Principal Compliance Specialist/ Counsel

About the Company

At Agoda, we bridge the world through travel. Our story began in 2005 and today we are part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), with a diverse team of over 7,000 people from 90 countries. We connect people to destinations and experiences across millions of hotels and holiday properties, flights, and experiences worldwide.

Booking Holdings operates in more than 220 countries and territories across multiple brands, including Booking.com, Agoda, Priceline, KAYAK, and OpenTable. The mission of Booking Holdings is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

About the Role

The Compliance & Ethics team drives and maintains Agoda’s compliance program and manages regulatory risks across a fast‑growing, tech‑driven global travel business. Within Booking Holdings, a consolidated New B2B Business (bringing together Booking.com, Priceline and Agoda) is being built. You will work closely with colleagues at Booking Holdings, sister brands, and internal partners across FinTech, Product, Commercial, Legal, Internal Audit, People, and Supply to launch and support the new B2B business.

Reporting to the Agoda Senior Director, Compliance Officer, you will be the senior payments compliance lead for Agoda’s B2B division, focusing on B2B payments products and related licensing obligations. This position is based in Bangkok; Agoda provides relocation support for successful candidates not currently located in Bangkok. Remote or alternative base locations are not available.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support day‑to‑day Compliance & Ethics initiatives, ensuring key objectives, deliverables, and reporting are completed in a timely and high‑quality manner.
• Act as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor on broader Compliance & Ethics topics (e.g., anti‑bribery and corruption, conflicts of interest, third‑party risk, code of conduct), providing well‑reasoned, business‑oriented guidance.
• Shape and enhance Agoda’s Compliance & Ethics framework, including policies, standards, training, monitoring and testing activities, aligned with Booking Holdings’ expectations and global benchmarks.
• Design and oversee review processes for gifts and entertainment, conflicts of interest disclosures, third‑party due diligence, and risk assessments, and drive appropriate mitigation actions with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Global Compliance & Ethics team on third‑party risk management initiatives and conflicts of interest processes to ensure effective identification, escalation, and mitigation of key risks.
• Support or lead elements of compliance‑related reviews and investigations and develop data‑driven monitoring approaches to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for programme uplift.
• Develop, implement, and continuously refine compliance policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to keep pace with evolving business models and regulatory expectations.
• Support the design, delivery, and refresh of compliance training programmes (in‑person, virtual, and e‑learning) and maintain materials in line with changing business needs and risk profiles.
• Promote a strong ethical culture through awareness campaigns, employee engagement initiatives, and regular collaboration with key functions and leadership.
• Partner closely with cross‑functional teams (Legal, Finance, Government Affairs, People, Commercial, Supply and other stakeholders) to embed compliance requirements into products, processes, and day‑to‑day decision‑making.
• Drive continuous improvement and efficiency initiatives, including the smart use of technology and digital tools to standardise, automate, and streamline compliance workflows.
• Prepare or support management updates, reporting materials, and other compliance‑related communications for internal and external stakeholders and leadership.
• Take on additional and ad hoc responsibilities as needed to strengthen the Compliance & Ethics function and further mature the overall programme.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous enhancement of the financial crime risk

Additional Information

• Location: Bangkok, Thailand (onsite). Agoda provides relocation support for candidates not currently located in Bangkok.
• Remote or alternative base locations are not available.