Assets Compliance Lead / Wise Assets Japan Chief Compliance Officer

We’re looking for a Japan Assets Compliance Lead / Wise Assets Japan Chief Compliance Officer to strengthen our compliance team.

Based in Tokyo, Japan, you will work with a growing team of multidisciplinary specialists across Product, Treasury, and Security to help build world class capital market products (Assets) in Japan.

You will manage and strengthen the team's relationships with regulators by being the Regulator’s first point of contact for regulatory matters (i.e. KLFB/FSA), keeping everybody informed and protecting our most valuable asset, our customers.

Further, the ideal candidate will serve as the Representative Director and Chief Internal Control Officer for Wise Assets Japan to ensure policies and practices adhere to local AML laws and compliance standards.

The Role is located in Tokyo, Japan.

Your mission:

• Improve the compliance product in line with our mission to be instant, convenient, transparent, and eventually free.
• Work with the Business Team to obtain (and maintain) the relevant Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator (FIBO) license under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) based on the FSA’s Comprehensive Guidelines, including but not limited to: (i) regulatory liaison, (ii) regulatory reporting and filing, and be a champion of our compliance framework in audits.
• Build trust with our regulators (KLFB/FSA) as the Chief Internal Control Officer: manage and coordinate meaningful reporting internally and externally, respond to information requests, and proactively communicate product changes and notifiable events.
• Maintain and manage effective compliance frameworks, policies, and governance documentation, including carrying out the compliance function pertaining to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), FSA Guidelines, Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA) rules, and any other applicable law governing the regulated activities under the KLFB/FSA.
• Develop systems to track and monitor our regulatory risk, compliance with regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
• Work with teams to report management information to the Board so they are aware of the key risks.
• Educate teams about Japanese capital market regulatory requirements, and empower teams to build risk-based processes which are clearly documented.
• Scrutinise and test compliance programs and work with Operational teams to develop our risk-based approach, provide constructive feedback, and be responsible for resolutions.
• Adapt your focus on different compliance issues depending on growth plans and compliance needs.
• Work with global Product and Operational teams in Singapore, Europe, and Tallinn, and travel to our operational offices.

This role will give you the opportunity to:

• Develop an in-depth knowledge of Wise’s business and get to know many teams across the company as you liaise with them to help them understand regulatory frameworks and bring together the information that our regulators need.
• Help keep compliance right at the heart of our product development by helping our regulator understand our mission, and through horizon-scanning for new regulatory developments to share with teams.

A bit about you:

If you have a background in investments, dealing in Collective Investment Schemes funds, and capital markets services, great communication and organisational skills, tons of motivation, then this role could be perfect for you!

• Theory. You are an expert in compliance related to a Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator (Type 1 FIBO) and may be currently working, have worked, or work directly with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (KLFB) and Financial Services Agency (FSA). You meet the criteria as follows:
  • You possess 10+ years of relevant industry experience in compliance or internal control within a securities firm or FIBO in Japan;
  • You hold a relevant degree (Finance, Law, Economics) or a recognized industry qualification;
  • You have passed the relevant Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA) examinations (expected: Compliance Officer qualification (内部管理責任者資格) and Securities Representative License (証券外務員資格)).
  • Business-level to fluent proficiency in both Japanese and English is required for regulatory liaison and internal global communication.
• Practice. You have demonstrable experience designing and challenging processes, ideally across multiple products. You have thought ...