Director, Digital Asset 1st Line Compliance & Financial Crimes Lead

BNY Mellon•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re seeking a future team member for the role of Digital Asset 1st Line Compliance & Financial Crimes Lead to join our Digital Assets team. This role is in New York, NY. About the Role BNY is seeking a Digital Asset 1st Line Compliance & Financial Crimes Lead, Director to serve as the primary business-facing compliance and financial crimes subject matter expert for Digital Asset Custody and related tokenized asset activities. This role sits within the Digital Asset Custody business and partners closely with Compliance, Legal, Risk, Operations, and Technology to help ensure that digital asset products, services, and operating models are designed and operated in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and risk standards. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in digital assets, blockchain-based financial activity, AML/KYC requirements, sanctions compliance, and the evolving regulatory landscape for institutional digital assets. The role will help the business scale responsibly by embedding compliance and financial crimes considerations into new product development, client onboarding, strategic initiatives, and day-to-day operations. The position will also serve as a key advisor and escalation point for compliance, financial crimes, and regulatory matters across the Digital Asset Custody platform. In this role, you’ll make an impact in the following ways: Compliance & Financial Crimes Leadership Serve as the primary compliance and financial crimes subject matter expert for Digital Asset Custody and related digital asset initiatives. Provide guidance on AML, KYC, sanctions, Travel Rule, counterparty risk, and regulatory requirements applicable to digital asset activities. Partner with Compliance, Legal, Risk, Operations, and Technology teams to support business growth while maintaining appropriate risk management standards. Review escalated client, transaction, wallet, and counterparty matters and provide risk-based recommendations. Product & Business Support Ensure early engagement on new business initiatives, products, and client opportunities to support commercial priorities while maintaining regulatory compliance. Help design scalable compliance and financial crimes processes that support business growth and operational efficiency. Assess the impact of regulatory developments, market changes, and emerging risk trends on Digital Asset Custody products and services. Support the development of operating models, onboarding frameworks, and governance processes for new digital asset capabilities. Regulatory Engagement & Governance Support responses to regulatory inquiries, examinations, and ongoing supervisory activities. Monitor and interpret emerging regulatory developments and communicate implications to business leadership. Prepare updates and reporting for senior management and governance committees on compliance, financial crimes, and regulatory matters. Act as a trusted advisor to business leadership on digital asset regulatory and financial crimes considerations. Monitoring & Issue Management Review key compliance, financial crimes, and operational risk indicators and escalate issues as appropriate. Partner with business stakeholders to investigate and resolve compliance-related exceptions and emerging risks. Support remediation efforts and corrective action plans where required. Help identify opportunities to enhance monitoring, streamline processes, and improve client experience while maintaining appropriate controls.

Requirements

7–10+ years of experience in Compliance, Financial Crimes, Legal, Risk, or related functions.
Meaningful experience supporting digital assets, cryptocurrency, blockchain-based financial products, tokenization initiatives, or digital asset custody activities.
Strong knowledge of AML/KYC requirements, sanctions compliance, Travel Rule obligations, and financial crimes risks associated with digital assets.
Experience reviewing escalations, exceptions, or investigations related to digital asset transactions, wallet activity, blockchain-based financial activity, or counterparty risk.
Hands-on experience with blockchain analytics and monitoring tools such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, TRM Labs, or similar platforms.
Working knowledge of U.S. regulatory requirements relevant to digital assets, including SEC, OCC, FinCEN, and NYDFS expectations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex compliance and regulatory topics to senior management and regulators.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-evolving regulatory and business environment while applying sound judgment and a practical, risk-based approach.

Nice To Haves

CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) or similar compliance, financial crimes, or risk certification.
Experience working at a bank, qualified custodian, broker-dealer, fintech, digital asset firm, blockchain company, or other regulated financial institution.
Experience supporting digital asset custody, tokenization, stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, or related products.
Strong understanding of wallet technologies, blockchain networks, tokenization frameworks, and digital asset operating models.
Familiarity with global digital asset regulatory frameworks and emerging market standards.
Experience partnering directly with business leadership, product teams, and regulators on complex digital asset initiatives.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary compliance and financial crimes subject matter expert for Digital Asset Custody and related digital asset initiatives.
Provide guidance on AML, KYC, sanctions, Travel Rule, counterparty risk, and regulatory requirements applicable to digital asset activities.
Partner with Compliance, Legal, Risk, Operations, and Technology teams to support business growth while maintaining appropriate risk management standards.
Review escalated client, transaction, wallet, and counterparty matters and provide risk-based recommendations.
Ensure early engagement on new business initiatives, products, and client opportunities to support commercial priorities while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Help design scalable compliance and financial crimes processes that support business growth and operational efficiency.
Assess the impact of regulatory developments, market changes, and emerging risk trends on Digital Asset Custody products and services.
Support the development of operating models, onboarding frameworks, and governance processes for new digital asset capabilities.
Support responses to regulatory inquiries, examinations, and ongoing supervisory activities.
Monitor and interpret emerging regulatory developments and communicate implications to business leadership.
Prepare updates and reporting for senior management and governance committees on compliance, financial crimes, and regulatory matters.
Act as a trusted advisor to business leadership on digital asset regulatory and financial crimes considerations.
Review key compliance, financial crimes, and operational risk indicators and escalate issues as appropriate.
Partner with business stakeholders to investigate and resolve compliance-related exceptions and emerging risks.
Support remediation efforts and corrective action plans where required.
Help identify opportunities to enhance monitoring, streamline processes, and improve client experience while maintaining appropriate controls.