Head of Compliance, EU & UK

About the Team:

Compliance at OKX is a trusted partner to the business. We're a team of risk-minded problem solvers who make sure OKX grows safely and sustainably. We advise on regulatory obligations, uphold strong controls, and continuously improve our processes so the business can scale responsibly.

What You'll be Doing:

• As Head of Compliance, Europe & UK, you'll lead the compliance program across OKX's European and UK entities. You'll report to the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Head of International Compliance, and take the regional function to its next level of maturity.
• Your mandate is to build a robust, efficient compliance program that supports sustainable growth. You'll lead a team of Country Heads of Compliance and MLROs, bringing them together as a cohesive, high-performing regional team. Each will keep their local regulatory responsibilities and decision-making authority.
• Set the strategic direction and lead delivery of the compliance program across all OKX entities in Europe and the UK.
• Lead, support and develop Country Heads of Compliance and MLROs, strengthening consistency across the region while preserving local accountability and decision-making.
• Maintain the independence of the compliance function, with direct access to local Boards and the authority to challenge the business where needed.
• Review current workflows and improve them. Put in place scalable frameworks, and use data, automation and AI-enabled tools to improve the quality and timeliness of decisions while keeping controls strong.
• Work with first-, second- and third-line teams to build a control environment that meets or exceeds regulatory expectations.
• Act as a senior point of contact for regulators, leading or supporting examinations, inquiries and supervisory engagement.
• Partner with Business, Product and Legal on licensing scope assessments and compliance input for new products and market entries.
• Build strong partnerships with business leaders and stakeholders across Product, Legal, Operations and Risk, giving clear, practical guidance on the compliance implications of commercial decisions.
• Produce data-driven compliance reports for management and local Boards, using metrics, SLAs and KPIs that show the effectiveness of the compliance program.
• Take part in Board and committee meetings, as a member or as needed.
• Act as the escalation point for complex compliance issues, making sure they're resolved promptly and in line with the compliance program.
• Work with first-, second- and third-line teams to build a control environment that meets or exceeds regulatory expectations.
• Audit current workflows and remove unncessary friction. Implement scalable frameworks that reduce manual effort, and use data, automation and AI-enabled tools to speed up decision-making without compromising control integrity.
• Liaise with first, second, and third-line teams to build a control environment that exceeds regulatory standards while maintaining commercial agility.
• Oversee compliance reviews and investigations.
• Act as a senior point of contact with country regulators, including leading or supporting regulatory examinations, inquiries, and supervisory engagement.

What We Look For in You:

• 10–12+ years of compliance experience in financial services, fintech or crypto, with a track record of building and running effective compliance programs.
• A proven ability to solve problems, meet tight deadlines and deliver in a high-pressure environment.
• Experience working closely with Operations teams, balancing regulatory requirements with operational efficiency.
• Strong knowledge of EU and UK regulation, including MiCA, MiFID II, MAR, the EU AML framework (AMLD5/6, AMLR and AMLA), the Transfer of Funds Regulation (Travel Rule), DORA and GDPR, plus the UK cryptoasset regime.
• Strong people leadership, including leading teams spread across locations.
• Proven experience managing and developing senior compliance leaders, such as Heads of Compliance and MLROs, across multiple countries or entities, ideally within a regulated group.
• Comfort using data to measure performance, spot bottlenecks and justify resourcing.
• A proven ability to present the compliance program, risk posture and performance to Boards, regulators and senior committees.
• Clear, high-impact communication. You can explain complex regulatory concepts to product teams and operational challenges to regulators.
• Nice to Haves: Experience scaling a crypto or high-growth fintech business in Europe.
• Prior experience in the crypto industry.
• Prior experience as a Country Head of Compliance or MLRO, or in another approved role.
• Experience working with the MFSA, FIAU, FCA or other European regulators.
• CAMS, an ICA Diploma or an equivalent certification.