MLRO - UK

Job description

LemFi (Series B) is building the go-to financial app for the Global South. Moving to a new country shouldn’t mean starting from zero. That's why our team of 400+ spanning 20+ countries is building a financial ecosystem that helps immigrants stay connected to home, build stability, and create wealth regardless of where they are from or where they live. What began as fast, affordable remittances is now evolving into a complete platform for multi-currency accounts, payments, credit, and long-term financial growth. With millions of users across the globe, we process over $1B in monthly transactions to 30+ countries, proving that borders shouldn't limit financial opportunity. ABOUT THE ROLE LemFi is the financial engine for people the world wasn't built to serve. We move money across roughly 21 countries and our UK operation sits at the heart of that - FCA-regulated, fast-growing, and serving a customer base that has almost no margin for error when something goes wrong with a transfer. This is the most senior compliance role in the UK, holding the MLRO designation and reporting directly to the Global Head of Compliance and the Board. You will own the UK AML/CTF programme end to end: from FCA relationship management and SAR oversight to policy, training, audits, and MI to the executive team. You will also be a genuine partner to the global compliance function, making sure UK requirements land properly in group-wide policies. If you want a quiet, process-maintenance role this is not it. If you want to shape how a fast-scaling fintech manages regulatory risk at the frontier of financial inclusion, read on. WHAT YOU'LL BUILD AND OWN - Own the UK AML/CTF programme - policy, controls, training, and audit - and keep it ahead of FCA expectations, not just compliant with them. - Serve as the primary point of contact with the FCA, NCA, and other UK authorities; manage all regulatory requests, SAR quality oversight, and NCA submission timeliness personally. - Lead regulatory change implementation: translate new FCA guidance, JMLSG updates, and MLR changes into operational reality across the business, not just into policy documents. - Produce sharp, decision-ready MI for the Senior Executive Team and Board - numbers and narrative that drive action, not slide decks that gather dust. - Manage internal and external AML/CTF audits in the UK, including pushing back robustly when findings are inaccurate or the auditor does not understand the business. - Guide and develop compliance staff working on UK matters, raising the bar on quality and building capability across the team. - Collaborate with global compliance counterparts to embed UK requirements into group policies, and use AI tools to accelerate regulatory research and drafting without cutting corners on judgement. YOUR EXPERIENCE - 5 to 7 years in a senior compliance or MLRO role at a UK-regulated fintech or financial institution, with direct FCA accountability. - Deep, working knowledge of POCA 2002, the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, the FCA Handbook, and JMLSG guidance - applied in practice, not just studied. - Proven track record of managing regulatory relationships directly: FCA engagement, NCA SARs, banking and payments partner due diligence. - Experience leading AML/CTF audits, responding to regulatory scrutiny, and defending your programme under pressure with evidence. - Strong data and analytical skills, including confidence with Excel and the ability to turn compliance data into MI that executives can act on. - Track record of mentoring and developing compliance teams, and influencing senior stakeholders who sometimes push back on compliance requirements. - Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment where regulations and business models evolve simultaneously. NICE TO HAVE - CAMS certification or equivalent professional qualification. - Experience in a cross-border or multi-currency payments business with exposure to FATF high-risk country corridors. - Familiarity with compliance technology or regtech tools that support transaction monitoring, SAR filing, or policy management. WHY JOIN LEMFI? Love shouldn’t be expensive, yet those working hardest for their families often face predatory fees and banking exclusion. We're changing this. At LemFi, you won’t be just a cog in a machine. Whether designing products, scaling operations, or telling our story, you’ll tackle complex challenges with real, immediate impact. Your work goes beyond metrics - it puts money back in families’ pockets and offers access to the previously excluded. Join us to make a meaningful difference, where high performance is a lifeline for millions. You can connect with us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lemfi/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/uselemfi/ and if you haven't already, download the app on the App Store https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/lemfi/id1533066809 or Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en&id=com.lemonadeFinance.android.