The Compliance Director, Singapore is the senior compliance leader accountable for maintaining a MAS-regulated compliance framework for Zodia Singapore, including the governance, strategy, and control environment required under the Payment Services Act and applicable MAS Notices, Guidelines, and supervisory expectations. This role has ultimate ownership of licence maintenance obligations, regulatory engagement, and the effectiveness of the financial crime and broader compliance programme - ensuring the business operates safely, compliantly, and sustainably as it scales.
- Lead the development and maintenance of Singapore’s compliance governance, strategy, policies, and control environment, aligned with Zodia Group standards and MAS requirements.
- Ultimate responsibility for owning and driving Zodia Singapore’s crypto custody licensing process with the MAS, in collaboration with Global Compliance and business teams, ensuring accurate and timely submissions.
- Serve as the primary liaison with MAS and other relevant APAC regulators; manage regulatory communications, submissions, and meetings with clear internal coordination and documented outcomes.
- Serve as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO) in accordance with Singapore regulations.
- Provide pragmatic, strategic compliance advice to Singapore leadership to support growth while maintaining licence conditions and risk appetite.
- Maintain and continuously enhance the CFCC framework covering AML/CFT, sanctions, fraud, bribery & corruption, conduct risk, conflicts of interest, and relevant market conduct expectations.
- Partner with Technology, Security, and Operations to ensure compliance with MAS expectations on technology risk management, cyber resilience, and operational resilience.
- Oversee compliance governance for outsourcing / third-party arrangements relevant to custody and operations (e.g., cloud providers, wallet infrastructure, blockchain analytics, screening vendors, sub-custodians).
- Design and implement a risk-based compliance monitoring programme, including thematic reviews, control testing, surveillance where relevant, and management reporting.
- Assess and approve new products, services, token support decisions, and business initiatives for Singapore from a regulatory and financial crime risk perspective.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of senior compliance experience (in the 2nd line of defence) within a licensed financial services firm in Singapore, or in a consulting role supporting the compliance function.
- Experience of liaising with the MAS and expert knowledge of Singapore regulatory landscape, including MAS obligations, requirements and expectations.
- Proven experience in financial crime roles in the 2nd line of defence, including experience conducting KYC, investigations, and control framework development.
- Hands-on approach, comfortable being the sole compliance lead in Singapore and working into the detail in a fast-paced firm.
- Strong knowledge of AML/CTF legislation, sanctions regimes, and suspicious matter reporting.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including board-level reporting.
- Digital asset knowledge and experience preferred but not essential
Benefits
We are a friendly team, with monthly socials and seasonal celebrations as well as offering a range of fantastic benefits including:
- Private health care
- Critical Illness cover
- Life Insurance
- Flexible bank holidays (can chose whether to work on bank holidays and use the leave elsewhere in the year)
Top Skills
What We Do
Zodia Custody is the leading institution-first digital asset custodian by Standard Chartered, in association with Northern Trust, SBI Holdings and National Australia Bank. We enable institutional investors around the globe to realise the full potential of the digital asset future – simply, safely, and without compromise. Through the combination of leading technology, custody, governance and compliance, Zodia Custody satisfies the complex needs of institutional investors.
