MLRO/ Head of Compliance

About Us

PayVia is a Canada-registered Money Service Business (MSB) providing remittance, foreign exchange dealing, virtual currency dealing, and payment service provider (PSP) services. Backed by a growing and loyal client base, PayVia is expanding its operations internationally, including establishing a presence in Dubai. We are building a world-class compliance infrastructure to underpin our next phase of growth across payments, FX, and digital assets.

About the Role

PayVia is seeking an experienced MLRO / Head of Compliance to run our AML/CFT program end-to-end and lead the compliance function in a fast-paced fintech/MSB environment. The ideal candidate has direct, hands-on FINTRAC and PCMLTFA experience, a solid grasp of payments, acquiring, and virtual currency risk, and the seniority to act as PayVia’s designated Money Laundering Reporting Officer and primary regulatory contact.

Location & Work Arrangement

Based in Dubai, UAE. PayVia offers flexible working arrangements to attract the best talent:

● Remote - fully remote from Dubai or other approved locations

● Hybrid - split between home and a Dubai office hub

● Office-based - full-time from our Dubai office

Key Responsibilities

AML/CFT/Risk Program Leadership

● Design, implement, and own PayVia’s end-to-end AML/CFT and Sanctions compliance framework in full alignment with FINTRAC and PCMLTFA requirements

● Act as PayVia’s designated MLRO and primary point of contact for FINTRAC examinations, regulatory enquiries, and reporting obligations

● Build and own PayVia's customer risk scoring model and risk framework, defining risk appetite, designing risk rating methodologies across customer types and products, and continuously calibrating the model to reflect regulatory expectations and the evolving business risk profile.

● Advise the Board and senior management on AML/CFT risks, regulatory developments, and compliance strategy; conduct annual risk-based approach reviews and present findings to the Board

Transaction Monitoring & Investigations

● Oversee the transaction monitoring program: rule design, alert triage, investigation workflows, and escalation, ensuring all cases are documented to a regulatory standard

● Review and approve STRs, LCTRs, and LVCTRs for timely submission to FINTRAC; maintain oversight of sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening

● Identify and surface emerging financial crime typologies, red flags, and control gaps to the management team

Client Onboarding & KYC / EDD

● Lead and govern PayVia’s client onboarding compliance framework, including KYC, CDD, and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for individuals, corporates, MSBs, and PSPs across multiple jurisdictions

● Oversee merchant underwriting and high-risk client assessments in the acquiring and payments business, including beneficial ownership verification and chargeback threshold frameworks

● Ensure onboarding procedures are scalable, risk-based, and fully compliant with regulatory expectations, working closely with operations and technology teams to drive efficiency

Policy & Procedure Development

● Author, maintain, and continuously improve PayVia’s AML/CFT, sanctions, fraud prevention, and operational compliance policies and procedures

● Ensure all policies reflect current FINTRAC guidelines, PCMLTFA requirements, and industry best practices, updated promptly in response to regulatory changes

● Design and deliver AML/CFT training programmes across the organisation to embed a strong culture of compliance

What We Expect From You

● Minimum 5 years of AML/compliance experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead role within a payments, acquiring, or MSB environment

● Direct, hands-on experience with FINTRAC and PCMLTFA — including STR/LCTR filing and management of regulatory examinations

● Proven experience building or significantly enhancing an AML/CFT compliance program from the ground up

● Deep knowledge of KYC/CDD/EDD standards across retail, corporate, MSB, and PSP client types

● Strong transaction monitoring experience — rule design, alert management, and investigation workflows

● Demonstrated track record of authoring compliance policies and procedures to a regulatory standard

● CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) or equivalent professional certification

● Authorisation and eligibility to work in Canada (required for MLRO regulatory accountability)

● Excellent written and spoken English; strong communication and stakeholder management skills

● Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced start-up environment; tech-savvy with exposure to agile working

The Following Are a Strong Advantage

● Experience with virtual currency / cryptocurrency compliance, including LVCTR filings and blockchain analytics

● Experience with card acquiring compliance- chargeback frameworks, merchant underwriting, dispute workflows, and card scheme rules

● Familiarity with international AML regimes in addition to FINTRAC (e.g. FCA, FinCEN, MAS, FATF)

● Experience with Hong Kong Money Service Operator (MSO) licensing and regulatory requirements is a desirable advantage

● Experience leveraging AI and machine learning tools to enhance transaction monitoring, risk scoring, alert triage, and the broader compliance framework, including familiarity with AI-assisted case management, anomaly detection, or automated regulatory reporting

● Proficiency with compliance platforms such as Actimize, Verafin, Refinitiv World-Check, LexisNexis, Sumsub, or Resolver

What We Offer

● A senior leadership role with direct influence over PayVia’s compliance culture and program -an opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up

● Competitive compensation package, commensurate with experience

● Flexible working: remote, hybrid, or office-based from Dubai

● Exposure to a fast-growing fintech spanning payments, FX, remittance, and digital assets

● Direct access to the CEO and Board, with meaningful influence on strategic decisions