← All roles

Licensing and Audit Manager

Lightspark· Legal & Compliance
Apply on company site
Los Angeles HQ, Remote$179k - $210k + bonusFull-timePosted 1w ago

About the role

Role leading and managing the licensing and audit function for Lightspark Payments, including obtaining and maintaining state licenses, regulatory examinations and audits, and remediation of findings.

Responsibilities

  • Own the end-to-end license lifecycle for Lightspark Payments’ money transmission business: prepare, file, and track new state license applications and change-of-control, key-individual, and other amendment filings in NMLS, and manage renewals and ongoing license maintenance across all states.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for state regulators and, where applicable, federal regulators during licensing cycles, responding to deficiency requests, supplemental information requests, and follow-up inquiries in a timely and complete manner.
  • Maintain a licensing calendar and inventory of license conditions, surety bonds, net worth and permissible investment requirements, registered agents, and renewal deadlines; partner with Finance and Legal to gather the supporting information and documentation.
  • Prepare, review, and submit regulatory reports, including the NMLS MSB Call Report and other periodic state and federal filings, ensuring accuracy, consistency with source data, and on-time submission.
  • Manage regulatory examinations from notification through close-out: coordinate request lists, organize and review document production, prepare management and subject matter experts for interviews, and serve as the day-to-day contact for examiners.
  • Manage the audit program, including bank and partner audits, the annual independent Title 31 BSA/AML audit, and the Compliance Management System (CMS) audit, coordinating with independent auditors and internal stakeholders on scope, timing, evidence, and findings.
  • Lead audit and examination remediation: log findings and gaps, assign owners, define corrective action plans with realistic timelines, track progress to completion, validate that fixes are effective, and report status to the CCO and leadership.
  • Establish and run a quality assurance and monitoring approach for licensing and audit activities, including a central repository of examination responses, audit evidence, and regulatory correspondence that supports consistent and efficient responses over time.
  • Monitor changes in state and federal money transmission laws and regulations (including licensing, surety, reporting, and examination requirements), assess the impact to Lightspark Payments, and work with the CCO and Legal to update policies, procedures, and processes accordingly.
  • Continuously improve licensing and audit processes: identify manual steps and recurring pain points, and design templates, trackers, workflows, and automation that make the function more scalable and audit-ready as Lightspark Payments grows into new states, products, and partners.
  • Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure new products, markets, and business changes are evaluated for licensing impact and regulatory notification requirements before launch.
  • Support the CCO and the Compliance Program Manager with the Controls Inventory, risk assessments, policies and procedures, and other compliance program documentation as it relates to licensing and audit findings.
  • Provide direction and work prioritization for the Compliance Analyst supporting licensing and examination activities, and support the CCO as needed.

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience working in NMLS, actively applying for and maintaining state money transmission licenses for a licensed money transmitter or similarly regulated fintech.
  • Demonstrated experience interacting directly with state and federal regulators during licensing cycles and examinations, including responding to findings and deficiency requests.
  • Experience preparing and filing the NMLS MSB Call Report and other periodic regulatory reports.
  • Working knowledge of state money transmission laws and the Bank Secrecy Act as applicable to MSBs, and of consumer protection requirements such as Reg E; familiarity with digital asset or cross-border payments is a plus.
  • Proven experience managing examinations and audits and leading remediation of findings through to closure.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and organization, with the ability to manage many concurrent filings, deadlines, and requests.
  • Process-improvement mindset with ability to build redesigned processes, trackers, workflows, and automation.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for regulators, auditors, executives, and cross-functional teams.
  • Sound judgment and ability to escalate appropriately to the CCO.
  • Prior experience in a start-up or high-growth environment, or building programs from scratch, is preferred.
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred; relevant certifications (such as CAMS or CRCM) are a plus.
  • Intense professional curiosity and a growth mindset.

Skills

Required:NMLS license managementRegulatory examinations & auditsRegulatory reporting (NMLS MSB Call Report, etc.)Regulatory liaison
Nice to have:Process improvement and automation

Benefits

  • Health insurance coverage including medical, dental, and vision
  • Competitive salary
  • Stock options
  • Company paid life insurance
  • 20 paid vacation days a year, as well as paid holidays
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Matching 401k
  • FSA/DCA accounts
  • Generous family leave policies
  • Annual bonuses
Last updated Oct 15, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
Lightspark logo

About Lightspark

Global Payments Platform for Instant Bitcoin Transfers

Lightspark powers instant, low-cost Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments. Connect your business to the Money Grid for faster, borderless money movement.

BitcoinLightning NetworkPaymentsDigital banksExchangesWallets
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Lightspark