Licensing and Compliance Specialist

Shift Markets • Montreal, QC

78d • Remote

About The Position

Shift Markets is seeking a detail-oriented Licensing & Compliance Specialist to join their legal team. This role will focus on managing regulatory filings and entity management, ensuring clients and internal entities remain in good standing across various US states and international jurisdictions. The primary focus will be on money transmitter licensing and crypto-related regulatory regimes. This position is ideal for someone with paralegal or compliance experience looking to specialize in fintech and digital asset regulation. The role requires strong organizational skills, comfort with regulatory portals and deadlines, and clear communication abilities. The specialist will work on complex licensing and regulatory matters at the intersection of fintech and digital assets, gaining hands-on experience in a rapidly evolving financial sector. Collaboration with legal, operations, and leadership teams is expected within a remote-first, fast-paced environment that values ownership, curiosity, attention to detail, and continuous learning.

Requirements

• Excellent written communication skills for regulator correspondence.
• High level of attention to detail and discretion with confidential information.
• Strong project management instincts; comfortable juggling 20+ concurrent filings and deadlines.
• Ability to work during US business hours.
• 1 to 3+ years of experience in licensing, compliance, or paralegal work (preferably at a law firm, fintech company, money services business, or corporate services provider).
• Hands-on experience with at least one of the following: NMLS, state money transmitter filings, BitLicense, or international financial licensing.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with the crypto/digital asset industry and its regulatory landscape is preferred.
• Working knowledge of one or more non-US regulatory regimes (MiCA, FCA, MAS, etc.) is preferred.
• Experience with corporate entity management tools is preferred.
• Experience with FinCEN registration and SAR/CTR reporting frameworks is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, file, and maintain Money Transmitter License (MTL) applications through the NMLS portal across multiple US states.
• Manage state-by-state renewal calendars, surety bond tracking, and net worth reporting.
• Compile and submit quarterly Money Services Businesses Call Reports (MSBCR) and other periodic reports.
• Coordinate fingerprinting, background checks, and Control Person filings (MU2 forms) for principals and key personnel.
• Respond to state regulator requests for information and deficiency notices.
• Track changes in state money transmitter laws and flag impacts to filings.
• Support applications and ongoing reporting for non-US crypto/VASP regimes (e.g., EU MiCA, UK FCA registration, Dubai VARA, Canadian MSB).
• Maintain a jurisdictional matrix tracking license status, conditions, and renewal dates.
• Coordinate with local counsel and corporate service providers on submissions.
• Prepare supporting documentation: org charts, policies, fit-and-proper questionnaires, source-of-funds materials.
• Assist with BitLicense applications and ongoing NYDFS reporting.
• Support trust charter, broker-dealer, and similar specialty financial license applications as needed.
• Compile due diligence packages for chartering authorities.
• Maintain corporate records across US and international entities: annual reports, franchise tax filings, registered agent management, foreign qualifications.
• Track director/officer changes, address changes, and other amendments.
• Keep minute books, cap tables, and good standing certificates current.
• Coordinate UBO and beneficial ownership filings (including FinCEN BOI reporting where applicable).
• Manage the contract lifecycle across commercial agreements, vendor contracts, bank partnerships, and third-party service agreements, including intake, routing, execution, and storage.
• Track key contract dates, renewal windows, notice periods, and material obligations, and surface upcoming deadlines to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate with internal teams on signature workflows and execution logistics using standard e-signature tooling.
• Support due diligence and contracting processes for new partnership opportunities, including organizing document requests and managing data rooms.
• Build and maintain internal reports and dashboards on licensing status, contract coverage, and pending legal ops items.

Benefits

• Compensation is aligned with global market benchmarks and calibrated to experience, capability, and location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed