Compliance Officer - MSO Licence Application

Position Overview

• We are seeking an experienced Compliance Officer to lead and manage the application for a Money Service Operator (MSO) Licence in Hong Kong.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end licensing process, ensuring compliance with applicable Hong Kong regulatory requirements, and establishing the necessary compliance framework to support the company's money service operations.
• This role requires hands-on experience in MSO licensing, strong knowledge of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF) requirements, and the ability to work independently with regulatory authorities and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. MSO Licence Application & Regulatory Liaison - Lead the end-to-end application process for the Hong Kong MSO Licence, from initial preparation through to regulatory approval.
• - Prepare, review and submit licensing applications, business plans, compliance policies and supporting documentation.
• - Act as the primary point of contact with the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) throughout the licensing process.
• - Coordinate regulatory enquiries, interviews, inspections and requests for additional information.
• - Work closely with internal stakeholders, external legal counsel and compliance consultants to ensure timely and accurate submissions.

2. Compliance Framework & AML/CTF

• - Develop and implement the company's AML/CTF compliance framework in accordance with Hong Kong regulatory requirements.
• - Establish policies and procedures covering Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting.
• - Conduct compliance risk assessments and establish appropriate internal controls for money service operations.
• - Ensure the company's compliance framework meets the requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), Cap. 615.

3. Business Readiness & Ongoing Compliance

• - Collaborate with business, operations and technology teams to ensure operational readiness for the MSO licence application.
• - Support the establishment of compliant remittance and/or money-changing operations.
• - Identify regulatory risks and provide practical compliance advice to management.
• - Maintain regulatory documentation and support ongoing compliance obligations following licence approval.
• - Monitor regulatory developments and recommend necessary updates to internal policies and procedures.

Requirements

• - Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• - Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in regulatory compliance, preferably within money service operators, remittance, payment services, banking or financial services.
• - Prior hands-on experience in successfully managing or materially contributing to a Hong Kong MSO Licence application is strongly preferred.
• - Strong understanding of the Hong Kong MSO licensing regime, AML/CTF regulations and regulatory expectations.
• - Experience in preparing regulatory submissions, compliance manuals, business plans and AML/CTF policies.
• - Proven ability to communicate directly with regulatory authorities and manage licensing-related enquiries.
• - Strong project management skills, attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
• - Excellent communication skills in English and Chinese (Mandarin and/or Cantonese).

Preferred Qualifications

• - Experience obtaining an MSO Licence for a newly established business in Hong Kong.
• - Previous experience working with the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department on MSO licensing matters.
• - Experience in cross-border payments, remittance, foreign exchange or FinTech.