Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money.
Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.
Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money.
As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money.
For everyone, everywhere.
More about our mission and what we offer.
Job DescriptionWe are looking for a Head of Financial Crime (FC) Risk Assessment to lead and scale our first-line FC risk assessment framework across our entities. In this role, you will be responsible for the 1LoD execution of assessments focused on AML/CTF, sanctions, fraud and related typologies, while establishing robust governance and remediation standards. You’ll partner closely with 2LoD Compliance, Product and Analytics to ensure the framework remains aligned to regulatory requirements, business growth and Wise’s risk appetite.
Your mission:
Manage and enhance the end to end FC risk assessment lifecycle, including risk identification, scoring, and control effectiveness.
Establish and maintain a scalable governance framework covering ownership, completion tracking, and escalations across all Wise entities.
Ensure alignment across risk frameworks (e.g., product risk assessments).
Drive continuous improvement of the methodology execution through standardization and technology enablement.
Perform regulatory impact analysis and identify jurisdiction-specific risks, typologies regulatory and expectations.
Maintain a comprehensive framework for challenging and tracking remediation plans for control gaps and/or elevated residual risks identified during assessments
Partner with the Analytics team to enhance data reporting, dashboards, and quality.
Design and drive adoption of metrics and indicators for quarterly reporting.
Prepare high-quality materials, dashboards, and trend analysis for senior management and risk committees.
Act as a key 1LOD point of contact supporting regulatory exams, process walkthroughs and audit requests relating to FC risk assessments.
Ensure risk assessments align with business growth, digital transformation strategies, and risk appetite statements.
Lead a small team (currently 1 direct report) and provide prioritisation and performance management; with potential to grow the team over time in line with programme needs.
Qualifications:
Significant experience leading Financial Crime risk assessments in a complex financial institution, including multi-entity or multi-region scope.
Demonstrated ownership of risk assessment methodology design, including scoring models, materiality, and control effectiveness integration.
Proven ability to effectively communicate with Product, Analytics, and 2LOD Compliance and Risk teams.
Strong capacity to prioritize tasks, maintain a problem-solving mindset, and take ownership to drive and deliver projects from inception to completion with high attention to detail
Strong data literacy with the ability to scrutinize metrics.
Experience implementing or running risk processes in GRC/workflow tools (e.g., internal tooling like Optro, or equivalent platforms).
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.
If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs.
Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Skills Required
- Significant experience leading financial crime risk assessments in a complex financial institution with multi-entity or multi-region scope
- Experience designing risk assessment methodologies, including scoring models, materiality, and control effectiveness integration
- Ability to communicate effectively with Product, Analytics, Compliance, and Risk teams
- Ability to prioritize tasks, solve problems, take ownership, and deliver projects from inception to completion with strong attention to detail
- Strong data literacy and ability to scrutinize metrics
- Experience implementing or operating risk processes in GRC or workflow tools, such as Optro or equivalent platforms
Wise Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is broadly accessible through RSUs granted to all employees in addition to salary, aligning rewards with company performance. This company‑wide ownership stance is consistently highlighted in the benefits descriptions.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is notably generous, with a global minimum of 33 days and 36 days listed for U.S. locations. After four years, a six‑week paid sabbatical plus a £1,000 stipend further strengthens time‑away benefits.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Lifestyle support includes work‑from‑anywhere for up to 90 days per year after six months, flexible working principles, and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program. Extras like three annual “Me Days” and a professional‑development allowance add quality‑of‑life value.
Wise Insights
What We Do
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world's money. With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40 currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too; an entirely new network for the world's money. Launched in 2011, Wise is one of the world’s fastest growing, profitable tech companies. In fiscal year 2025, Wise supported around 15.6 million people and businesses, processing over $185 billion in cross-border transactions and saving customers around $2.6 billion.
Why Work With Us
We’re truly global in who we are, how we work, and how we build. Everything we do is centred around creating a world of money that’s fast, easy, fair. And open to all. Everyone who works here owns a piece of Wise, from the work they do, to the stock they hold.
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Wise Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
We expect new joiners in the office most days to build connections and learn from colleagues for their first six months. After that, most Wisers split their working week between the office and home, typically coming in at least 12 times a month.
