Compliance Analyst

About this role

Job Title: Compliance Analyst (Mandarin Speaker)

Company: Seachange Financial Services

Department: Risk & Compliance

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Authorisation: Must have full valid Right to Work in the UK (Visa sponsorship is not available for this role)

About Seachange Financial Services

Seachange Financial Services is a UK-based Electronic Money Institution (EMI) offering merchant acquiring, payment solutions, and tailored compliance support under FCA regulation. We empower businesses with secure, scalable, and seamless payment infrastructure. Protecting our platform, maintaining high regulatory standards, and proactively managing financial crime and merchant risk are central to everything we do.

Role Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Compliance Analyst to join our team in London. Working closely with the Head of Compliance and the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), you will support day-to-day financial crime controls, transaction monitoring, merchant risk assessments, and safeguarding processes across our payment infrastructure.

This role requires native or full professional fluency in Mandarin to assist with reviewing international merchant documentation, corporate structures, and cross-border payment activities involving Chinese-speaking markets.

This is a hybrid position requiring 3 mandatory days in our London Bridge office per week, working closely alongside our risk, operations, and compliance leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Transaction Monitoring & Alert Review: Action and investigate daily alerts from transaction monitoring systems across card acquiring, Faster Payments, and cross-border settlement flows.
• KYC/KYB & Onboarding Reviews: Conduct risk reviews on new and existing merchants and individual clients, analyzing complex corporate structures (UBOs), business models, and high-risk activity drivers.
• Client Due Diligence & Screening: Perform Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and sanctions screening via KYC tools, with a specialized focus on accurately searching Chinese names and Chinese-language corporate documentation.
• Ongoing Monitoring & File Maintenance: Execute ongoing account monitoring, follow up on outstanding AML files, and conduct periodic verification checks on identity documentation.
• Link & Fraud Investigations: Perform initial network and link analysis into unusual account behaviors, shared device/IP footprints, multi-account abuse, and potential chargeback or merchant fraud.
• Risk Scoring & Reassessments: Assist in maintaining customer and merchant risk-assessment models, conducting periodic reviews and trigger-based risk reassessments.
• Safeguarding Support: Assist with daily safeguarding reconciliation checks and track account flows to ensure strict compliance with EMR and FCA guidelines.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Escalation: Liaise directly with internal partners, merchants, and clients to gather required due diligence information; compile compliance files for sign-off and maintain regular communication with the MLRO to immediately escalate financial crime concerns.
• Systems Management & Process Optimization: Maintain and update internal compliance tools, periodically evaluate tool effectiveness, and support management in reviewing CDD workflows to implement more efficient operational processes.
• MI & Regulatory Reporting Support: Collate risk metrics, track control performance, and assist in preparing Management Information (MI) reports and regulatory data returns.
• Policy & Control Gap Identification: Monitor day-to-day operational workflows to identify and flag potential gaps, inefficiencies, or SOP misalignments directly to the Head of Compliance.

Key Requirements & Qualifications

• Experience: 1–3 years of experience in a risk, compliance, or financial crime operational role within an FCA-regulated EMI, Payment Institution, Acquirer, or FinTech firm.
• Working Model: Ability to work in our London office 3 days per week (mandatory).
• Merchant & Payments Knowledge: Practical understanding of merchant acquiring, card schemes, payment flows, and acquiring-specific risks (chargebacks, merchant fraud, high-risk sectors).
• Operational AML/KYC/KYB Skills: Proven ability to review individual KYC and business KYB documentation, verify UBOs, clear transaction monitoring alerts, and document investigative rationales clearly.
• Regulatory Awareness: Solid understanding of UK AML/CFT regulations, the FCA framework, and EMI safeguarding principles.
• Analytical Mindset: High attention to detail with the ability to analyse transactional datasets, identify anomalies, and present concise findings.
• Bilingual Fluency (Mandarin & English): Fully fluent in reading, writing, and speaking Mandarin and English, with the ability to accurately review native Chinese corporate documentation and communicate effectively across international stakeholders.

Core Competencies

• Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Ability to analyse complex data, assess risks independently, and deliver clear, responsive solutions.
• Organization & Priority Management: Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and work efficiently without supervision.
• Communication & Professional Presence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident interacting, building relationships, and communicating effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: A proactive team player who works well both independently and collaboratively, fostering a supportive and professional work environment.
• Adaptability & Drive: Highly motivated, reliable, and adaptable to organizational change, with a strong commitment to continuous professional development.

What We Offer

• Salary: £45,000 – £55,000 depending on experience.
• Working Model: Hybrid (3 days in-office / 2 days remote).
• Benefits: pension scheme, and performance-related bonus opportunities.

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