Head of Compliance

Head Of Compliance At Owny

Build the compliance function behind global payments infrastructure.

Owny is a YC-backed fintech building infrastructure that connects emerging market banks and financial institutions to global payment rails. We help our partners manage capital, banking, and payments through a single platform and API.

We're hiring a hands-on Head of Compliance to own our AML/BSA and sanctions program, lead bank-partner relationships, and build the controls that let us scale. You'll work directly with the founders and engineering team, with real ownership over how compliance operates.

What You'll Do

• Own Owny's AML/BSA and OFAC compliance program, including policies, risk assessments, training, and management reporting.
• Lead KYC/KYB, beneficial ownership verification, and enhanced due diligence for financial institutions and other business customers.
• Build and improve transaction monitoring: define scenarios, investigate alerts, document decisions, and coordinate suspicious-activity escalation with bank partners.
• Own compliance relationships with partner banks, including due diligence requests, ongoing reviews, and issue resolution.
• Run independent AML/BSA reviews and drive findings through remediation.
• Partner with engineering to turn compliance requirements into effective onboarding, screening, monitoring, and payment controls.
• Assess new products, payment corridors, and partnerships; make clear recommendations on risks and launch requirements.
• Build the team and operating processes as transaction volume and complexity grow.

What We're Looking For

• Experience owning a BSA/AML program or leading a substantial part of one at a payments fintech, MSB, or bank.
• Strong working knowledge of US BSA/AML requirements, OFAC sanctions, customer due diligence, and payment risk.
• Experience with cross-border payments, foreign financial institutions, or correspondent banking.
• A track record of working directly with bank compliance teams and independent reviewers.
• Comfort moving between strategy and execution—you can brief a bank partner, investigate an alert, and improve a procedure.
• Clear judgment, strong writing, and the ability to explain what needs to happen and why.
• Comfort working with engineers, data, and automated compliance systems.

CAMS or a similar qualification is a plus. Experience with monitoring platforms such as Flagright is useful.

Why Owny

You'll shape the compliance function at a company building financial infrastructure used by institutions emerging market economies. This is a role with direct access to the founders, influence over product decisions, and responsibility for building a program that works in practice.

We're looking for someone who enjoys ownership, asks hard questions, and follows through.

Apply

Send your CV or LinkedIn profile and a short note about a compliance program or control you owned. Tell us what you changed and what improved.