MLRO, UK

As MLRO at Kraken (Payward), you lead the financial crime compliance programmes across Payward Ltd and Payward Services Ltd, two FCA-regulated UK entities within the Kraken Group. You hold end-to-end responsibility for the effectiveness of the firms' anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and sanctions controls. You provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of financial crime risk management, maintaining a robust control framework, advising on risk treatment across products and clients, and overseeing transaction monitoring and sanctions screening systems.

What you'll do

• Oversee the AML/CTF and sanctions compliance frameworks across Payward Ltd and Payward Services Ltd
• Develop, implement and maintain the firm's AML/CTF policies, controls and procedures, ensuring that global policies meet UK regulatory requirements
• Oversee transaction monitoring, internal SAR and external SAR/DAML reporting
• Oversee CDD, EDD, enhanced monitoring and sanctions screening processes for the UK
• Approve all new high-risk client relationships and all periodic review outcomes of existing HRCs
• Maintain and regularly update the firms' business-wide financial crime risk assessments
• Provide expert advice on AML and sanctions compliance across the customer lifecycle, including onboarding, periodic review, and investigations
• Coordinate internal assurance activity and support external audits and regulatory reviews of the financial crime framework
• Deliver training and awareness programmes to ensure staff understand their financial crime responsibilities
• Prepare regular reporting and MI for senior management, risk committees, and the board
• Lead delivery of UK MLRO team monthly review of UK corporate clients
• Produce an annual MLRO report to the Board of Directors assessing the overall AML/CTF framework and highlighting emerging risks and improvements planned
• Review monthly compliance and AML MI to identify trends, issues and ensure appropriate mitigation or escalation to the Board where appropriate
• Attend relevant Committee meetings and Board meetings, support Executive decision making, and escalate AML programme related issues
• Lead on strategic AML framework initiatives and implementations, such as Travel Rule
• Monitor regulatory developments and ensure timely updates to internal policies and procedures
• Liaise with law enforcement and regulatory authorities as required, including regular engagement with the FCA supervisory team, serve as point of contact for the NCA, and support law enforcement agencies with setting up accounts

What you bring

• Significant experience in AML/CTF and financial crime compliance within a regulated financial services firm
• Deep understanding of the UK Money Laundering Regulations, Proceeds of Crime Act, UK sanctions regime (OFSI), and relevant industry guidance such as JMLSG
• Proven track record of operating or overseeing transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and customer due diligence systems
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into actionable policy and operational controls
• Confident communication skills, able to influence senior stakeholders and represent the firm in external engagements
• A proactive, detail-oriented, and resilient approach, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage competing priorities

Nice to have

• Significant experience in AML/CTF and financial crime compliance within a regulated cryptoasset, e-money, or payments firm

About Kraken (Payward)

Payward, the parent company behind Kraken, NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, Payward Services and CF Benchmarks, has spent 15 years building one of the most modern and globally accessible financial infrastructure platforms. Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world's longest-standing crypto platforms, trusted by over 10 million individuals and institutions, offering spot trading, margin, futures, staking, and OTC services.