Head of Compliance

Job description

As Head of Compliance you will oversee the company’s regulatory obligations, and maintain an effective compliance framework that enables Swan to operate safely and in accordance with regulatory expectations across the jurisdictions where it operates.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads the Compliance function: AMLROs (including per-market / Central Contact Point coverage) and regulatory officers.
• Lead, structure, and develop a high‑performing team of approximately 15 compliance professionals by establishing a clear operating model, effective management framework, and scalable ways of working. Create the conditions for senior experts to perform at their best through well‑designed management rituals, transparent communication.
• Maintain and evolve the regulatory compliance framework (PSD2/CMF, EMI obligations, ACPR expectations) across home and passported markets, ensure consistent AML/CFT policy interpretation across jurisdictions.
• Own regulatory relationships and reporting; act as primary interface with ACPR and local competent authorities on compliance matters.
• Advise product, partnerships, and commercial teams on regulatory feasibility of new features, markets, and partner models. Document compliance opinions for the launch of new services/products or new activities, and new suppliers (critical suppliers).
• Track regulatory change; translate it into actionable requirements and timelines for the business.
• Propose revisions of risk mappings and the risk appetite framework.
• Handle qualitative reporting to regulators (QLB), overseeing local regulatory reporting, and reporting to key suppliers (sponsor banks notably).
• Conduct compliance training and awareness sessions for staff. Help scale up the tools and processes to enable business growth in a safe and compliant environment.
• Provide compliance input to the leadership and governance bodies.
• Manage regulatory examinations, inspections, and audits at the international level. Coordinate responses to regulatory inquiries and information requests. Launch local committees.
• Support licensing applications and regulatory approvals.

Your Team

At Swan, you’ll have the opportunity to join our dynamic compliance team, reporting to our Chief Risk Officer. Your team, currently consisting of ten members, is actively expanding.

The Compliance team operates within a department Risk & Compliance alongside the Fincrime and Internal Control teams. In your role, you can anticipate close collaboration with the Sales, Ops and Product Teams, fostering an environment where cross‑functional engagement is highly valued.

You’re a great match if:

• You have hands‑on experience as an AMLRO / compliance role (or equivalent) in a regulated financial institution – ideally an EMI or PI – and a strong command of the French regulatory framework (ACPR, AML/CFT directives, PSD2, MFC). Knowledge of another European jurisdiction is a plus.
• You’ve built and led a compliance team, and you know how to develop people while keeping standards high.
• You’re comfortable sitting at the intersection of compliance and business – you’ve worked closely with Product or Sales teams, and you can say no while still moving things forward.
• You thrive in environments where the rules are still being written: you’re as good at building frameworks from scratch as you are at maintaining them.
• You communicate with clarity and conviction – in French and in English – whether you’re in front of a regulator, a board, or a product team.

Our ideal teammate:

• Empathetic
• Skilled
• Frank
• We love to challenge each other, and we leave our egos at the door.

Swan is committed to providing a caring work environment for all employees, regardless of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief.