About The Company
Founders today are building global companies from day one — but the systems that manage their money were built for a different era. Aspire exists to change that
We're building the financial operating system for global founders, bringing banking, software, and automation into a single platform so businesses can move faster across borders and stay focused on building.
Aspire is built by people who think from first principles, care deeply about solving hard problems, and take real ownership of their work. Our team brings global experience from leading fintech and technology companies, and many of us are former founders and operators who understand what it takes to build thoughtfully, make trade-offs, and deliver at scale in a global environment.
Backed by leading global investors including Y Combinator, Peak XV, and Lightspeed, Aspire has been trusted by more than 50,000 startups and growing businesses worldwide to manage their finances since 2018. Together with partners like J.P. Morgan, Visa, and Wise, we're building for the next generation of global companies.
About The Role
We are looking for a strategic compliance leader to hold the "keys to the castle" for our Australian business. As the Head of Compliance & MLRO, you will wear two critical hats: oversight of our established Payments business and incoming Investment business (ASIC) and managing the Anti-Money Laundering program for both businesses (AUSTRAC)
You will serve as our statutory AML/CTF Compliance Officer and be nominated as a Responsible Manager (RM) on our Australian Financial Services License(s) (AFSL). This is not just an advisory role; it is a decision-making role responsible for protecting our license to operate while enabling our product expansion.
Key Responsabilities
* Statutory & Regulatory Leadership (The Licenses)
ASIC : Act as the primary Responsible Manager (RM) for our AFSL. oversee "Organizational Competence," maintain license conditions, and manage breach reporting.
AUSTRAC: Serve as the designated MLRO. Maintain and maintain the AML/CTF Program, ensuring full compliance with the AML/CTF Act 2006.
Regulatory Liaison: Act as the primary contact point for ASIC, AUSTRAC, and external auditors.
* Operational Compliance (The Product)
New Product Launch: Lead the compliance framework for the launch of our Payments and Investment products, including signing off on Target Market Determinations (TMDs) and Product Disclosure Statements (PDS).
Financial Crime Operations: Oversee transaction monitoring, IFTI/SMR reporting, and sanctions screening.
Advisory: Partner with the Product and Sales tribes to design compliant customer journeys (KYC, Onboarding, Suitability) that convert well without compromising the law.
Minimum Qualifications
Residency: You must be a current resident of Australia
Experience: 7+ years in Financial Crime, Compliance, or Legal within Fintech, Banking, or Wealth Management in Australia.
Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of the Corporations Act 2001 and the AML/CTF Act 2006 Including the amendments.
Statutory Experience: Previous experience as an MLRO/AML Officer is required. Previous experience as an AFSL Responsible Manager (or immediate readiness to step up) is highly preferred.
AML Program management: Experience leading senior stakeholders in implementing financial crime initiatives, including Tranche 2 reforms, and proactively manage financial crime risks.
Has a strong grasp of artificial intelligence concepts and the ability to apply AI tools and frameworks to solve real world problems at Aspire
Preferred Qualifications
Experience dealing with crypto-assets or complex payment flows.
Experience scaling a compliance function from "start-up" to "scale-up."
ACAMS certified or equivalent
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