Head of Compliance

About the role

For our client, we are seeking a Head of Compliance to join the team of a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space. This leader will own the company's enterprise compliance strategy and help ensure its policies, controls, and governance framework are aligned with regulatory expectations. The role is central to managing financial-crimes risk, audit readiness, and compliance oversight as the organization evaluates new products and payment flows. You will partner closely with executive leadership, the Board, bank partners, and internal teams to strengthen the compliance program and support responsible growth.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategy for the enterprise compliance program and improve policies and procedures.
• Serve as BSA/AML Compliance Officer overseeing financial-crimes risk management.
• Provide clear compliance reporting to executive leadership and the Board.
• Lead and develop the Compliance and GRC team while managing complex reviews and strategic initiatives.
• Act as the senior compliance contact for bank partners and oversee compliance audits.
• Evaluate new products and payment flows for compliance requirements before launch.
• Own governance of SOC 2 and PCI DSS programs, ensuring audit readiness.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of compliance experience in fintech, payments, banking, or financial services, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Prior experience leading BSA/AML compliance programs in a financial institution or fintech.
• Experience overseeing multiple compliance and assurance programs including BSA/AML, fraud, and PCI DSS.
• Deep expertise in financial-crimes risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with payment rails like ACH and RTP.
• Hands-on experience scaling compliance programs in a startup environment.
• Experience managing sponsor bank relationships.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with equity in a growing company.
• Remote-first culture with flexible working arrangements.
• A small team environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.
• Professional growth opportunities in compliance and risk management.
• Mission-driven work focused on building infrastructure that meets regulatory standards.

Location: Remote – US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $150,000 – $180,000 annually