The Operational Risk Lead for Financial Crime (Fin Crime) is a critical role responsible for the proactive and reactive management of operational risk within Wise's Fin Crime domain. This role is essential for maintaining the integrity of our financial crime control framework, ensuring compliance with global regulations, and protecting Wise from financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory enforcement action arising from control failures or external threats. The successful candidate will drive a culture of risk awareness and control excellence across all Fin Crime operations.

Job Responsibilities:

Operational Risk Identification and Assessment:

Capture and Recording: Establish and maintain robust mechanisms to systematically capture all key operational risks specifically related to Fin Crime processes, controls, and technology (e.g., Sanctions Screening, Transaction Monitoring, KYC/CDD, SAR/STR filing, Fraud Detection).

• Risk Evaluation: Conduct comprehensive, data-driven assessments of identified risks, determining their inherent and residual impact and likelihood. Utilize the Wise risk methodology and tooling (e.g., Audit Board platform) to ensure standardized measurement and reporting.

• Root Cause Analysis: Lead deep-dive investigations into significant operational incidents, near-misses, and control failures within Fin Crime to identify the underlying root causes, not just the symptoms.

Risk Mitigation and Remediation:

• Action Planning: Create, own, and track detailed mitigation plans and corrective actions designed to reduce or appropriately mitigate identified operational risks. These plans must have clear ownership, agreed-upon deadlines, and measurable outcomes (Key Risk Indicators

• KRIs).

• Control Assurance: Partner with Fin Crime operations teams, Product/Engineering, and Internal Audit to design, test, and implement effective preventative and detective controls, ensuring they are documented and operating as intended.

• Driving Change: Proactively challenge existing processes and controls that contribute to elevated risk levels, advocating for systemic improvements in automation, policy, and training.

Strategic Risk Management and Horizon Scanning:

Proactive Threat Analysis: Conduct continuous "horizon scanning" of the industry and regulatory landscape for emerging financial crime typologies, geopolitical shifts, technological vulnerabilities, and evolving regulatory expectations that could introduce new operational risks to Wise.

• Scenario Planning: Develop and execute scenario analyses for potential high-impact, low-probability Fin Crime operational risks (e.g., major system failure, significant regulatory policy change, emerging global sanctions regimes) to pre-emptively build mitigation strategies.

• Industry Benchmarking: Stay abreast of best practices in operational risk management within the Fin Tech and broader financial services sector to ensure Wise’s framework remains cutting-edge.

Governance and Reporting:

Fin Crime Operational Risk Forum: Stand up, chair, and manage a dedicated operational risk forum for Fin Crime stakeholders (including Operations Heads, Compliance Leads, and relevant Product Managers).

• Action Tracking: Maintain a central, up-to-date log of all Fin Crime operational risks, associated mitigation actions, and key decisions made by the forum, ensuring timely execution and resolution of outstanding items.

• Executive Reporting: Prepare and present clear, concise, and impactful risk reports for senior management and relevant governance committees, highlighting the risk profile, control health, and progress against mitigation goals.

Fincrime Operations Quality Control:

QC Framework: Manage the end-to-end Fincrime Operations quality control framework. You will define sampling methods and scorecards for every domain, ensuring all outcomes align strictly with our risk appetite. Close the loop by translating results into targeted coaching, training programs, and process refinements to proactively mitigate risk.

Requirements:

• Experienced in compliance risk management within Financial Services

• Proven leader with a track record of building and scaling high-performing compliance or risk teams in fast-paced environments

• Demonstrated capability in strong stakeholder management and resilience, with the ability to effectively navigate complex organisational dynamics

• Strong problem-solving skills, utilising regulations and data for strategic decision-making

Nice to have:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Law, or related field.

• Certifications: ICA, CAMS, or equivalent certification (CDD/EDD focused).

• Experience with AML reporting requirements and processes.

• Experience with data analysis tools (e.g., Looker, SQL).

• Experience in outsourcing projects and auditing.

£72,000-£94,000

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