Director, Compliance - Europe

Zodia Custody is an institution-first digital assets platform backed by Standard Chartered, in association with Northern Trust, SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD. Through the combination of its custody, treasury, and settlement solutions, Zodia Custody enables institutional investors around the globe to realise the full potential of the digital assets future – simply, safely, and without compromise.

Our Vision

We remove compromise. Bringing together giants of the traditional banking and digital asset worlds – leaders in emerging markets, technology and global custody – ensures everything we do is born institution-first.

Our Mission

However the needs of digital asset custody evolve, and however fast, we ensure our solutions are institution-ready. Wherever our clients are on their digital asset journey, we ensure custody is compromise-free.

Director, Compliance - Europe

This is a full-time role for a Compliance Director, performing the COMLRO role. The individual will be responsible for safeguarding Zodia against financial crime by establishing and maintaining a robust compliance framework, proactively managing regulatory requirements, and mitigating emerging risks. This is a fast-paced role within a high-performing environment. The ideal candidate is an experienced compliance professional with deep knowledge of financial crime and compliance regulations in traditional finance, along with experience or a strong interest in digital assets.

• Serve as Regional Director Compliance for Europe and appointed RC (Responsable du Contrôle du respect des obligations) under Luxembourg law, with overall accountability for regulatory compliance of Zodia Custody (Europe), including MiCAR cryptoasset custody and payment services activities.
• Perform role as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), and Data Protection Officer (DPO) as per applicable Luxembourg regulations. As MLRO for Luxembourg and Europe, ultimate responsibility for compliance with AML and Sanctions legislation including the assessment, escalation and submission of suspicious activity reports to the relevant Financial Intelligence Units.
• Lead and remain accountable for all regulatory authorisations and ongoing supervisory engagement with the CSSF, including MiCAR authorisation for cryptoasset custody and transfer services; and Payments / PSD related licensing and ongoing compliance obligations.
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of regulatory filings, notifications, incident reporting and supervisory disclosures, including those relating to AML, safeguarding, ICT incidents and operational resilience.
• Develop and maintain a Conduct and Financial Crime Compliance (CFCC) controls framework pursuant to Luxembourg law and CSSF circulars, MiCAR, AMLD, PSD, GDPR and DORA requirements; and Zodia Group and Standard Chartered Group policies and risk appetite.
• Work closely with the Group Compliance team on Group and Regional Compliance strategy, including supporting Group compliance on global compliance projects, initiatives and control development.
• As part of the executive management of Zodia Custody (Europe), strategic input with respect to CFCC, Zodia business growth and expansion.
• Provide independent second line oversight of Client asset safeguarding and segregation arrangements for cryptoassets, Governance over private keys, access controls and recovery processes; and Payments related controls, including transaction integrity and operational risk.
• Exercise RC oversight of intragroup and thirdparty outsourcing arrangements, ensuring compliance with Luxembourg outsourcing requirements, MiCAR and DORA expectations. Oversee compliance with ICT risk management, cyber resilience and incident reporting obligations, working closely with Technology, Risk and Group functions.
• Implement and perform CFCC monitoring/surveillance programmes and provide input into and approval of control processes developed by the 1st line of defence
• Keep abreast of EU and CSSF regulatory developments and Circular changes, and advise the management of associated impact on the business
• Own the regulatory relationship with the CSSF and other relevant European regulators, acting as the primary point of contact for supervisory dialogue, inspections, thematic reviews and remediation activities.
• Provide compliance related support to the local Authorised Managers

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in senior Compliance and/or Financial Crime roles within regulated financial services.
• Proven experience holding a regulated control function (e.g. RC, MLRO, SMF, authorised manager or equivalent), with personal accountability for regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrable experience working directly with the CSSF or another EU financial regulator, including supervisory engagement, inspections, remediation and licence applications
• A subject matter expert in EU requirements, and CSSF circulars as it concerns Financial Crime and Compliance requirements, MICA and DORA.
• Proactive and delivery focused, with a strong ability to engage directly in detailed tasks and execute efficiently. Prepared to get into the detail, drive tasks
• Experience in managing a team and acting in a leadership capacity
• Based in Luxembourg.
• Exceptional communication skills, fostering trust and transparency across all levels of the organization.
• Strong interest in digital assets and an understanding of digital assets and blockchain technology.
• Desirable: Experience working in a digital asset firm and/or have extensive knowledge of digital assets, preferably custody, and are proficient in utilising blockchain analytics tools.

Benefits

We are a friendly team, with monthly socials and seasonal celebrations as well as offering a range of fantastic benefits including:

• Private health care
• Generous Annual Leave
• Life Insurance
• Flexible bank holidays (can chose whether to work on bank holidays and use the leave elsewhere in the year)
• and more