Chief Compliance Officer

Lightspark is creating the Money Grid, modern, open financial infrastructure that makes payments accessible, affordable, and instant for businesses and users worldwide. We're challenging the status quo, updating the current system, and empowering our partners to build better solutions. Together, we're building the most advanced financial infrastructure, open, instant, and global, inspiring a future where anyone, anywhere can access the full potential of digital money.

Lightspark is seeking an experienced Chief Compliance Officer to build and lead our compliance function as we scale a global, multi-asset payments business spanning fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin. This is a rare opportunity to design a compliance program from first principles, setting global licensing strategy, expanding our financial crimes program, and building the policies, controls, and team needed to support Lightspark's growth across a complex and fast-moving regulatory landscape. You will own our compliance posture across our global footprint, spanning AML, sanctions, and consumer protection to licensing and banking partner relationships. You will set the strategic direction for the function while staying hands-on in the early stages, and you will be central to how Lightspark builds a compliance program that scales with the business through sharp judgment, smart process design, and a genuinely tech- and AI-forward approach.

This position reports to Lightspark's Vice President of Legal & Compliance. All members of the compliance team will report to you.

Ideally, we are looking for someone who would be based in LA or willing to relocate. However, if this is not possible, then we will require regular travel to Los Angeles to collaborate with your team and cross-functional stakeholders.

What you will be doing

• Design, implement, and maintain an effective compliance program tailored to crypto and fiat payments services, including illicit finance (AML, CFT, sanctions), consumer protection, financial security and reporting, and data protection and privacy considerations for a global business. The candidate should be comfortable working directly on program design and documents, in addition to managing internal and outside teams.

• Oversee licensing management and strategy, determining where and how Lightspark needs to be licensed as it expands into new products, jurisdictions, and partnerships, and leading applications and renewals end to end.

• Stay up-to-date with compliance developments and industry best practices related to these topics ensuring that Lightspark's policies and procedures reflect relevant developments.

• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential compliance risks and develop and implement strategies to mitigate them.

• Provide ongoing training and education to employees on compliance matters, fostering a culture of compliance and ethical behavior.

• Lead internal investigations into compliance issues, coordinate with external auditors, and implement corrective actions as necessary.

• Build a tech- and AI-forward compliance function, evaluating and deploying AI and automation to scale monitoring, reporting, and licensing tracking as the business grows.

• Prepare and present compliance reports to senior leadership and the board of directors, highlighting key compliance issues, trends, and recommendations.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory agencies and examiners, and manage banking partnerships and other third-party regulatory requirements, ensuring timely and accurate communication and reporting.

• Work closely with other departments, including Legal, Finance, and Operations, to ensure compliance across all business activities.

• Scale the compliance team when and as needed to ensure efficient operations and appropriate coverage for a quickly growing company.

What we're looking for

• 10+ years of experience in compliance, with a strong background in cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, data privacy, or financial services.

• 3+ years of experience as a CCO or similar role in a scaling organization, including for regulated businesses.

• Experience building compliance functions from scratch, with a scrappy, builder mentality — comfortable operating with ambiguity and building without a defined playbook.

• Deep understanding of regulatory requirements related to digital currencies, blockchain technology, and payments, including AML, KYC, and data privacy regulations.

• Licensing experience: you've set licensing strategy and led applications for a payments or crypto business; global or multi-jurisdictional licensing experience is a strong plus.

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and strategies, paired with extremely pragmatic business and risk judgment and integrity.

• A genuine tech and AI orientation — you actively follow developments in AI-assisted compliance and RegTech, and think naturally about how automation and tooling can extend the reach of a lean team.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization, up to the board.

• Experience in a start-up or high-growth environment is strongly preferred.

Lightspark is on a mission to build the future of open, instant, and global financial infrastructure making payments accessible and affordable for everyone, everywhere. We're committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace to reflect the customers we serve. We welcome interest from individuals of all backgrounds and levels of experience who share our mission. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the State of California Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.