Our Mission
Reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home, and become the leading cross-border fintech for emerging markets.
The Team
-> Founded by Harvard grads / 3rd-time founders --- also founded Segovia (successful exit) and GiveDirectly (>300M revenue, fastest-growing NGO).
-> Top performers from top and varied organizations (e.g., Bain, Bolt, Google, McKinsey, SafeBoda, Uber, Zipline) --- we like moving fast, and we hire people that do as well.
-> Driven by mission, guided by values (see below) – in deed, not just word.
-> Team as global as the mission, >30 languages from 25 countries (i.e., if you’re interested in learning to make Chicken Moambe, we’re the place).
About Us
Taptap Send is backed by top VCs (Spark, Canaan, Reid Hoffman, Breyer Capital, etc.), rapidly growing and a great place for those looking for both impact and a fast-paced tech startup environment. Read more about the journey in Reid Hoffman’s words or TechCrunch article
Launched in 2019, Taptap is tapping into a transformative shift in global finance: from banks to phones. While this has affected wealthier countries as well, it has been nothing short of a revolution for the emerging markets where the overwhelming majority of population had been unable to access digital finance previously. Taptap Send allows immigrants to send money home instantly and with no fee*, saving money in the process. With a formal market size of >700B alone, we’ve got a lot more saving to do for our users. Our mission is to reduce inequity by helping immigrants move money home, and become the leading cross-border fintech for emerging markets. And that’s just the beginning...
*We charge fees for transfers on fixed exchange rate corridors (e.g., XOF, XAF).
Our Investors
Spark Capital, Canaan, Reid Hoffman, Breyer Capital (Jim Breyer), Unbound (Shravin Mittal), Wamda (Fadi Ghandour), Firstminute Capital, Slow Ventures (Sam Lessin), Helios Partners (Souleymane Ba), Crossbeam Ventures (Ali Hamed), Nikesh Arora, Samih Toukan, and many other context-specific angels
The Role
As the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for digital assets, you will play a critical role in building our digital assets compliance programme and scaling as we launch with customers in the UK, and eventually globally. You will work across multiple vertical functions, providing leadership, expertise, and operational execution.
This role will sit within the Taptap Send UK although you will work closely with the local team and the global Taptap Send Group. You will be primarily responsible for all aspects of the second line of defence as they relate to digital assets within the UK (and beyond), ensuring compliance with FCA guidance and other relevant regulations while engaging with regulatory bodies as required. You will also support our expansion into other jurisdictions, tailoring our digital assets’ AML program and controls to comply with other regulations.
Key Responsibilities
Due Diligence & Onboarding: Design the KYC/KYB onboarding process for customers holding digital assets, with a focus on risks such as anonymity, source of funds verification, and wallet screening. Oversee enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers and counterparties.
Transaction Monitoring & Financial Crime Prevention: Oversee the implementation and ongoing refinement of transaction monitoring systems, crypto-specific risk indicators, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity detection. Ensure timely and accurate submission of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Regulatory Compliance & AML Oversight: Ensure full compliance with applicable UK legislation, including the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act, and relevant FCA requirements for cryptoasset firms. Maintain and enhance internal financial crime policies and risk-based procedures.
Regulatory Engagement: Act as the primary point of contact for the FCA and other UK enforcement and regulatory bodies wherever a query is related to digital assets. Manage regulatory queries, audits, and thematic reviews, fostering a transparent and cooperative relationship.
Policy & Process Development: Develop, own, and maintain all digital assets focused AML/CTF policies and procedures in line with FCA expectations and evolving global best practices in the digital asset sector.
Regulatory Reporting: Provide relevant inputs for all FCA-required reporting.
Risk Monitoring & Compliance Testing: Continuously assess financial crime risks associated with digital assets and related services. Design and execute ongoing compliance testing and assurance reviews to monitor adherence to regulatory obligations and internal standards.
Internal Reporting: Prepare clear and actionable compliance updates for executive leadership, risk committees, and the board. Provide strategic input on compliance performance, incident trends, and emerging risks in the digital asset space.
Training & Culture Building: Design and deliver tailored AML and compliance training programs across the business, focusing on crypto-specific risks. Foster a strong compliance culture and promote ownership of regulatory responsibilities at all levels.
Audit & Internal Controls: Support internal and external audits. Ensure appropriate controls, documentation, and governance are in place to demonstrate a robust financial crime compliance framework.
Global expansion: Work closely with other compliance, product and regulatory leads on designing a global digital assets AML program and support licensing applications in other markets.
What We’re Looking For
Experience: 5+ years in compliance, AML, or financial crime roles within a regulated financial institution, fintech, or payments company, with requirement to have experience in digital assets compliance and preferably also in cross-border payments, remittances, or FX.
Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of UK regulations and global digital assets AML/CFT trends and standards (FATF, EU, US, etc.).
SARs/STRs: Experience with Suspicious Activity/Transaction Reports to the authorities.
AML & Financial Crime Expertise: Experience in transaction monitoring, suspicious activity reporting, and financial crime investigations.
Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage effectively with regulators, law enforcement, financial institutions, and internal leadership.
Technology & Compliance: Experience using technology to enhance compliance operations (e.g., transaction monitoring, sanction screening, automation).
Analytical & Detail-Oriented: Strong ability to assess risks, interpret regulations, and implement effective compliance controls.
Education & Certifications: CAMS, ICA, or equivalent compliance certification as well as certifications on Chainalysis and/or Elliptic preferred.
Who You Are
Execution-Oriented & Strong Operationally – You can execute strategies and get things implemented effectively.
Mission-Driven – Passionate about financial inclusion and driving positive impact through fintech.
Highly Organized – Able to manage multiple compliance priorities efficiently.
Resilient & Adaptable – You can navigate complex regulatory landscapes and provide practical solutions.
Taptap Values
Impact first
Team next
Accept reality
Propose solutions
Win with grit
Be proactively candid, with yourself and others
Love the particular
Own it
Create positive energy
Maybe, even have fun
Taptap Send is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment decisions are decided on the basis of qualifications, experience and business need. We strongly encourage applications who are members of underrepresented communities to apply.
If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know. Any information you provide us in this respect will only be used to accommodate your requirements.
Note: we recognize imposter syndrome is real - any candidate that does not perfectly fit every characteristic of this role is still strongly encouraged to apply.
