Head of Compliance

What You'll Do:

BSP Liaison & Regulatory Affairs

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all BSP examinations, inquiries, and correspondence
• Monitor and interpret BSP circulars, memoranda, and issuances; translate these into actionable internal policies
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of all regulatory reports (MORB, and related submissions)
• Proactively build and maintain a strong, professional relationship with BSP examiners

Compliance Program Ownership

• Design, implement, and continuously improve the bank's compliance framework, policies, and procedures
• Lead the annual compliance risk assessment and testing calendar
• Manage the bank's AMLA/CTF program end-to-end  from KYC/CDD to STR/CTR filing with the AMLC
• Ensure compliance with BSP regulations on consumer protection, data privacy (NPC), and financial inclusion mandates

MORB Compliance & Policy Governance

• Own the bank's complete MORB compliance program — mapping all applicable regulations to internal policies, procedures, and controls
• Maintain a master regulatory inventory tracking every MORB requirement applicable to the bank, with clear owners, deadlines, and status
• Lead the periodic review and updating of all bank policies required under the MORB — including but not limited to credit, treasury, IT security, anti-fraud, consumer protection, and risk management policies
• Ensure all policies are board-approved, properly documented, and reviewed on schedule; flag gaps or outdated provisions proactively
• Drive the bank's self-assessment against MORB standards ahead of BSP examinations — no surprises
• Translate MORB updates and new BSP circulars into concrete policy changes, and shepherd those changes through the approval process from drafting to board sign-off
• Collaborate with department heads to ensure their operating procedures are aligned with MORB requirements — and actually followed on the ground

Digital & Fintech Compliance

• Partner with the tech and product teams on digital banking initiatives, ensuring BSP's e-money, digital payments, and cybersecurity regulations are met from day one
• Review and clear new products, channels, and partnerships before launch
• Act as the compliance conscience in the product development process — pushing back where needed, but always offering a compliant alternative

Risk & Culture

• Champion a culture where compliance is a business enabler, not a bottleneck
• Train and upskill staff across branches on compliance requirements
• Report directly to the President/CEO and the Board's Risk and Compliance Committee

What Success Means in this Role

• BSP examinations result in zero material findings
• Rural bank license secured and in good standing
• BSP correspondence responded to within 3 business days
• No regulatory sanctions, penalties, or enforcement actions
• All required licenses and authorities secured to support business expansion
• All new products and channels launched are MORB-compliant

Requirements

Must-haves

• 5-7 years of banking compliance experience, with meaningful exposure to BSP-regulated entities
• Deep working knowledge of BSP regulations (MORB, MORNBFI), AMLA law, and BSP's digital banking framework
• Track record of managing BSP examinations and regulatory relationships
• Strong problem-solving instinct
• High ownership mentality; comfortable with ambiguity and working without a large team under you (yet)

Nice-to-haves

• Exposure to rural banking, microfinance, or financial inclusion programs in Visayas or similar markets
• Familiarity with compliance tech tools, RegTech, or core banking systems
• Experience reviewing or clearing digital product launches

Mindset & Culture Fit

• You're comfortable with iteration. Policies don't need to be perfect on day one
• You default to systems and documentation, not tribal knowledge
• You move with urgency and own your timelines
• You communicate clearly with both regulators and engineers

Benefits

• Hybrid work set-up: 2 days per week in our BGC office; remote the rest of the time. Occasional travel trips to Visayas whenever needed.
• Benefits: HMO coverage from month one, free catered lunches, monthly fitness, transportation, and accommodation allowance, and more.