Compliance and Legal Operations Associate 

Location: United States (Remote) 

Time Zone: Eastern Time Preferred

Role Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Compliance and Legal Operations Associate to join our growing compliance and legal team. In this role, you will support the day-to-day operations of our compliance program, ensuring adherence to applicable legal and regulatory requirements across KYC/KYB, AML, sanctions, and licensing functions. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in financial services or fintech compliance, a strong sense of ownership, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving regulatory environment.

This isn't a sit-in-a-corner-and-redline-NDAs kind of role. You'll be embedded in the business, working across teams, and helping us figure out how to do things right as we scale. You'll report directly to the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) with a dotted line to the Co-Founder / President.

Key Responsibilities 

Licensing & Regulatory Operations 

• Support the money transmitter licensing (MTL) process, including preparation and submission of applications and renewals across U.S. jurisdictions
• Maintain and update the NMLS platform and associated records
• Track regulatory obligations and deadlines company-wide and flag emerging compliance requirements
• Assist with the development, drafting, and updating of compliance policies and procedures

KYC / AML / Sanctions 

• Conduct KYC and KYB reviews for new and existing customers, including Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) for higher-risk accounts
• Review source of funds documentation to verify the legitimacy of customer funds
• Monitor and review transactions and sanctions alerts, determining appropriate escalation paths
• Draft and file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) using the BSA E-Filing system

Legal & Operational Support

• Support client onboarding from a legal perspective — reviewing due diligence docs, flagging risk issues, and helping close deals faster
• Review marketing materials, website copy, and product communications for legal and regulatory accuracy
• Handle general corporate housekeeping — entity maintenance, board minutes, corporate filings, and similar tasks as they come up
• Maintain and organize compliance and legal documents, records, and filing systems
• Support due diligence processes to assess potential legal risks and liabilities
• Assist with legal holds, subpoena responses, and document collection requests
• Provide general operational support to the legal and compliance team

Quality Assurance & Audits

• Conduct internal quality assurance audits on compliance staff reviews
• Develop and implement risk assessments in response to regulatory changes
• Support client audits related to AML/KYC requirements
• Assist with remediation efforts identified through audits or regulatory examinations

Who This Role Is For

Someone who is:

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Self-starter who can work independently and take ownership of projects from initiation through completion
• Comfortable navigating ambiguous regulatory environments and adapting to changing priorities
• Collaborative team player who can work effectively across compliance, legal, and operations functions
• Demonstrated integrity and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information

Qualifications

Required 

• 2+ years of experience in compliance, paralegal, or legal operations roles within financial services, fintech, or cryptocurrency
• Working knowledge of BSA/AML regulations, KYC/KYB requirements, and sanctions screening
• Familiarity with SAR filing and the BSA E-Filing system
• Experience conducting internal audits or quality assurance reviews
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear compliance documentation
• Proficiency with compliance or legal platforms (e.g., Chainalysis, TRM, Chaindots, or similar)

Preferred 

• Experience with and/or interest in fintech, payments, or crypto 
• Exposure to money transmitter licensing processes and NMLS
• Paralegal or similar experience working within a legal department/law firm
• CAMS certification (completed or in progress) or other relevant compliance certifications (e.g., TRM Crypto Compliance, Chainalysis Reactor)

Reporting Structure 

• Reports to Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) 
• Works closely with the Co-Founder / President and cross-functionally with Team Leads

Compensation and Benefits  

• Competitive salary ($70K–$90K) plus meaningful equity in a pre-launch company.
• Fully remote work — work from wherever you do your best thinking.
• The chance to build a legal and compliance function from the ground up, not just maintain one.
• Direct mentorship from an experienced Co-Founder (defacto GC) and CCO — you'll learn more here in a year than in three years at a big firm.
• A team that values ownership, speed, and doing things the right way.
• Health coverage (medical, dental, vision), paid time off, and additional perks to help you thrive in and out of work.

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About Cyclops

Cyclops is the only crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider exclusively focused on payments. Historically, crypto and stablecoin payments have been unnecessarily difficult. With Cyclops, the era of delays and complexity is over.

We are serial entrepreneurs. We founded The Giving Block in 2018, sold it to Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR) in 2022, then spent the last 4 years building out the Shift4 crypto team and products. Now, we’re running things back and following a similar playbook. This time we’re more prepared and backed by the best in the industry (Castle Island, Fidelity, and Shift4).

Cyclops Culture

Don’t join Cyclops if you’re looking for a typical 9-5. The culture we’ve built is one of first-principles thinking and relentless execution. We wake up every day excited to deliver great products worthy of the world’s best companies. Everyone who works at Cyclops must have a founder mindset, where no problem is too big to solve.