Head of Compliance, EU & UK

EMEA · Sliema, Malta · 10-12 years experience · Posted Oct 8, 2026

At a glance

As Head of Compliance, Europe & UK, you'll lead the compliance program across OKX's European and UK entities.
Your mandate is to build a robust, efficient compliance program that supports sustainable growth while maintaining the independence of the compliance function.

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 by putting in place scalable frameworks and using data, automation and AI-enabled tools.
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.
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.
Oversee compliance reviews and investigations.

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, 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 to explain complex regulatory concepts to product teams and operational challenges to regulators.

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.