Head of KYC

Coinbase
United States
Remote

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for candidates with global KYC leadership experience who can manage cross-functional teams and navigate complex regulatory environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 10+ years of KYC leadership experience in financial institutions or fintech
    — “10+ years of experience managing, designing, and implementing KYC programs at a financial institution”
  • Individuals who can balance regulatory compliance with business velocity across multiple jurisdictions
    — “designing scalable solutions that balance regulatory compliance with business velocity”
  • Professionals with a proven ability to serve as a senior escalation point for KYC matters
    — “Experience serving as a senior escalation point for KYC/onboarding matters”

Things to consider

  • Quarterly in-person 'surges' may require travel despite the remote-first work arrangement
    — “remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called “surges””
  • The role requires managing a team and delivering executive-level reporting
    — “Serve as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for regulatory reporting and correspondence related to global KYC program inquiries”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in translating global regulatory requirements into operational frameworks
    — “demonstrated ability to translate regulatory requirements into scalable KYC program design across multiple jurisdictions”
  • Emphasize leadership in KYC program design and execution across regulated entities
    — “Own the end-to-end strategic direction of Coinbase's Global KYC program”
  • Demonstrate expertise in managing concurrent regulatory initiatives in a matrixed environment
    — “managing concurrent regulatory initiatives, jurisdiction launches, and program enhancements in a matrixed environment”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Developed and implemented a global KYC program
  • Led a team of KYC professionals
  • Managed regulatory initiatives
  • Provided regulatory guidance to cross-functional teams
Typical background
10+ years of experience in KYC and complianceExperience in financial institutionsStrong knowledge of global AML, CTF, and sanctions regulations

Skills & requirements

Required

KYC Program ManagementAML ComplianceCTF ComplianceSanctions ComplianceRegulatory ReportingTeam ManagementPolicy DevelopmentProgram ImplementationIssue ManagementRegulatory Guidance

Preferred

Digital AssetsFintechGlobal Compliance

Stack & domain

KYC ProgramsAML, CTF, Sanctions RegulationsPolicy DevelopmentRisk-based FrameworksOperational Process ImplementationRegulatory GuidanceTeam ManagementIssue ManagementPartnering With Cross-functional TeamsEscalation PointAdvisory SupportFinanceRegulatory Compliance

About the role

Original posting from Coinbase

Ready to do the most impactful work of your career? At Coinbase, we are uncompromising on our mission to increase economic freedom. The bar is high, the environment is intense, and we like it that way. This isn't a place for complacency, it’s a place to be pushed past your perceived limits. If you're ready to build the future of finance alongside people who refuse to settle for "good enough," you belong here. Coinbase is a remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called “surges.” learn more about working at Coinbase.

As the Senior Manager, Head of KYC within Central Compliance, you'll own the global strategy, policy, and program execution for KYC across all Coinbase regulated entities. The KYC function operates as a shared services model, providing compliance advisory to Coinbase's global business lines. You'll serve as Coinbase's subject matter expert and senior escalation point for KYC, driving program design across jurisdictions, managing a team of KYC professionals, and partnering with operations, business, product, and regulatory stakeholders to ensure Coinbase's KYC program scales with the business while meeting evolving global regulatory requirements.  

What you’ll do: 

Own the end-to-end strategic direction of Coinbase's Global KYC program, including policy development, program implementation, advisory support, and enterprise-wide process design across all regulated entities.

Lead a team of KYC professionals across second-line compliance supporting program design, setting performance standards, developing talent, and ensuring consistent execution across jurisdictions.

Drive KYC issue management and resolution globally, providing oversight of corrective actions, systemic enhancements, and first-line KYC function performance.

Partner with sales, coverage, account management, customer experience, product, and engineering teams to design and implement KYC initiatives for new product and jurisdiction launches.

Serve as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for regulatory reporting and correspondence related to global KYC program inquiries, and deliver senior management and executive-level reporting on KPIs and program health.

Shape the interpretation and implementation of global KYC requirements in collaboration with Legal and Compliance colleagues and business stakeholders, designing scalable solutions that balance regulatory compliance with business velocity. 

Required Skills and Experience:

10+ years of experience managing, designing, and implementing KYC programs at a financial institution, including direct people management experience, preferably with digital assets and/or fintech exposure.

Deep knowledge of global AML, CTF, and sanctions regulations (e.g., BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, FinCEN CDD Rule, 4MLD/5MLD/6MLD, OFAC sanctions) and demonstrated ability to translate regulatory requirements into scalable KYC program design across multiple jurisdictions.

Proven track record of building and scaling a global KYC program from design through execution, including policy development, risk-based frameworks, and operational process implementation.

Experience serving as a senior escalation point for KYC/onboarding matters, with the ability to advise on client risk, provide regulatory guidance to cross-functional teams, and represent the KYC function to regulators and senior leadership.

Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent regulatory initiatives, jurisdiction launches, and program enhancements in a matrixed environment while delivering executive-level reporting on program performance.

Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.

Pay Transparency Notice: Base salary varies by location (see range below). Total compensation may also include equity and bonus eligibility, and benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)). 

Annual base salary range (excluding equity and bonus):$252,620—$297,200 USD

Application Limit: Candidates may submit a maximum of 3 applications within a 6-month period.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants with criminal histories will be considered consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

US Applicants: View Employee Rights, Know Your Rights, and E-Verify Notice of Participation.

Accommodations: If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation, email us your request and contact info at accommodations[at]coinbase.com. Need screen reading technology? Click here to download a free compatible screen reader and view the tutorial.

Data Privacy & Arbitration: By submitting your application, you agree to our Candidate Privacy Notice. US applicants: By submitting your application, you agree to Arbitration of Disputes.

Source: Coinbase careers

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