Head of compliance and MLRO

Head of compliance and MLRO

Hybrid role based in our Dublin office, with occasional travel to our UK offices as needed

About us

Seccl is the Octopus-owned embedded investment platform, on a mission to help more people invest, and invest well.

We're building the infrastructure behind the next generation of investing. Our technology already powers some of the UK's most ambitious fintechs, banks, financial advisers and wealth firms, with close to a million investors relying on Seccl-powered platforms. And we're now expanding into Europe, starting in Ireland.

We've got a proven product, strong momentum and big ambitions for what comes next: helping more household-name brands launch and scale investment propositions, entering new markets and replacing outdated investment infrastructure with technology that's faster, simpler and built for scale.

We're proud to be part of Octopus, one of the UK's most successful privately held investment and technology groups. That gives us the backing and long-term perspective to build something substantial, while keeping the pace and energy of a high-growth business. Seccl and Octopus are both B Corp certified and share a belief that profit and purpose should go hand in hand.

If you want to help build the next chapter of Seccl in Ireland and shape the future of investing across Europe, you'll be in good company.

Check out the Seccl website to see what we're building and read more about our mission to shape the future of investments.

The role

We're looking for a head of compliance and MLRO to play a central role in building Seccl Ireland. You'll shape and lead the compliance and financial crime frameworks that support our Irish business through authorisation, launch and long-term growth.

This is a PCF-12 and PCF-52 role, with responsibility for providing independent oversight, challenge and advice across compliance, conduct, anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and wider financial crime. As our MLRO, you'll have the independence and authority to escalate material concerns and help make sure we meet our regulatory obligations while delivering good outcomes for customers and customer firms.

You'll also help shape how Seccl operates in Ireland from the outset. You'll work closely across product, design, engineering and the wider business to embed regulatory thinking into new products and services, while building strong relationships with the Central Bank of Ireland, relevant Irish authorities, auditors and other key stakeholders.

What you'll own

• Building, maintaining and continually improving Seccl Ireland's compliance framework through authorisation, launch and ongoing supervision
• Leading our AML, counter-terrorist financing and financial crime framework as MLRO, including risk assessments, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, investigations, escalation and suspicious transaction reporting
• Owning our regulatory obligations framework, including regulatory risk assessment, horizon scanning and embedding regulatory change across the business
• Designing and maintaining a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Programme, including control testing, thematic reviews and relevant Central Bank of Ireland supervisory priorities
• Providing independent second-line oversight and constructive challenge across conduct, product governance, complaints, conflicts of interest and relevant MiFID II requirements
• Working with product, design, engineering and other teams to make sure regulatory requirements shape how our Irish products and services are built and launched
• Building strong relationships with the Central Bank of Ireland, relevant Irish authorities, internal and external audit, the Ireland Board and teams across Seccl

This role's for you if...

You combine strong regulatory and financial crime expertise with sound judgement and a practical approach. You're comfortable building frameworks as well as operating them, and you know how to provide independent challenge while working constructively with people across a business.

• You have significant compliance and financial crime experience within a regulated financial services business
• You have the experience and judgement needed to take on PCF-12 and PCF-52 responsibilities
• You have strong working knowledge of Irish and European financial services regulation, including MiFID II and AML and counter-terrorist financing requirements
• You have experience acting as an MLRO or leading significant AML, financial crime or regulatory compliance responsibilities
• You can build and operate effective compliance monitoring, regulatory risk assessment and regulatory change frameworks
• You're comfortable working with regulators, Boards, auditors and senior stakeholders, including providing independent challenge and escalating concerns when needed
• You can work effectively with product and technology teams, helping them navigate regulatory requirements while maintaining appropriate second-line independence

This role isn't for you if...

• You want to inherit a finished compliance framework. You'll be joining as we build Seccl Ireland and will have a major role in shaping how compliance works from the outset
• You prefer compliance to operate at arm's length. You'll work closely with teams across the business while maintaining the independence the role requires
• You're uncomfortable challenging decisions or escalating concerns. Independent judgement and the ability to raise material issues are central to this role
• You prefer regulation to be considered after decisions have been made. We want compliance thinking involved early, particularly as we design and launch products and services in Ireland

What's in it for you

We offer a generous mix of benefits designed around the things that matter to our people:

• €110,000 to €150,000, dependent on experience and reviewed annually, plus a 6% employer pension contribution
• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, with some flexibility around bank holidays, plus your birthday off
• Two volunteering days each year
• The option to work abroad for up to six weeks a year
• Secclbrate, our recognition programme offering flexible rewards including extra pay, additional holiday and increased learning budget
• One-month paid sabbatical after eight years
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced parental leave
• MacBook and up to €500 towards your home office set-up
• €750 annual learning budget
• Health and wellbeing support, including free therapy through Wellness Cloud and mental health support through Headspace
• Perkbox, with flexible points and a range of discounts and perks

Our culture

We put people first and try hard to create an environment where people feel trusted, heard and able to do their best work.

We value openness, curiosity and different perspectives. You'll have the freedom to challenge how things are done, experiment with better ways of working and take real ownership of your impact.

As our Dublin team grows, you'll also have the opportunity to help shape the culture we build in Ireland while being part of the wider Seccl team.

Check out our Glassdoor page for the latest reviews or our LinkedIn for company updates and insights from the team.

Interview process

Interviewing is a two-way process. Our interviews are conversational, with plenty of time for you to get to know us and ask questions too. Interview process for this role to be confirmed.

We review applications as they come in and may close the role once we have enough candidates to move forward. We'll keep you updated throughout.

Everyone's welcome

We want to build a diverse and inclusive company full of brilliant people with different skills, experiences and perspectives. All applicants will be considered without regard to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, veteran status, neurodiversity or disability.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, we encourage you to apply even if you don't tick every box. We'd love to hear from you.