Head of Product Risk and Compliance, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Wise; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company is looking for a Compliance Officer to enhance the Product Risk and Compliance Program. The role involves driving regulatory initiatives and managing compliance across emerging markets while building a strong team and setting metrics. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in compliance roles and a deep understanding of financial regulations in regions such as Africa and Latin America.

Qualifications

• Experience in compliance roles such as Head of Risk and Compliance or Compliance Officer.
• Knowledge across multiple compliance areas such as fincrime and consumer protection.
• Ability to drive projects and influence business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Shape the Product Risk and Compliance Program at Wise.
• Lead compliance initiatives and respond during audits.
• Monitor and report on the health of the Compliance and Risk Program.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Excellent communication

Influencing business decisions

Education

Experience in compliance roles

Knowledge of financial crime

Job description

Company Description

At Wise, our mission is to provide Money without borders: instant, convenient, and eventually free. Over 16 million users and businesses rely on Wise, processing over £9 billion in cross-border transactions monthly, saving customers over £ billion annually. We serve a diverse customer base, from individuals and freelancers to large enterprises and banks. Wise offers over 50 currencies for holding and converting money.

Job Description

Your mission:

Wise has pioneered new ways for cross-border money transfers. Your role is to shape the Product Risk and Compliance Program to enable Wise to serve more customers in more countries.

This is a hands-on, first-line defense role, embedded within the Regional Product Squad.

You will grow the Product Compliance and Risk team, lead projects, and make decisions in the following areas:

Regulatory:

• Stay ahead of financial crime and regulatory compliance trends in Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
• Translate and implement regulatory requirements for Product and Engineering teams.
• Identify when local requirements can leverage global controls and when unique requirements need prioritization.

Risk and controls:

• Lead Wise's response during audits, challenging assumptions and coordinating evidence collection.
• Define Regulatory and Financial Crime Risk metrics for markets in Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
• Coordinate efforts on issues, ensuring timely remediation.

Reporting and external engagement:

• Monitor and report on the health of the Compliance and Risk Program to stakeholders.
• Lead discussions on Emerging Markets Regulatory, Financial Crime, and Risk issues.
• Participate in industry initiatives and represent Wise in legislative consultations.

Opportunities:

• Accelerate your Fintech expertise.
• Integrate Compliance into product and engineering development.
• Lead regulatory and compliance initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Experience in compliance roles such as Head of Risk and Compliance, Compliance Officer, MLRO, especially in new markets expansion.
• Knowledge across multiple compliance areas: fincrime, consumer protection, fund segregation, etc.
• Experience building compliance programs from scratch.
• Ability to influence business decisions and drive projects.
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven decision-making skills.
• Experience in fast-growing environments and willingness to travel.
• Knowledge of markets like Brazil, UAE, South Africa, Mexico, or Chile is a plus.

Additional Information

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