Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing Compliance (PCF-52), 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, with a dotted reporting line to the Board of Directors of Figure Markets Ireland, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing the financial crime compliance framework for Ireland and beyond. You will become a leader and 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 financial crime risk management framework.

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 anti-financial crime initiatives including anti-money laundering (“AML”), countering terrorism financing (“CTF”), international financial sanctions (“FS”), anti-bribery and corruption (“ABC”), (together “financial crime)” matters in Ireland, with primary responsibility to act as Head of AML and CTF Compliance (“AMLCO”) with a direct reporting line to the Chief Compliance Officer, Figure Markets Ireland.  You will be a subject matter expert on end-to-end implementation of financial crime, including financial crime compliance analytics tools, drafting model documents, and performing annual model validation of CDD processes, transaction monitoring and sanctions screening tools to detect unusual activity and investigate and report suspicious activity in accordance with regulatory requirements.

This is a Central Bank of Ireland (Central Bank) Controlled Function (CF-2- Ensuring, controlling or monitoring compliance by a regulated financial service provider with its relevant obligations) and a Pre-Approved Control Function (PCF-52), and applicants must be confident of always meeting the applicable standards of the Fitness and Probity regime.

What You’ll Do

• Financial Crime Compliance Management: Work with Executive Management in making strategic decisions and planning, seeking to optimise financial crime compliance management in the organisation. Establish and implement the Financial Crime Compliance Management Programme across Figure Markets Ireland.  Provide day-to-day assistance and advice on financial crime issues to the Board, Executive Management, Managers and Employees.
• Compliance Management: Support wider compliance and risk team as necessary, including deputising for the CCO, and other local AMLCOs when necessary.
• Culture: Promote transparency and accountability within Figure Markets Ireland including a strong culture of financial crime compliance across Figure Markets Ireland.
• Compliance Testing: Develop and implement the Compliance Monitoring and Controls Testing Programme (“CMCTP"), perform compliance testing on financial crime processes, transactions, and systems to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and internal policies. 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).
• Risk Management: ensure that the AML/CFT Business Risk Assessment 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 financial crime framework, including weaknesses identified by competent authorities or by internal or external auditors.
• 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 financial crime 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 financial crime risks to which it is exposed.  Manage Board approved governance documentation aligned to EU financial crime related regulations, and all associated regulations ensuring the future-proofing for future financial crime related 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 financial crime audits and financial crime aspects of general audits, internal audit and regulatory examinations.
• 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 financial crime compliance issues which may impact the supported business.
• Reporting - General: draft and present a progress report of any significant remedial programmes, at least once a year as part of the AMLCO Annual Report and on an ad hoc basis or periodically, depending on the improvements, to provide information about the level of exposure to the financial crime risks, and the measures taken or recommended to reduce and effectively manage these risks;
• Reporting - Suspicious Activity: receive reports from employees, agents or distributors, or reports generated otherwise by Figure Markets Ireland systems, of knowledge or suspicion of financial crime, or that a person may have been, is or may be connected with financial crime. When transmitting information to the Financial Intelligence Unit (“FIU”) in accordance with Article 33(2) of Directive (EU) 2015/849, ensure that the information is transmitted in a format and through means which comply with any guidelines issued by the national FIU, in an effective manner.
• Training and Education: assess the 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 financial crime risks. Adjust the content of the specific training programmes delivered to persons with different levels of exposure to financial crime risks on a risk-sensitive basis as described in the EBA revised guidelines on ML/TF risk factors^[1] 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.
• Primary Contact: Serve as a primary point of contact for external stakeholders, including regulators, auditors, clients, and investors, addressing inquiries, conducting risk reviews, and demonstrating the firm's commitment to financial crime 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 AMLCO in Ireland (PCF-52).
• Start-Up: Experience of building the financial crime compliance management framework 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
• Employer funded life, disability and death-in-service insurance coverage
• Home office and technology stipend for those working outside of a traditional office more than 75% of the time
• 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.