Legal Counsel (Licensing & Regulatory)

Your role and impact:

We seek a highly experienced compliance professional to oversee and manage all aspects of financial licensing, regulatory compliance, and risk management for our company. The ideal candidate will have a strong legal background and a proven track record in the financial industry.

Your regular tasks:

• Drive and be in charge of financial licensing processes in the EU and Great Britain
• Maintain and open a correspondent accounts
• Deal with complex legal requests and RFIs (banks, authorities)
• Record keeping and structuring of the company’s relevant documentation and information
• Serve as a main liaison for correspondence with local law firms, auditors, regulators
• Stay abreast of all applicable financial regulations, including banking, EMIs, PIs, PASEP, anti-money laundering (AML), know your customer (KYC), and data protection laws
• Develop and implement corporate compliance and governance programs applicable to the group of companies
• Ongoing updating compliance program according to requirements of company regulators
• Be in charge of regulatory reporting, AML and other relevant audits
• Be in charge of company governance policies and regulatory responsibilities updates
• Be in charge of the licensing process during the expansion to the new regions
• Improving company policies according to applicable regulatory standards across KYB, AML, Anti-Fraud and compliance functions
• Conduct audits prior to relationships with third-party vendors, service providers, financial providers, banks, payment systems and partners
• Report regularly to the CEO  in relation regulatory issues and/or proposals
• Lead the response to crises and emergencies, maintaining business continuity and minimizing risks

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in roles such as Legal Counsel/Regulatory Compliance
• Over 5 years of professional experience in regulated companies, with a track record of acquiring and maintaining EU/UK EMI, bank or PI licenses
• Proven experience in enhancing company compliance with regulatory obligations, ideally having worked in organizations that transitioned from startup to established enterprise levels
• Proficiency in technology and a solid understanding of fintech-related software and systems, including blockchain, payment processing, cybersecurity, and anti-fraud measures.
• Experience with opening international bank accounts, correspondent bank accounts, communication with regulators
• Excellent communication skills to interact with internal teams, external partners, and regulatory bodies, with the ability to convey complex financial and technical information clearly

Skills:

• Understanding of international corporate law, general tax principles, due diligence for corporate entities, and EU licensing and compliance principles
• Exceptional leadership skills to build and manage cross-functional teams effectively
  Deep knowledge of dealing with audits, correspondent and corporate bank accounts etc
  Deep knowledge of FinTech
• A history of fostering a collaborative and innovative culture within organizations
• Knowledge and experience with cybersecurity and fraud policies and practices implementation
• Familiarity with CRM systems, such as Jira or similar tools
• Previous experience in regulated companies and achieving financial, banking, or other licensing in EU or UK, or other developed countries/regions is a significant advantage

Education

• A master’s degree in Law or a related field is preferred
• Compliance courses in AML would be a plus

Language Skills

• Proficiency in English (C1 Fluent) and knowledge of other languages is an advantage

Advantages of working with us

• Join a team of talented individuals who are deeply committed to their roles and the company’s mission
• Embrace an innovative approach to processes and problem-solving, driven by ambitious goals and plans
• Work in a collaborative environment dedicated to delivering superior products that meet and exceed customer expectations
• Enjoy a workplace that fosters autonomy and trust, empowering you to take ownership of your responsibilities

Our recruitment process typically follows these stages:

1. Application screening
2. Interview Stages (2-3 weeks):
   • Prescreening call (40 min)
   • Technical Interview (60 min)
3. Vision and Strategy Interview with C-level managers
4. Job Offer
5. Referrals: Employment and Background Check