Payments Regulatory & Compliance Lead

About LAYA

LAYA is a fast-growing payments fintech building multi-currency payment solutions for global travelers. Backed by Altshuler Shaham, we combine the agility of a startup with the stability of one of Israel’s leading financial groups.

As a licensed payment services provider and Mastercard issuer, we operate in one of the fastest-evolving regulatory environments in financial services. As we continue to scale, we’re looking for the person who will build and lead our regulatory compliance function.

This is not an AML Operations role.

We’re looking for someone who wants to own the regulatory compliance function of a licensed payments company and play a key role in shaping how compliance is built as the business grows.

This role is part of LAYA’s Financial Operations team. While you’ll work independently and own the company’s regulatory compliance program, you’ll collaborate daily with Finance, Operations, Product and senior management.

You will be responsible for translating regulation into practical business processes, building compliance programs, leading regulatory reviews, and ensuring LAYA meets its obligations under Israel’s Payment Services Law and Mastercard issuer requirements.

For the right person, this role offers the opportunity to build a function from the ground.

• Own LAYA’s regulatory compliance framework across payments regulation, Mastercard issuer requirements and internal governance.
• Build and execute the annual compliance work plan, including compliance reviews, control programs and gap assessments.
• Lead regulatory reviews from planning through remediation and follow-up.
• Monitor new legislation, regulatory guidance, Mastercard rules and industry developments, and translate them into operational requirements.
• Act as LAYA’s primary point of contact for ongoing regulatory engagement with the Israel Securities Authority.
• Manage Mastercard compliance obligations, including QMR, SAFE, SAR and other issuer requirements.
• Work closely with Product, Operations and Management to ensure regulatory requirements are embedded into day-to-day business processes.
• Coordinate ongoing professional reporting with Altshuler Shaham’s Chief Compliance Officer.
• Maintain and continuously improve LAYA’s AML framework and handle complex AML customer escalations when required. AML activities represent a relatively small part of the role.

• Experience in regulatory compliance, payments regulation, legal, policy or compliance roles within fintech, payments, card issuing, acquiring or digital banking.
• Experience working with financial regulators such as the Israel Securities Authority or equivalent regulatory bodies.
• Strong understanding of the payments ecosystem.
• Ability to analyze legislation, regulatory guidance and scheme rules, and convert them into practical business processes.
• Excellent analytical and written communication skills.
• High level of ownership and ability to work independently.
• Excellent English, both written and spoken.

• Experience with Mastercard or other international card schemes.
• Legal background or strong legal orientation.
• Experience with Israel’s Payment Services Law.
• Familiarity with FX, multi-currency products or cross-border payments.

• Build the compliance function of a regulated fintech from an early stage.
• Work directly with senior management and one of Israel’s leading financial groups.
• Help shape a growing Mastercard issuer.
• Own an entire professional domain with significant autonomy.
• Join a fast-moving fintech where regulation is part of building the business - not just monitoring it.