Head of Sales and Responsible Officer Type 1

Our payment client is seeking a commercially driven and regulatory-savvy leader to join their executive team as Head of Sales & Responsible Officer (Type 1). This is a dual-hatted, high-impact role reporting directly to the CEO. You will be accountable for building, scaling, and leading the entire sales function while also serving as the firm's Unconditional Type 1 Responsible Officer.

Unlike traditional RO roles that focus solely on compliance, this position is designed for a business builder. You will own the revenue strategy, drive client acquisition, and shape the commercial direction of the firm-while working alongside our dedicated compliance team to secure and maintain the SFC Type 1 license. Your ability to balance aggressive sales growth with regulatory integrity will be critical to our success.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Leadership & Commercial Strategy (Primary Focus)

• Team Leadership: Build, lead, and mentor a high-performance Business Development / Sales team focused on acquiring corporate merchants, institutional clients, and strategic partners for our digital payment solutions (including POS terminals, payment facilitator models, and crypto-fiat settlement).
• Direct CEO Reporting: Partner with the CEO to define the company's commercial vision, set aggressive revenue targets, and provide regular board-level updates on sales performance, pipeline health, and market expansion.
• Go-to-Market Execution: Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy to penetrate high-growth sectors, including cryptocurrency payments, stablecoin adoption, and cross-border merchant services.
• Partnership Development: Identify and secure referral channels, distribution agreements, and enterprise partnerships to unlock new revenue streams and accelerate market share.
• Market Intelligence: Continuously track competitor activity, regulatory trends, and evolving client needs within the digital asset ecosystem to refine sales pitches, product offerings, and pricing models.

Regulatory & Licensing Support (Collaborative Role)

• Work Alongside Compliance: Partner closely with the internal Compliance team to provide commercial and operational input during the Type 1 license application process, ensuring all business models, client onboarding flows, and revenue structures meet SFC requirements.
• Serve as Unconditional RO: Upon license approval, act as the primary Unconditional Responsible Officer for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities) regulated activities, taking full regulatory accountability for all applicable SFC rules, codes, and guidelines.
• Policy Contribution: Contribute to the design of internal controls, trade surveillance protocols, and client money handling procedures-ensuring they are commercially practical without compromising regulatory standards.
• Regulatory Liaison: Act as the key point of contact for the SFC alongside the compliance team, managing inspections, filings, and inquiries with transparency and professionalism.
• Risk-Based Decision Making: Apply sound regulatory judgment to approve client onboarding, marketing materials, and new product launches, ensuring commercial growth is always pursued within a compliant framework.

Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 8-10 years in financial services, fintech, or payments, with at least 5 years in a senior sales leadership role (Head of Sales, Commercial Director, or equivalent) and proven experience as a Responsible Officer or senior compliance professional.
• Licensing: Must be currently registered or immediately eligible to be appointed as an Unconditional Type 1 RO with the SFC. Candidates in the process of obtaining the license with full eligibility are also welcome to apply.
• Sales Track Record: Demonstrated success in leading sales teams to achieve or exceed revenue KPIs, with experience selling to institutional clients, corporate merchants, or financial intermediaries.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of cryptocurrencies, blockchain, stablecoins, and digital payment infrastructures, combined with strong awareness of SFC regulatory frameworks and AML/CTF obligations.
• Strategic & Analytical: Ability to translate market data into actionable sales strategies and to balance commercial urgency with long-term regulatory sustainability.
• Language: Fluent in English and Chinese
• Personal Attributes: Entrepreneurial, results-oriented, and resilient, with the gravitas to report directly to the CEO and the collaborative mindset to work effectively with compliance, legal, and product teams.