Compliance Director, High-Risk

San Francisco / RemoteOperations – Risk and Compliance /Full-time /RemoteAbout FinixFinix is building the global operating system for fintech, starting with payments. From startups to publicly traded companies, Finix processes tens of billions of dollars annually both in-store and online. Finix was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco.To date Finix has raised over $200M, including a $75M Series C led by Acrew Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners and backed by American Express Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Homebrew, Inspired Capital, Visa, and othersAbout the Role: Finix is hiring a Compliance Director to be the compliance partner to our business teams on the front end: new merchants, new partners, and new sectors. This role will report to our Head of Compliance & Regulatory Counsel and will work side by side with Sales, Partnerships, Underwriting, and Payment Operations to bring on new business quickly and with a growth mindset, while always staying within applicable law, card network rules, and sponsor bank requirements.The initial focus will be gaming and gambling, followed by the other high-risk sectors we support, such as nutraceuticals, wellness, CBD, and digital products and services. You will shape underwriting standards, build the procedures and guides that make these sectors workable, and give business teams clear, timely answers on what we can do, under what conditions, and what we can't. You will also support the Head of Compliance in guiding and developing our Compliance Operations team. You Will:Serve as the primary compliance partner to Sales, Partnerships, and Underwriting, giving fast, practical, well-documented guidance on prospects and dealsLead compliance strategy for our gaming and gambling vertical, including iGaming, sports wagering, sweepstakes, and predictive markets, with state-by-state and provincial regulatory analysis, licensing and registration requirements, and merchant and vendor eligibility standards Develop and maintain underwriting standards, risk-tiering, approval gates, and escalation paths for high-risk sectors suc as nutraceuticals, wellness, CBD, and digital products and services, so that low-risk applicants move quickly and higher-risk applicants receive appropriate scrutinyLead compliance evaluation of new sectors, business models, and structures (e.g., ISV, marketplace, and merchant-of-record models), performing market and regulatory research and setting minimum requirements before launchWrite and maintain procedures, onboarding guides, and underwriting playbooks for high-risk and restricted verticalsTranslate laws, card network rules, and sponsor bank requirements into clear guidance for Product, Sales, Technology, and Operations teamsWork closely with Payment Operations, including Underwriting and Partnerships, to streamline onboarding workflows and remove bottlenecks without weakening controlsGuide and develop the Compliance Operations team through coaching, review of work product, and clear standards for quality and documentationSupport sponsor bank and network relationships on onboarding and sector-related matters, including approvals, due diligence requests, and program reviewsSupport the AML/BSA, sanctions, and fraud programs from the business side, including KYC/KYB standards and escalation of risk signals from onboarding and monitoringContribute to audit and regulatory exam readiness, policy and procedure updates, and remediation of findings tied to onboarding and merchant riskMonitor regulatory and network rule changes (US, Canada, state and provincial) that affect target sectors and update guidance accordingly, working with external counsel where appropriatePrepare clear, decision-ready summaries for senior management, sponsor banks, and partnersYou Have:7+ years of experience in compliance, risk, or regulatory roles within payments, fintech, banking, or similar regulated environmentsHands-on experience with merchant underwriting and onboarding, including KYC/KYB and risk-based approval frameworksExperience with high-risk merchant verticals such as gaming and gambling, nutraceuticals, CBD, or similar, and with the card network and sponsor bank requirements that apply to themProven ability to interpret regulatory and card network requirements and apply them to real merchants, products, and business modelsStrong understanding of risk management and controls, and of sponsor bank oversight expectationsExperience working directly with sales, business development, or product teams on deals and new market entryExperience drafting policies, procedures, and guides that business teams actually useExperience leading complex, cross-functional work with multiple dependencies and senior stakeholdersExceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to turn ambiguity into clear plans, trade-offs, and decisionsProficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (or Google equivalents)You Are:Business-minded and solutions-oriented: you find the compliant path to yes and are clear and firm when the answer must be noComfortable with ambiguity: you operate effectively in new sectors where the rules are unsettledProactive: you don't wait to be asked; you identify what needs to happen and make it happenDetail-oriented: you catch the small things others miss because you know they matterCollaborative: you build relationships easily and know great compliance work requires cross-functional partnershipA natural coach: you raise the quality of the people and teams around you without needing a title over themNice to Have:Juris Doctor or law degree, with bar admission in good standingExperience with gaming and gambling regulation, including state licensing, vendor registration, and eSweepstakes or similar emerging frameworksFamiliarity with U.S. frameworks (FinCEN, state money transmission, CCPA) and Canadian frameworks (FINTRAC, RPAA, PIPEDA, Quebec Law 25)Experience with payment networks (Visa, Mastercard, Interac, Discover) and sponsor banksKnowledge of the fintech-bank partnership model and bank third-party risk expectationsExperience at a card network, processor, acquirer, or sponsor bankCertifications such as CAMS or CFEPrior experience supporting a BSA Officer, CAMLO, or compliance leadership-----------------------------------------Finix is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected class.Role: Compliance Director, High RiskLevel: IC4 - IC5Location: San Francisco or RemoteBase Salary Range: $140,000 - $210,000/yr + Equity + BenefitsOur salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire (remote) salaries. Individual pay is determined by work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.