Head of Compliance

Position Overview

Atome Financial is looking for a seasoned and commercially aware Head of Compliance to spearhead its regional Compliance division. This pivotal leadership role is integrated closely with senior management to drive growth and ensure regulatory adherence throughout the dynamic fintech and consumer finance sector in Southeast Asia.

The ideal candidate must thrive in a fast-paced, expanding environment where regulatory requirements, product offerings, and business priorities continuously develop. It demands robust judgment, practical decision-making, and the aptitude to harmonize compliance demands with business objectives across several jurisdictions.

This operational leadership position involves active daily collaboration with regulatory bodies, internal teams, and key stakeholders. The incumbent will manage complexities and urgent compliance scenarios calmly and decisively, coordinating efforts across functions and regions.

The role includes supervising a regional Compliance team of around 17 professionals covering both regulatory compliance and product compliance functions. Close cooperation with the Group Chief Compliance Officer and senior leadership teams—Legal, Risk, Product, Operations, AML—is critical.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the main Compliance advisor to senior leaders at Atome Financial, working in tandem with Group Compliance, Legal, and Policy teams on governance and compliance topics across markets.
• Lead and oversee the regional Compliance organization, managing a team of approximately 17 compliance staff across multiple markets.
• Develop and uphold scalable compliance frameworks fitting a fast-growing, regulated financial entity operating in diverse jurisdictions.
• Be an engaged, hands-on leader who supports Compliance teams with escalations, regulatory challenges, operational obstacles, and rapidly evolving business initiatives.
• Partner closely with Legal and business units to deliver balanced, commercially feasible, and regulation-compliant solutions for complex governance and operational matters.
• Manage compliance programs involving consumer lending, payments, AML/CFT, conduct, outsourcing, complaint management, consumer protection, and related financial regulations.
• Oversee licensing processes, regulatory submissions, examinations, audits, inspections, and ongoing regulatory engagements throughout regional markets.
• Ensure robust execution and discipline in compliance monitoring, issue resolution, governance, reporting, and escalation pathways.
• Collaborate with AML and operations teams to enhance AML/CFT controls, transaction monitoring, screening, onboarding governance, investigations, and suspicious transaction reporting.
• Provide practical, risk-informed compliance guidance for new product launches, partnerships, embedded finance, and geographic expansion initiatives.
• Keep abreast of regulatory changes and emerging compliance risks impacting Atome Financial's business models and operations.
• Coordinate with Group leadership to enforce consistent compliance practices, governance standards, and escalation processes across all jurisdictions.
• Serve as a trusted senior collaborator to the Group Chief Compliance Officer and leadership on evolving regulatory, operational, and strategic matters.
• Promote a strong, collaborative team culture emphasizing accountability, responsiveness, sound judgment, and commercial pragmatism.

Qualifications and Experience

• 12 or more years of professional experience in Compliance, AML/CFT, regulatory affairs, or financial crime within financial services, fintech, digital banking, lending, payments, or similar regulated sectors.
• In-depth understanding of consumer finance regulations, digital lending, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), payments compliance, and AML/CFT frameworks in Southeast Asian markets.
• Substantial experience in regulatory engagement, including licensing submissions, responding to inquiries, conducting audits, and managing remediation in financial services.
• Proven ability to manage multi-national or regional Compliance teams in fast-evolving, regulated industry environments.
• Practical expertise in AML/CFT control environments, governance of onboarding, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, suspicious activity reporting, and compliance operations.
• Familiarity with the regulatory landscapes of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
• Experience developing and leading Compliance personnel, including senior advisors and country compliance officers.
• Demonstrated collaboration with Product, Operations, Risk, Legal, and business leaders in commercially driven contexts.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and hands-on in approach, especially amid pressure, escalations, or rapid organizational change.
• Composed and solution-focused when handling ambiguous and high-pressure situations, able to make sound, timely decisions.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills enabling trusted relationships with senior executives, regulators, and cross-functional teams.
• Team player with strong cooperative instincts across Compliance, Legal, Risk, Product, and business departments.
• Leadership capabilities that inspire a high-performing, accountable, and collegial team environment.
• Business-minded with a knack for balancing regulatory mandates with operational and commercial realities.
• Effective communicator, adept at simplifying intricate regulatory concepts for top-level stakeholders, including CEO, CFO, and board members.
• Exhibits integrity, sound judgment, resilience, and adaptability in navigating regulatory complexities in emerging marketplaces.