Head of Compliance

About Swan

Swan is Europe’s embedded banking specialist. We empower software companies to embed banking features such as accounts, cards, and payments directly into their products under their own brand. Swan processes more than €1.5 billion in monthly transactions for over 150 companies, including Pennylane, Indy, Agicap, Libeo, and Lucca. Founded in 2019, the company has received growth capital from leading investors such as Lakestar, Accel, Creandum, Bpifrance, and Eight Roads. Swan is a principal member of Mastercard, a licensed financial institution, and is regulated by the French banking authority (ACPR).

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, including AMLROs (per‑market / Central Contact Point coverage) and regulatory officers.
• Builds, structures, and develops a high‑performing team of approximately 15 compliance professionals by establishing a clear operating model, effective management framework, and scalable ways of working. Creates the conditions for senior experts to perform at their best through well‑designed management rituals and transparent communication.
• Maintains and evolves the regulatory compliance framework (PSD2/CMF, EMI obligations, ACPR expectations) across domestic and passported markets, ensuring consistent AML/CFT policy interpretation across jurisdictions.
• Owns regulatory relationships and reporting; acts as the primary interface with ACPR and local competent authorities on compliance matters.
• Advises product, partnerships, and commercial teams on the regulatory feasibility of new features, markets, and partner models. Documents compliance opinions for the launch of new services, products, or activities and new suppliers.
• Tracks regulatory change and translates it into actionable requirements and timelines for the business.
• Proposes revisions to risk mappings and the risk appetite framework.
• Handles qualitative reporting to regulators (QLB), oversees local regulatory reporting, and reports to key suppliers (sponsor banks).
• Conducts compliance training and awareness sessions for staff and scales tools and processes to enable business growth in a safe and compliant environment.
• Provides compliance input to leadership and governance bodies.
• Manages regulatory examinations, inspections, and audits at the international level, coordinating responses to regulatory inquiries and information requests, and launching local committees.
• Supports licensing applications and regulatory approvals.

Team & Reporting

In this role you will report directly to the Chief Risk Officer. The compliance team currently comprises ten members and is actively expanding. The team operates within the Risk & Compliance department alongside the Fincrime and Internal Control teams and collaborates closely with Sales, Ops, and Product teams.

Preferred Experience

• Hands‑on experience as an AMLRO or in an equivalent compliance role within a regulated financial institution, ideally an EMI or PI, with a strong command of the French regulatory framework (ACPR, AML/CFT directives, PSD2, MFC). Knowledge of another European jurisdiction is a plus.
• Experience building and leading a compliance team while maintaining high standards.
• Comfortable operating at the intersection of compliance and business, having worked closely with Product or Sales teams and able to say no while progressing initiatives.
• Thrives in environments where the rules are still evolving; can build frameworks from scratch as well as maintain them.
• Communicates with clarity and conviction in French and English, to regulators, board members, or product teams.

Diversity & Inclusion

Swan is committed to providing a caring work environment for all employees, regardless of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief. When it comes to recruitment, we focus on your work experience, skills, and overall personality to deepen our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

• 25 days of holidays plus RTT.
• Meal vouchers covering work‑day meals.
• Monthly mobility package for alternative commuting modes.
• Health insurance (mutuelle) through Alan.
• Discounts on sports and wellness subscriptions via Classpass.
• Well‑being support through Moka Care for mental health and wellness.
• Hybrid remote policy: two days of home work per week.
• Annual off‑site gathering for team building and deep dives.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion as a core value.

Recruitment Process

• A 45‑minute call with our Talent Acquisition Manager.
• An interview with your prospective manager Jérôme.
• A live case study and peer interview (90 minutes).
• An interview with our Chief People Officer to evaluate management skills.
• A final interview with our CEO Camille (60 minutes).
• Three reference checks conducted by the Talent Acquisition team, with at least two recent former direct managers and one internal stakeholder.