FinCrime Operations Team Lead - AML Investigations at Wise | Austin, TX, US | Rezi

FinCrime Operations Team Lead - AML Investigations at Wise

FinCrime Operations Team Lead - AML Investigations

Wise · Austin, TX, US

2 weeks ago

FinCrime Operations Team Lead - AML Investigations

Wise · Austin, TX, US

17 days ago
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About the Role

As a FinCrime Operations Team Lead, you will develop and oversee the daily operations of a team of FinCrime Operations Analysts or Specialists. Your primary purpose is to ensure the effective mitigation of financial crime risks associated with Wise's customers, while maintaining a strong focus on operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and a customer-centric approach. You will foster a high-performing team, drive operational excellence, and act as a subject matter expert in KYC/AML/Fraud/Screening and financial crime prevention.

Responsibilities

  • Lead by example, driving a customer-focused mindset across your team and the wider fincrime organization.
  • Foster a high-performance, results-driven culture defined by strong ownership and accountability.
  • Build and nurture high-performing teams that value knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and adaptability.
  • Demonstrate strong capabilities in timely conflict resolution and foster open communication.
  • Guide effective mediation to ensure a positive working environment.
  • Unify the team behind shared goals and wider FinCrime/servicing strategies, and drive collective actions.
  • Coach and develop a strong team of FinCrime Operations Analysts or Specialists, providing tailored guidance.
  • Take swift, decisive action to manage performance issues effectively, ensuring sustained excellence and growth.
  • Provide regular, constructive, and actionable feedback to direct reports.
  • Coach and mentor team members to support their growth, develop their skills, and help them reach their full potential.
  • Design and manage performance or development plans in identified areas.
  • Conduct career map check-ins and make recommendations for demotions, promotions, salary raises, and other role-related decisions.
  • Oversee the daily operations of the team, ensuring adherence to relevant regulations and internal policies and processes.
  • Identify and propose opportunities for process and tooling improvements.
  • Collaborate with central functions and other operational teams to increase operational efficiency or ensure effective cross-team collaboration.
  • Provide guidance and support on complex, high-risk cases and escalations.
  • Manage timely administrative tasks including scheduling, training, hiring, interviewing, and organizing team activities.
  • Measure team and individual KPIs and ensure performance targets and quality standards are consistently met.
  • Maintain focus on customer experience and adherence to internal guidelines.
  • Drive high-quality results for both the team and individuals, continuously enhancing overall quality outcomes.
  • Conduct timely quality reviews, ensuring high decision accuracy and effectively communicating the importance of quality assurance.
  • Conduct regular and impactful one-on-one coaching sessions, providing clear and actionable feedback.
  • Ensure tasks are managed timely and aligned with the team’s goals.
  • Run team meetings to keep the team updated, share best practices, and enhance team spirit.
  • Address underperformance promptly through coaching and setting SMART goals, ensuring all interventions are well-documented.
  • Understand and articulate how to move key metrics at team and individual level through efficient performance and task management.
  • Act as a subject matter expert in financial crime areas, maintaining sufficient expertise to train, develop, and coach the team.
  • Maintain a comprehensive understanding of regulatory obligations, internal policies, domain-specific processes, and best practices.
  • Apply a risk-based approach to deterring and preventing money laundering and financial crime.
  • Perform and support deep dives, understand root causes of problematic cases, and propose solutions to senior leadership.
  • Assist senior leadership with reviews and developing processes, task management, and other operational areas.
  • Escalate tooling or processing incidents, high-risk customer issues, control weaknesses, or other material problems to direct leadership in a timely and informative manner.
  • Be accountable for driving direct team's performance outcomes, ensuring key performance indicators (KPIs) are consistently met and enhanced.
  • Possess strong knowledge of team processes and tooling, leveraging data to support initiative execution.
  • Take full ownership of team's results, setting targets for improvement, and providing insights to stakeholders.
  • Set and progress towards goals, adeptly identifying and resolving blockers or issues to optimize output and results.
  • Collaborate closely with stakeholders ensuring clear communication and coordination of actions.
  • Ensure initiatives and reports are well documented and communicate to a wider audience in a timely manner.
  • Communicate confidently with difficult stakeholders on varied operational or domain-related topics.
  • Proactively work on improving cross-team communication and collaboration, acting as the liaison between different layers of the organization and your own team.
  • Employ impactful and inspiring communication skills, unifying individuals behind shared goals.
  • Leverage strong presentation skills to convey vision and progress.
  • Perform additional tasks as assigned by your lead, demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach.
  • Actively participate in meetings, trainings, workshops, and internal events to support broader team and company objectives.

Requirements

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear, concise, accurate, and professional reports, summaries, and customer communications.
  • At least 1-2 years of leading small to medium sized teams, preferably in operations.
  • Good understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding KYC/AML/Fraud/Risk and financial crime prevention.
  • Familiarity with money laundering methods and other financial crime trends.
  • Ability to build and maintain an environment where your team is incentivized to make decisions and apply a risk-based approach.
  • Ability to guide the team on the right course or course-correct swiftly when necessary.
  • Punctual, independent, proactive and willing to get things done.
  • Strong operational management and tactical decision-making skills.
  • Ability to work with tight deadlines under pressure whilst maintaining a high level of quality and competency.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Great time management.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.
  • Ability to multi-task and take responsibility in challenging situations.
  • Capable of identifying gaps in policies and processes and providing detailed feedback.
  • A strong process-oriented and efficiency-driven mindset.
  • Proven track record of taking individual ownership and responsibilities.
  • Proven track record of being a great team-player.
  • Ability to deliver constructive, well-evidenced feedback that drives tangible behavioral change and performance improvement.
  • Ability to analyze and move of team’s metrics.

Skills

  • KYC/AML/Fraud/Screening
  • Financial crime prevention
  • People leadership
  • Operational expertise
  • Process refinement
  • Customer impact prioritization
  • Risk management
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Data analysis
  • Stakeholder management
  • Communication
  • Team management
  • Performance management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Mediation
  • Coaching
  • Mentoring
  • Process improvement
  • Tooling improvement
  • Quality assurance
  • Risk-based approach
  • Issue escalation
  • Performance metrics analysis
  • Analytics tools (looker, superset, or similar)

Location

  • US

Work Type

  • Hybrid

Experience Level

  • 1-2 years of leading small to medium sized teams

Education Level

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Law, or related field
  • ICA, CAMS, or equivalent certification (KYC/EDD/AML/Fraud/Screening/Risk focused)

Salary/Compensations

  • USD 100000 - USD 130000

Benefits

  • Click here to see the benefits we offer

About the Company

  • Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money.
  • Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.
  • Wise is on a mission to make people's and businesses' lives easier and save them money when sending money internationally, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments.
  • As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money.
  • For everyone, everywhere.

Equal Opportunity

  • 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.