Opportunity at
WiseHead of KYC Operations - EMEA
Wise seeks a Head of KYC Operations - EMEA to direct its customer verification operations unit. In this leadership capacity, the incoming professional will guide area…
Career Tools
About This Role
Wise seeks a Head of KYC Operations - EMEA to direct its customer verification operations unit. In this leadership capacity, the incoming professional will guide area leaders and their respective personnel to achieve regulatory compliance, rapid service delivery, and optimal quality standards while balancing cost efficiency. The employer specializes in international money transfer and financial services without borders. The role involves steering a workforce exceeding 150 employees dispersed across various…
Job Description
Wise seeks a Head of KYC Operations - EMEA to direct its customer verification operations unit. In this leadership capacity, the incoming professional will guide area leaders and their respective personnel to achieve regulatory compliance, rapid service delivery, and optimal quality standards while balancing cost efficiency. The employer specializes in international money transfer and financial services without borders.
The role involves steering a workforce exceeding 150 employees dispersed across various internal and outsourced sites. Key responsibilities include formulating the division's strategic vision, designing secure client onboarding programs, establishing support frameworks, and collaborating closely with product development, risk, and compliance departments. The ideal candidate will combine extensive operations experience in financial crime or related fields with a proven history of mentoring large multicultural teams.
Wise promotes an inclusive, international work environment and emphasizes values such as visionary leadership, data-driven decision-making, and customer focus. This position offers an opportunity to shape financial crime prevention strategies and influence scalable business growth.
Responsibilities
- Lead the KYC Operations Function organization to guarantee compliance and rapid service delivery
- Direct a team of Area Leads and their functional areas to drive strategic direction and operational excellence
- Oversee an organization of 150 plus employees across multiple internal and outsourced locations
- Set the vision and strategy for the team in alignment with the broader servicing strategy
- Build and develop a robust and compliant customer onboarding program
- Establish support systems including metrics, targets, and governance structures
- Manage and optimize third-party services and outsourced vendors across the KYC operating model
- Partner with risk and compliance teams to align on risk appetites and business growth capabilities
- Collaborate with product teams to deliver customer-facing KYC products and experiences
- Oversee team budgets, high-level reporting, KPIs, and developmental objectives
Requirements
- Extensive background in operations, preferably within KYC, AML, financial crime, compliance, or financial services
- Demonstrated leadership experience in directing and mentoring large teams
- Strategic understanding of regulatory environments and frameworks surrounding KYC and AML
- Proficiency in advanced analytics tools such as Looker or Superset
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English
Qualifications
- Proficiency in additional languages beyond English
- Ten or more years of experience in operations
- Eight or more years of leadership experience managing large teams
Core Skills
Benefits
- Visa support
- Relocation support
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
What is the remote work policy for this role?
The posting does not specify whether the role is remote, hybrid, or on-site.
What salary does Wise offer for this position?
The job posting does not state a salary for the Head of KYC Operations role.
Are visa and relocation support provided?
Yes, visa and relocation support are available for this position.
How many employees will this role oversee?
The position typically involves overseeing a team of 150 or more employees across multiple internal and outsourced locations.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.