Compliance Specialist

For a major financial institution in Utrecht, we are looking for an experienced Subject Matter Expert – Crypto & Digital Assets. The assignment sits within the Financial Economic Crime and Transaction Monitoring domain and focuses on emerging financial crime risks related to cryptocurrencies, digital assets, tokenization and related technologies.

The organization is undergoing significant transformation and aims to further strengthen its global risk, control and policy framework for digital assets. This role is strategic and advisory in nature, with limited operational involvement. The successful candidate will work independently and engage closely with senior stakeholders across Compliance, Risk, Financial Economic Crime, business teams and management.

Role Description

As Subject Matter Expert Crypto & Digital Assets, you will act as the central expert on financial crime risks, regulatory expectations and control frameworks related to crypto and digital assets.

You will contribute to global risk assessments, risk appetite statements and policy development. You will help ensure that risks associated with cryptocurrencies, Crypto-Asset Service Providers, stablecoins, decentralized finance, tokenization and related technologies are properly identified, assessed, mitigated and governed.

You will provide expert advice, develop policies and frameworks, monitor regulatory developments and support strategic initiatives across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and enhance financial crime policies, standards and governance frameworks related to crypto and digital assets.
• Define and maintain risk and control frameworks for digital asset and crypto-related risks.
• Advise on risks such as money laundering, sanctions evasion, terrorist financing, fraud, market manipulation and market abuse.
• Provide expert input for global financial crime risk assessments.
• Deliver solicited and unsolicited advice to Compliance, Risk, Financial Economic Crime, business stakeholders and senior management.
• Monitor regulatory, industry and technological developments and translate these into policy updates and control enhancements.
• Define and document effective preventive and detective risk mitigation controls.
• Support the implementation and enhancement of controls across business and financial crime functions.
• Contribute to global procedures, standards and policies related to digital assets.
• Create clear narratives and storylines explaining how digital asset-related risks are identified, assessed, monitored and mitigated.
• Support strategic initiatives related to digital assets, tokenization, stablecoins and emerging financial technologies.
• Build organizational capability through coaching, knowledge sharing, training and awareness sessions.
• Report periodically on risk exposure, mitigation activities, control effectiveness and emerging developments.

Required Knowledge and Expertise

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in:

• Digital assets, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and tokenized finance.
• Crypto-related financial crime risks, including money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, fraud, market manipulation and market abuse.
• Crypto-Asset Service Providers, crypto exchanges, custodians, stablecoins and decentralized finance.
• Regulatory and supervisory frameworks such as MiCA, AMLD, FATF guidance, Travel Rule requirements and international crypto regulations.
• Designing and implementing risk mitigation frameworks, policies and controls for digital asset businesses or financial institutions.
• Blockchain analytics, transaction monitoring solutions and digital asset risk management methodologies.

Required Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent working and thinking level.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience within financial services, compliance, risk management, financial crime, digital assets or emerging technologies.
• Demonstrable expertise in crypto, blockchain, tokenization, financial markets or related domains.
• Experience managing complex regulatory, risk or transformation initiatives.
• Experience within a large corporate environment or reputable financial institution is strongly preferred.
• Strong experience with policy writing, policy oversight and senior-level advisory work.

Professional Skills

• Independent expert with the ability to identify emerging risks, trends and opportunities.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Pragmatic and delivery-oriented mindset.
• Ability to operate in complex and fast-changing regulatory environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across multiple seniority levels.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to translate technical concepts into business, risk and regulatory language.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining strong alignment with stakeholders.

Leadership Capabilities

• Strong resilience in complex stakeholder environments.
• Influential and transformational leadership style.
• Excellent diplomatic and negotiation skills.
• Strong ownership and accountability.
• Ability to inspire collaboration across teams and functions.
• Ability to build knowledge and organizational learning across the enterprise.

Candidate Profile

This assignment is best suited for a senior crypto and digital assets expert with a strong background in financial crime, compliance, risk or regulatory advisory. The ideal candidate combines deep subject matter expertise with strong policy, governance and stakeholder management capabilities.

You are comfortable advising senior management, writing and overseeing policies, translating complex regulatory developments into practical frameworks and helping a large financial institution manage emerging financial crime risks related to crypto and digital assets.

Assignment Information

Role: Subject Matter Expert – Crypto & Digital Assets

Location: Utrecht / Hybrid

Hours: 36 hours per week

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration: 6 months

Freelance / ZZP: Possible