Onboarding & KYC Specialist

About us

Over the last 18 years, we have helped over a million satisfied customers move and manage their money. Our award-winning product portfolio allows our customers to make low-cost multi-currency payments across various payment products. From travel money to transfers, currency hedging, to expense management, we are focused on a single goal of making it easy for our customers to manage and move their money.

As a business, we are committed to delivering value to our customers through the combination of advanced payments technology and personal expert service. We’re doing this by hiring exceptional people and are now looking for an Onboarding & KYC Specialist to join our team.

Within our offices in London, Chester, Los Angeles and Europe, Equals comprises of three business lines and brands - Equals Money, FairFX and CardOneMoney. You will join a very close-knit, talented and supportive team from various backgrounds who believe that bringing different perspectives together helps us understand our customers' needs. United, by one thing, making money management straightforward and cost-effective for our customers.

About the role

As an Onboarding & KYC Specialist at Equals Money Europe, you will be an integral part of a dedicated team responsible for conducting KYC checks and performing risk assessments on new business and personal customer applications. You will collaborate closely with the Compliance and Risk departments to ensure that new customers are onboarded within the firm’s risk appetite framework while adhering to AML regulations and other relevant compliance requirements. In this fast-paced environment, you will need to take initiative, think critically, and act quickly to ensure customers are onboarded smoothly while mitigating potential risks.

About you

We believe that certain skills are essential in order to be successful in this role and these are detailed below. You may not have all the other skills we have outlined as desirable, we understand that and will still welcome your application. We will carry out individual interviews for shortlisted candidates and assess who is best suited for the role after we have discussed everything with you.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and risk assessments on new business and personal customer applications, ensuring compliance with AML regulations.

• Verify and validate the accuracy of customer information and supporting documentation, including identification, corporate structures, and Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs).

• Perform sanctions, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP), and adverse media screening to identify potential risks.

• Analyse customer profiles and transactional behaviour to identify any inconsistencies or red flags, escalating potential risks to Senior Onboarding Analysts or Team Leaders.

• Conduct detailed checks to ensure that all customer information is accurate, up to date, and meets compliance standards.

• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, and Relationship Management teams to resolve onboarding issues and obtain additional information when required.

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of onboarding activities, including detailed notes and audit trails.

• Ensure adherence to internal policies, AML regulations, and other compliance requirements throughout the onboarding process.

• Continuously monitor and stay up to date with changes in regulatory requirements, ensuring onboarding practices are adjusted accordingly.

• Contribute to the implementation of process improvements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the onboarding function.

• Participate in ongoing training and development to enhance knowledge of onboarding processes and regulatory requirements.

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of experience in KYC/CDD, preferably within the fintech or payments Industry.

• Strong knowledge of KYC/CDD regulations, AML compliance, and financial crime prevention.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and mitigate potential risks effectively.

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally with teams such as Compliance, Risk, and Relationship Management.

• Proficiency in using onboarding and compliance management systems.

• A role model for our values:

  • Make it happen

  • Succeed together

  • Be the customer

  • Go beyond

Desirable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business, Compliance, or related field.

• Professional certifications (eg, ICA, ACAMS) are advantageous but not essential.

• Familiarity with onboarding automation tools and data analytics for risk assessment.

Our investment in you

We welcome people into Equals and desire to grow and develop our talented teams. We believe in teamwork and celebrating our successes. We strive to embrace our values. We want to put you in the driving seat of your career and achieve your full potential through growth opportunities and developmental support.

When you join Equals, we aim to help you to get more out of your career. We will also offer you the following benefits;

Benefits

• A competitive salary benchmarked against a peer group.

• 25 days holiday per year + your birthday off.

• Cycle to Work Scheme.

• We operate a hybrid working arrangement where possible.

• Cost of commute to arrive to the office via public transport.

Where possible we offer the opportunity to work flexibly and the opportunity to balance some remote working with time in the office collaborating, taking part in events and developing the social connections that make working with us rewarding.

Equals strives to create a workplace where we can all be ourselves. We believe in inclusion, equality and the power of diversity, so you'll be encouraged to bring your unique perspectives and experiences and help us understand what you need to do your best work.