Country AML & Compliance Officer

About the role

The Country Anti-Money Laundering & Compliance Officer, a senior level role, will be the go to individual for all Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions issues for our business in Canada. This person will also serve for all  regulatory requirements under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA), including the Retail Payments Activities Act (RPAA) and the Revenue Quebec Act . They will be highly knowledgeable about the Canadian consumer, AML Laws, sanctions, and regulatory guidance, and remain abreast of regulatory developments in Canada.

As a senior member of the Zepz Compliance team you will aim high, embrace challenges and always do what’s right. You will enable and protect the business whilst acting with integrity and building trust, as you contribute to the company’s innovation, direction and long term decision making.

The scope of the role will include: 

• Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorist Financing including managing the local Compliance team. 

• Financial Sanctions (including assets freeze, embargoes and other sanctions) including policy framework and reporting to the Treasury;

• All supervisory policies and guidelines on registration and supervision related to the Retail Payment Activities Act and the Retail Payment Activities Regulations - RPAA.

• Whistleblower complaints handling/protection regarding, among others, ML/TF matters and potential breaches to internal policies such as the internal Code of Conduct or the Integrity Policy, misuse of group resources, etc.

• Electronic Funds transfers regulation  compliance.

• Consumer protection and conduct of business requirements (including marketing).

• Maintenance of Canada  licences to operate as MSB - Money Services Business and PSP - Payment Services Provider and status as a payment institution.

• Quarterly compliance and AML board pack reports.

• Other AML and Compliance reporting including annual AMLCO reports

• Maintenance of Regulatory Reporting Calendar.

• Maintenance and update of the Compliance and AML local risk register.

• Contribute to the company’s global policies that are Compliance-owned and, in turn, draft and own policy addenda that are owned by Belgium Compliance including Integrity, anti-corruption and bribery, conflicts of interests and code of conduct.

• Be responsible for ‘horizon scanning’ for any and all new / amended regulations that may affect Zepz’s operations across EEA, including assessment of whether our existing controls need to change in response.

• Create and manage compliance and AML budgets for the local team.

• Manage the compliance, AML, and CTF due diligence of new partners.

• Involved in local partnership opportunities, if any, from a compliance perspective

• Safeguarding reporting when applicable and 2nd line oversight. 

  You will:

• Act as Country AML and Compliance Officer for the two Zepz Canada  entities (WorldRemit entities ). 

• Manage the local Compliance  team and be responsible for quality and timeliness of their output, notably SAR and EFT fillings. 

• Act as chief interface between the company and regulatory bodies. 

• Be responsible for anti-bribery and corruption (‘ABC’), KYC, and PSD issues.

• Implement financial crime and regulatory compliance programmes that enable the safe and sustainable growth of Zepz in Canada. .

• Implement and manage the AML and CTF programmes, record management, exams and audits, licence registrations and oversee reporting for suspicious activity.

• Conduct risk assessments, oversee training and resolve issues identified in Exams and Audits.

• Producing periodic management reports for the Canadian  Management Team, they will also be accountable and report into group Compliance management on the status of Canadian  Compliance.

• Ensure compliance with country/jurisdictional laws, regulations and company policy and procedure.

• Embody a Compliance- aware culture throughout Zepz which is capable of identifying, managing and quantifying exposures.

• Be responsible for regulatory reporting.

• Represent Canada  Compliance in group-wide governance fora. 

• Act as a member of the global Compliance leadership team, working with colleagues across the world to optimise the Compliance operating model. 

• Contribute to the company’s global policies that are Compliance-owned and, in turn, draft and own policy addenda that are owned by Canada  Compliance.

• Be responsible for ‘horizon scanning’ for any and all new and amended regulations that may affect Zepz’s operations across Canada , including assessment of whether our existing controls need to change in response.

• Create and manage budgets for the local team.

• Manage the compliance, AML, and CTF due diligence of new partners.

• Involved in local partnership opportunities, vendors and banking partners if any, from a compliance perspective.

What we’re looking for from you:

• Established Country AML and Compliance Officer, who has previously overseen AML, sanctions and compliance framework and responsible for external reporting to the relevant authorities.

• Previous experience of working in the Payments sector is preferred, although candidates with broader Financial Services backgrounds will also be considered. 

• Highly knowledgeable about the AML directives, regulatory guidance and circulars and across all the issues in regulatory compliance regulation (including safeguarding) in Canada. 

• AML and CTF Expertise: Steeped in CDD, EDD, partner/third party due diligence, and suspicious activity detection/investigation, and reporting. Understand compliance frameworks for risk management and internal controls. Following all Regulatory requirements under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA), including the Retail Payments Activities Act -RPAA and The Revenue Quebec Act  regulations and directives as applicable. Will know how to implement best AML/CTF practices and resolve outstanding issues. Able to socialise best practice with the broader global compliance team.

• Ability to work within ambiguity and fast-paced environment

• Engaged in the day-to-day details of the role, whilst never losing strategic oversight of the control framework and having the gravitas to face off to very senior stakeholders internally.

• A strong people manager, they will be a ‘multiplier’ of the talent and around them, and attract and retain high performing team members, setting a tone of positivity, accountability, and competence within the team.

• Operational and Strategic Mentality - Not only develops sound and effective day to day controls but continually monitors and oversees operations to assure alignment with the business. Realises that cultivating our people is one of our best strategic choices. Can manage the tasks of the day while scanning the horizon for future threats/changes.