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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.