Branch Manager

You will build the Portuguese branch from the ground up, owning its commercial plan, market entry, partnerships, local operations, hiring, and growth. You will represent the branch before regulators, serve as its appointed MLRO, oversee AML/CFT and sanctions compliance, manage suspicious activity reporting, and maintain the branch’s regulatory standing.

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial plan for Portugal
• Take SME and private propositions to market
• Lead strategic partnership and distribution negotiations
• Build relationships with partners, intermediaries, industry bodies, and press
• Track market trends, competitors, and customer needs
• Represent the business at industry events and with the media
• Define roles, hire, onboard, and lead the local team
• Manage passport notification and local registrations
• Establish premises, local reporting, and the local control environment
• Set up complaints handling, dispute resolution, and consumer protection obligations
• Own the launch plan and go-live sequencing
• Act as legal representative toward competent authorities
• Manage regulatory correspondence, supervisory visits, inspections, and audits
• Serve as point of contact with the regulator and Portuguese FIU
• Maintain regulatory standing and compliance with passported permissions
• Hold the appointed MLRO role
• Report suspicious activity
• Own the branch-level AML/CFT risk assessment
• Ensure local AML/CFT and sanctions processes meet requirements

Requirements

• At least 5 years of financial services or fintech experience
• Commercial experience in market entry, business development, or partnerships
• Experience building an operation from a standing start
• Ability to take personal regulatory accountability
• Resident in Portugal or willing to relocate
• Regular travel to Luxembourg and Berlin
• Degree or professional qualification in business, finance, law, compliance, or a related field
• Fluency in Portuguese and English
• Experience as an appointed MLRO or equivalent appointed role, or senior commercial or country-management experience
• Hands-on AML/CFT experience with customer cases, escalations, SAR or STR reporting, FIU interaction, and regulator interaction
• Sufficient AML/CFT grounding to hold the appointment credibly from day one

Benefits

• Vivid Prime account free of charge
• Learning and development budget
• Equity through the Employee Stock Option Program