This role is initially structured as a consulting engagement. In addition to the responsibilities outlined below, the candidate will support the establishment of the initial operational infrastructure of Xsolla Payment Network EU B.V. It is intended that this engagement will transition into a permanent, full-time Head of Compliance position.
We are building an international payment business in the EU and are looking for an experienced Head of Compliance to join us at the ground level. This is a pivotal, hands-on role: your first and most critical mission will be to lead the full end-to-end process of obtaining a Payment Institution (PI) or Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), including preparing all required documentation, managing the regulatory dialogue and steering the application to approval.
Once the license is secured and the business is live, you will own the ongoing compliance strategy, framework, and culture of the organisation.
Beyond the Netherlands, you'll be part of a wider team driving Xsolla's global licensing efforts, from MSO registration in Hong Kong to Money Transmitter Licenses across the US. This is a rare opportunity to build genuine cross-border regulatory expertise, working alongside colleagues navigating different regulators, legal frameworks, and market entry strategies, all in service of one connected payments network.
ABOUT US
Key Responsibilities
- Payment License Application (Priority Focus)
Lead the complete PI/EMI license application process with DNB from initiation to approval, acting as the primary point of contact with the regulator throughout.
Prepare, compile, and submit all required application documentation, including the compliance programme, AML/CFT policies, governance structure, internal control frameworks, risk assessments, and business plan compliance sections.
Coordinate with legal, finance, operations, and external advisors to ensure all regulatory requirements are met ahead of submission.
Manage ongoing DNB and AFM correspondence, information requests, and supervisory interactions during and after the licensing process.
Compliance Framework & StrategyBuild the compliance function from the ground up, designing and implementing policies, procedures, controls, and training programmes suited to an EU-regulated payment institution.
Develop and maintain a strategic compliance framework aligned with applicable EU regulations, DNB/AFM supervisory expectations, and international best practices.
Define compliance objectives, KPIs, and governance structures to support the organisation as it scales post-launch.
Regulatory Monitoring & Risk ManagementMonitor regulatory developments across the EU and the Netherlands, including updates to PSD2/PSD3, AMLD (6AMLD and beyond), MiCA where relevant, EBA guidelines, and DNB/AFM communications, assessing their impact on operations.
Conduct regular compliance risk assessments, internal audits, and gap analyses; oversee the remediation of identified issues.
Lead compliance investigations, incident management, and escalation processes, reporting findings to senior management as appropriate.
AML/CFT & Financial CrimeDesign and implement a robust AML/CFT programme in line with the Wwft (Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme), EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives, and EBA guidelines.
Oversee KYC/CDD/EDD processes, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and suspicious transaction reporting (STR) to FIU-Nederland.
Stakeholder & Cross-functional CollaborationAct as the primary compliance contact for DNB, AFM, FIU-Nederland, and other relevant authorities.
Partner closely with legal, risk, technology, product, and operations teams to embed compliance into business processes and new product development.
Represent the company in industry forums and relevant EU regulatory working groups.
Reporting & GovernancePrepare and submit all regulatory reports, filings, and periodic disclosures required under DNB/AFM supervision.
Maintain accurate compliance records and ensure transparency in all reporting obligations.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Professional compliance certifications are a strong advantage (e.g., ICA Diploma in Compliance, CAMS, Certified Compliance Professional or equivalent EU-recognised qualifications).
ExperienceMinimum 7 years of compliance experience within the payments, e-money, or financial services industry in the EU.
Demonstrated hands-on experience leading a successful PI or EMI license application with DNB or another EU national competent authority (e.g., BaFin, CBI, FCA pre-Brexit, Banca d'Italia) is essential - candidates without this experience will not be considered.
Proven track record of building compliance programmes from scratch within a regulated payment or fintech environment.
Experience managing regulatory relationships with DNB, AFM or equivalent EU supervisory bodies.
Regulatory KnowledgeDeep expertise in PSD2 (and awareness of PSD3 developments), AMLD, EBA Guidelines on outsourcing, internal governance, and ICT risk.
Strong working knowledge of Wwft, GDPR and applicable DNB/AFM supervisory frameworks.
Familiarity with EU sanctions regimes (EU/OFAC overlap), AML/CFT typologies in the payment sector and relevant EBA opinions.
Skills & AttributesFluency in English is required; Dutch is a strong advantage for DNB engagement.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, regulator-ready documentation.
Strong project management skills with the ability to drive a complex licensing process to completion under pressure.
High degree of integrity, professional discretion and comfort operating in an early-stage, fast-moving environment.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Why join us?
- Join a global compliance team building payment licenses across multiple continents, from the EU to Asia to the Americas, gaining exposure few compliance careers offer.
Shape the compliance function of a new EU payment institution from day one.
Direct engagement with regulators and real ownership of a complex, high-impact licensing process.
Flexible/hybrid working arrangement based in the Netherlands.
Skills Required
- Master's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
- Professional compliance certifications (ICA Diploma, CAMS, Certified Compliance Professional or equivalent EU-recognised)
- Minimum 7 years compliance experience within payments, e-money, or financial services in the EU
- Hands-on experience leading a successful PI or EMI license application with DNB or another EU national competent authority
- Proven track record building compliance programmes from scratch in a regulated payment or fintech environment
- Experience managing regulatory relationships with DNB, AFM or equivalent EU supervisory bodies
- Deep expertise in PSD2 (and awareness of PSD3), AMLD, EBA guidelines on outsourcing/internal governance/ICT risk
- Strong working knowledge of Wwft and GDPR
- Familiarity with EU sanctions regimes and AML/CFT typologies in the payments sector
- Fluency in English
- Dutch language ability
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce regulator-ready documentation
- Strong project management skills to drive complex licensing processes to completion
- High integrity, professional discretion and ability to operate in an early-stage, fast-moving environment
Xsolla Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Xsolla and has not been reviewed or approved by Xsolla.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered fair or good in many cases, with mentions of high salary or being paid well in certain roles and markets. Market-aligned ranges for several U.S. roles indicate base pay is not out of step with peers.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive for full-time employees and families, with employer-paid medical, dental, and vision noted in some U.S. postings. Positive remarks on medical coverage appear on dedicated benefits pages.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible or unlimited paid time off is repeatedly highlighted, alongside parental leave and remote or hybrid flexibility. These elements contribute to an overall package that many view as solid.
Xsolla Insights
What We Do
Xsolla's video game business engine helps game developers and publishers operate more efficiently and sell more games. Serving only the video game industry, Xsolla caters to businesses from indie to enterprise, with solutions that solve the complexities of distribution, marketing, and monetization so developers, publishers, and platform partners. Our goal is to increase your audience, sales and revenue. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices worldwide, Xsolla operates as a merchant and seller of record for major gaming entities like Valve, Twitch, Ubisoft, Epic Games, and PUBG Corporation.
