dependents
• Home office and technology stipend for those working outside of a traditional office more than 75% of the time
• Employer funded life, disability and death-in-service insurance coverage
• Flexible time-off plan to empower employees to take the time off that they want and need
• Continuing education reimbursement
• Routine Team swag deliveries

Figure Markets Ireland will not sponsor work visas for this position. In compliance with Ireland employment law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in Ireland and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.