Head of Compliance and Risk

Job Description

Company Introduction

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Manage compliance risks and maintain internal policies and procedures in line with MFSA requirements applicable to e-money institutions;
• Manage and execute the annual compliance monitoring programme, including effectiveness testing and reporting findings to senior management and the Board;
• Act as the primary escalation point for compliance-related matters, providing guidance and support across the organisation;
• Oversee outsourced functions and ensure ongoing compliance with applicable MFSA outsourcing requirements;
• Conduct due diligence and compliance risk assessments on third-party service providers;
• Manage regulatory engagement and liaise with relevant authorities, including the preparation of regular compliance reporting to the Board;
• Monitor developments in Maltese and EU regulatory requirements and ensure relevant changes are identified and addressed accordingly;
• Own and further develop the Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment (EWRA) framework, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s risk appetite and risk register;
• Maintain risk policies and procedures in accordance with MFSA expectations and applicable e-money regulations;
• Monitor financial and conduct risks, acting as the second line of defence and providing independent oversight and challenge;
• Prepare and deliver reporting to the Board on the organisation’s risk profile, emerging risks, and key risk indicators;
• Manage business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience assessments;
• Lead and collaborate with internal teams to achieve compliance and risk objectives and ensure appropriate compliance and risk training programmes are maintained.

Experience

• Extensive experience as a Compliance Officer and/or Risk Officer within an MFSA-regulated E-Money Institution;
• Strong knowledge of EU compliance and risk regulations, legislation, and industry best practices applicable to payment and financial institutions;
• Proven experience leading enterprise-wide compliance and risk assessments and implementing appropriate risk mitigation measures;
• Experience assessing and managing compliance and risk across third-party relationships;
• Previous experience developing and maintaining internal compliance and risk policies and procedures in response to changing regulatory requirements;
• Experience designing and delivering compliance and risk training programmes across an organisation;
• Strong experience with regulatory reporting and engagement with relevant authorities.

Personal Skills

• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to drive compliance and risk strategy and influence senior-level decision-making;
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage with regulatory authorities, Board members, and senior management;
• Ability to work autonomously and make independent, risk-informed decisions while considering both regulatory and commercial requirements;
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in regulatory reporting and compliance documentation;
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving abilities;
• Proactive and solutions-oriented approach to identifying, escalating, and resolving compliance and risk matters;
• High level of integrity, accountability, and professional judgement.