MLRO, Pakistan

OKX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and developer of the OKX Wallet, is seeking an experienced and regulatory-savvy compliance professional to join as Head of Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO). This pivotal role involves building a robust compliance program from the ground up and fostering a strong culture of compliance across the organization. The successful candidate will initially focus on regulatory engagement and compliance framework development, with broader team management responsibilities to follow. OKX is committed to innovation, safety, and reliability, serving millions of users and institutional clients worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

- Regulatory Engagement: Act as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies, ensuring the organization meets governance requirements, including fit and proper standards for key personnel. Monitor and interpret regulatory changes related to virtual assets, advising senior management and the Board accordingly.

- Compliance Program Development & Management: Design and maintain a comprehensive compliance framework aligned with local laws, FATF recommendations, and international best practices for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). Develop and update policies covering AML/CFT, KYC, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, data protection, cybersecurity, and client asset safeguarding. Oversee compliance monitoring, conduct gap analyses, and report findings to senior leadership. Integrate compliance into new product development by reviewing technical documentation and providing actionable advice. Manage compliance policies related to advertising, social media, influencer partnerships, and product launches, collaborating closely with Legal, Product, and Marketing teams.

- AML/CFT & MLRO Duties: Serve as the designated MLRO with full statutory responsibility for the AML/CFT framework. Review and assess internal Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), deciding on external disclosures to authorities. Oversee transaction monitoring programs and sanctions screening against global and local lists. Manage customer risk scoring and enhanced due diligence for high-risk clients, politically exposed persons, and customers from high-risk jurisdictions.

- Governance & Culture: Participate as a senior leadership team member, providing compliance insights on new initiatives. Champion a strong compliance culture through training, communications, and leadership. Design and deliver AML/CFT training programs, ensuring compliance with completion tracking. Advise the Board on resourcing compliance obligations, including staffing and budget. Maintain compliance manuals, risk registers, and manage incident escalation and resolution.

- Reporting & Recordkeeping: Prepare and submit regulatory reports within deadlines. Ensure all compliance records, including SAR documentation and KYC files, meet retention requirements. Support regulatory inspections and examinations.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, or related field; postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
- Professional certification in compliance or AML (e.g., CAMS, ICA Certificate/Diploma, CFE) is strongly preferred.
- At least 8 years’ experience in compliance, AML, or financial crime prevention, including a minimum of 3 years in a senior or leadership role.
- Proven in-house experience within VASPs, cryptocurrency exchanges, fintech, or regulated financial institutions.
- Prior MLRO or Deputy MLRO experience is highly desirable.
- Direct engagement experience with financial regulators and financial intelligence units.
- Hands-on experience building compliance programs in start-up or scaling environments.
- Strong familiarity with regional regulatory frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Deep knowledge of FATF Recommendations, including the Travel Rule (Recommendation 16), and crypto-specific AML typologies.
- Proficiency with blockchain analytics and transaction monitoring tools such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, or TRM Labs.
- Excellent communication skills in English and Urdu.
- Strong analytical, investigative skills, and ability to engage effectively with regulators, auditors, and law enforcement.
- Experience in multinational financial institutions and multi-jurisdictional compliance oversight.
- Knowledge of crypto products including spot trading, derivatives, staking, lending/borrowing, DeFi, and stablecoins.
- Competitive compensation package.
- Learning and development programs with education subsidies.
- Team-building activities and company events.

This role requires candidates to undergo fit and proper assessments, background checks, and provide regulatory documentation. Prior enforcement history or unexplained gaps may affect eligibility. OKX values integrity, innovation, and a collaborative culture, offering an exciting opportunity to shape compliance in the evolving crypto landscape.