KYC Operations Senior Lead - Platform

Posted Yesterday
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Tallinn, Harju maakond, EST
Hybrid
40K-50K Annually
Senior level
Fintech • Mobile • Payments • Software • Financial Services
Wise is one of the fastest growing fintechs in the world and we’re on a mission to make money without borders a new norm
The Role
Leads multiple KYC teams and oversees customer due diligence operations, team performance, quality standards, KPIs, staffing, process improvements, and regulatory compliance. Manages and develops KYC Team Leads, drives automation and operational efficiency, handles escalations, supports audits, and communicates initiatives to stakeholders. The role requires expertise in KYC, AML, financial crime prevention, risk-based compliance, and leadership of teams ranging from 20 to 60 employees.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company Description

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 Description

The KYC Operations Senior Lead is responsible for overseeing multiple KYC Team Leads and their respective analyst teams. Your focus will be on driving team performance, streamlining processes, and being an advocate of the Wise values. You will need to ensure that your team is consistently delivering high-quality customer due diligence reviews as well as meeting the operational metrics according to the organisation’s wider objectives.

Job Responsibilities

  • Group Leadership
    Lead by example and drive a customer focused mindset across your team as well as the wider organisation. Promote a culture of ownership and accountability. Build high-performing teams that value knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

  • People management
    Coach and develop a strong team of KYC Team Leads. Come up with initiatives to help your team to grow their skills, behaviours, and competencies. Design and manage development plans on identified opportunities. Conducts career map check-ins and makes recommendations for promotions, salary raises, and other decisions.

  • Operational management
    Identify and propose opportunities for process improvements. Collaborate with central functions and other operational teams as needed to increase automation and operational efficiency. Monitor team resource allocation and refine standard operating procedures to improve the ways we work.

  • Performance management
    Measure group wide KPIs and ensure that your team leads as well as their direct reports meet performance targets and quality standards. Conduct regular one on one coaching sessions, usually on a weekly or biweekly basis. Act as a key escalation point for issues that cannot be resolved by team leads. Generate reports based on teams performance and propose corrective actions on identified opportunities.

  • Expertise Sharing
    Be a subject matter expert in your area with the ability to train and coach your team on operational topics. Maintain a great understanding of our regulatory obligations, internal policies, and applying a risk-based approach to deterring and preventing money laundering and financial crime. Able to assist senior leadership with audits and developing our policies and processes. 

  • Planning and execution
    Ensure operational team plans are set in place and provide insights to other stakeholders. Take full accountability in delivering your own initiatives and making sure your group is making progress on their goals. Effectively executing and supporting department goals through delegation and empowerment of team leads. There are clear initiatives within your group that are used as a basis of larger team plans. 

  • Stakeholder management and communication
    Collaborate closely with your stakeholders ensuring clear communication and coordination of actions. Your initiatives and reports are well documented and you choose the right platforms to communicate to a wider audience in a timely manner. The documentation has a clear scope and includes potential impact in different areas. You can communicate confidently with difficult stakeholders. Proactively work on improving cross-team communication, acting as the liaison between different layers of the organization and your own team leads.

Qualifications

  • Excellent verbal and written English skills (additional language skills are a plus) with the ability to clearly articulate your thoughts.
  • A minimum of 3+ years of experience in  Operations (preferably in CDD/EDD/AML or Risk Assessment domain).
  • A minimum of 1 year of experience in KYC/AML, Financial Compliance field and having great understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding KYC/AML
  • At least 2+ years of leading medium to large sized teams (20 to 60 employees). 
  • You are punctual, independent, proactive and willing to get things done.
  • You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong organisational skills, great time management, and ability to work in a fast paced and high pressure environment.
  • Ability to multi-task and take responsibility in challenging situations;
  • You are capable of identifying gaps in policies and processes and providing detailed feedback, including examples when possible, through the established communication channels.
  • Proven track record of taking individual ownership and responsibilities as well as being a great team-player
  • Ability to analyze and move the team's metrics.

Nice to have:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Law, or related field.
  • Certifications: ICA, CAMS, or equivalent certification (EDD/AML focused).
  • 2-3 years experience in KYC/AML, financial crime, compliance, or a related field within the financial services industry.
  • Ability to use analytics tools like, looker, superset, or other.

Additional Information

Salary: 3300 - 4150 EUR gross monthly + RSUs

What we offer

  • 🚀 Visa sponsorship and relocation support
  • 💻 Flexible working model 
  • 💪 An annual self-development budget
  • ☀️ Paid time off: 28 days vacation + 3 “Me” days + 1 volunteer day, annually
  • 🏝️ A paid 6-week sabbatical leave after four years

Click here to learn more about the benefits that we offer at Wise.

Hiring Process

  • Application Review: We’ll evaluate your experience and skills.
  • Recruiter Screen
  • First Interview 
  • Final Interview

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

  • Excellent verbal and written English skills
  • At least 3 years of experience in operations, preferably in CDD, EDD, AML, or risk assessment
  • At least 1 year of experience in KYC, AML, or financial compliance
  • Strong understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding KYC and AML
  • At least 2 years of experience leading medium to large teams of 20 to 60 employees
  • Punctual, independent, proactive, and willing to take ownership
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strong organizational skills and time management
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
  • Ability to multitask and take responsibility in challenging situations
  • Ability to identify policy and process gaps and provide detailed feedback
  • Proven track record of individual ownership and teamwork
  • Ability to analyze and improve team metrics
  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Law, or a related field
  • ICA, CAMS, or equivalent EDD/AML-focused certification
  • 2 to 3 years of experience in KYC/AML, financial crime, compliance, or a related field within financial services
  • Ability to use analytics tools such as Looker or Superset

What the Team is Saying

Wise Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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The Company
9,000 Employees
Year Founded: 2011

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.

Typical time on-site: Flexible
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