Demo

Head of Payments Compliance

Modern Treasury
San Francisco, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 12/25/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/24/2026
This position can be based out of San Francisco, New York, or remote (we accept candidates from many states).

About Modern Treasury

Modern Treasury builds the operating system for money movement. Our platform connects businesses to the banking system, automating payments, reconciliation, and ledgering. Compliance has always been core to how we build and operate. As Modern Treasury moves into products that directly handle customer funds—including accounts, disbursements, and emerging payment rails like stablecoins—the scope of our compliance program is expanding to address the full spectrum of financial crimes, consumer, and partner regulatory requirements.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Head of Payments Compliance to lead and evolve Modern Treasury’s compliance program as we expand into the flow of funds. This role will oversee our AML/BSA, sanctions, fraud, and consumer compliance programs, ensuring adherence not only to regulatory obligations but also to the expectations of our bank partners and other financial institutions.

The Head of Compliance reports to the VP, Legal and works closely with Product, Engineering, and Risk to design scalable, technology-forward compliance systems that enable responsible innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Oversight

  • Lead the design and implementation of Modern Treasury’s compliance framework across AML/BSA, sanctions, fraud, and consumer protection.
  • Serve as the designated BSA Officer, responsible for AML compliance, suspicious activity reporting, and program governance.
  • Oversee compliance with bank partner agreements, including due diligence, audit coordination, reporting, and ongoing oversight.
  • Develop scalable processes and systems to support potential future licensing regimes (e.g., MTLs, trust charters) while maintaining compliance through existing FBO and bank partnership structures.
  • Advise the VP, Legal and executive team on compliance risks, regulatory trends, and program performance.

Regulatory and Partner Engagement

  • Serve as the primary compliance point of contact for bank partners, auditors, and regulators (FinCEN, OFAC, state agencies).
  • Conduct and oversee enterprise risk assessments, control testing, and remediation.
  • Ensure program readiness for participation in payments systems (FedNow, RTP, ACH) and emerging asset types such as stablecoins or tokenized deposits.
  • Partner with Legal and Business Development to structure and maintain compliant bank relationships.

Product and Technology Integration

  • Embed compliance requirements into customer onboarding, payment processing, and ledger operations.
  • Collaborate with engineering to enhance transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and case management tools.
  • Evaluate and implement compliance technology solutions for KYC, data analytics, and transaction monitoring.
  • Work with Product and Partnerships to align compliance practices with product design and risk tolerance.

Qualifications

  • 10 years of experience in compliance, risk, or regulatory roles in financial services, banking, or fintech.
  • Deep expertise in BSA/AML, OFAC, and money transmission frameworks.
  • Experience managing compliance programs involving bank partnerships, FBO structures, or money movement through regulated entities.
  • Familiarity with compliance considerations related to stablecoins or other digital asset payment flows preferred.
  • Strong understanding of financial partner management and third-party oversight.
  • Proven ability to scale compliance operations through automation and technology.
  • Excellent judgment, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • CAMS, CRCM, or equivalent certification preferred.

WHY MODERN TREASURY

  • Join a company building the next generation of financial infrastructure.
  • Partner with leading banks, regulators, and technology teams to build safe, transparent systems for moving money.
  • Play a central role in ensuring compliance is a differentiator and enabler of responsible growth.

Modern Treasury is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate in any employment opportunities or practices based on an individual's race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), religion (all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver’s license issued under California Vehicle Code section 12801.9), natural hair, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer, and genetic characteristics), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

Modern Treasury participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Compensation Range: $150K - $250K

Salary : $150,000 - $250,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Head of Payments Compliance?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Head of Payments Compliance career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$51,089 - $70,406
Income Estimation: 
$67,266 - $87,335
Income Estimation: 
$58,078 - $76,693
Income Estimation: 
$73,707 - $95,263
Income Estimation: 
$80,876 - $132,043
Income Estimation: 
$77,899 - $100,402
Income Estimation: 
$77,899 - $100,402
Income Estimation: 
$91,142 - $116,690
Income Estimation: 
$80,876 - $132,043
Income Estimation: 
$163,270 - $214,905
Income Estimation: 
$195,602 - $261,706
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Head of Payments Compliance jobs in the San Francisco, CA area that may be a better fit.

  • Confidential San Francisco, CA
  • Who Are We We are on a mission to revolutionize ERP-native B2B payments. We’re a well-funded, early-stage startup operating in stealth mode, building cutti... more
  • Just Posted

  • Veem San Francisco, CA
  • Location: SF Bay Area Department: Product Management Reports To: SVP of Product and EngineeringAbout the Role:The Principal Product Manager – Risk & Compli... more
  • 1 Month Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!