Financial Crime Compliance Lead

As a Financial Crime Compliance Lead you will support the UK MLRO in mitigating financial crime risks. You will help ensure the effective oversight of Wise’s financial crime compliance framework, including AML, CTF, ABC, Sanctions, Fraud, KYC/CDD, and EDD. You will play a key role in ensuring robust controls are in place, aligned with UK regulatory requirements, and actively collaborate with first line teams, product development, and other key stakeholders.

What you'll be doing:

Policies and Methodologies:

• Maintain and oversee the UK financial crime policy framework and program, ensuring alignment with UK regulations, including AML, CTF, Sanctions, KYC/CDD, and EDD

• Horizon scanning for new financial crime regulations and guidance: Identify emerging regulatory developments and oversee the implementation of changes within business activities to ensure compliance

• Financial crime risk assessments for the full range of the UK product offering (e-money and investments)

Governance and MI:

• Prepare and contribute to quarterly compliance reports for the board of directors, highlighting key financial crime risks, metrics, and incidents

• Supervise the creation and maintenance of Management Information (MI) related to financial crime risks, ensuring accurate reporting of trends, control effectiveness, and incident management to senior management

Incident and Issue Management:

• Assist with root cause analysis of financial crime incidents and ensure effective remediation plans are executed for the UK market. Ensure incidents are tracked and resolved within appropriate timelines and support the MLRO in making a decision about external reportability criteria

• Deputise for the MLRO when necessary, ensuring strong oversight of financial crime operations across AML, Fraud, Sanctions, KYC/CDD, and EDD

Control Oversight and Assurance:

• Provide assurance and challenge to 1LoD teams on financial crime controls, ensuring they are effective and aligned with Wise’s risk appetite and UK regulatory standards

• Oversee controls related to CDD, Transaction Monitoring (TM), Screening, and broader AML/CTF requirements, ensuring fit-for-purpose controls are in place across all areas and in line with the expectations of our regulatory bodies in the UK

Product and Business Support:

• Support product and business teams by advising on financial crime compliance for new products and features, ensuring controls meeting UK requirements and regulatory expectations are embedded from the outset

• Lead coordination and reviews of changes related to TM, CDD, and Screening, collaborating with relevant teams such as Sanctions, Fraud, and FinCrime Model teams

Training:

• Support the design and delivery of training for compliance and operational teams on AML, CTF, and broader financial crime controls, ensuring staff are equipped to manage evolving risks and that UK rules and regulations are understood by those building controls and/or following procedures built to meet UK requirements and regulatory expectations

Regulatory Engagement:

• Support the creation and delivery of content which will be shared with UK regulators and/or industry bodies ensuring that Wise is well represented and that the UK rules and requirements are accurately captured and met

• Support the MLRO as a liaison to the Financial Intelligence Unit (NCA)

Industry body Engagement:

• Participate and lead existing memberships with public private partnerships, such as JMLIT and UK Finance

• Be first point of contact for engaging in new initiatives and lead industry discussions proactively

What you'll bring:

• Experience: 7+ years in financial crime compliance, specifically in AML/CTF. Experience in fast-paced environments is highly preferred

• Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of UK regulations and industry best practise. In-depth knowledge of what UK regulators expect in terms of industry standards and cadence, form and nature of communication with them on issues that may arise and/or matters they would expect to be made aware of. Domain expertise in UK financial crime regulations, risk management frameworks, and control environments, particularly in AML, CTF, Sanctions, KYC/CDD, TM, and Screening

• Leadership: Proven experience in leading and supporting financial crime strategies, with the ability to challenge and collaborate effectively with 1LoD and senior stakeholders. Proven experience in managing/scaling a financial crime/ AML team

• Skills: Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal and organisational skills. Able to convey complex financial crime concepts clearly to internal and external audiences

• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to manage complex compliance tasks efficiently

• Team Player: Ability to collaborate effectively with teams across the business, including product, operations, and legal teams, to ensure financial crime controls are embedded into all processes

• Practical Application: Experience in designing and implementing financial crime processes and controls, and understanding how compliance strategies intersect with business operations

• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex regulatory concepts clearly to various audiences

• Sense of Urgency: Ability to prioritise and work well under pressure, meeting tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Travel: Willingness to travel to other Wise offices when required to support global compliance initiatives

For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders  — without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive.

We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences.
Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.

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