At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead enterprise risk management and shape strategies for global growth.
- Company: Join Airwallex, a leading fintech revolutionising global payments.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse team, and opportunities for career advancement.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on building the future of finance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in risk management with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 200,000 businesses worldwide with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale. Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,000 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$8 billion and backed by world‑leading investors, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future.
Attributes We Value
We hire successful builders with founder‑like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role‑related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor. You're humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end‑to‑end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.
About The Team
The Global Risk team at Airwallex plays a critical role in enabling the company’s growth by building a strong, scalable, and globally consistent approach to risk management. The team works across the business to define risk appetite, develop frameworks and policies, support strategic decision‑making, and provide oversight of key risks as Airwallex expands across products, markets, and regulatory environments. You’ll be part of a highly collaborative group that partners closely with various teams to help Airwallex grow responsibly and with confidence. This is a team where you’ll tackle complex, high‑impact challenges, shape how risk is managed at a global fintech, and help build the foundations for long‑term scale.
What You'll Do
As Senior Director, Enterprise Risk Management, you will shape and scale Airwallex’s enterprise risk management capability across the US and EMEA, helping ensure risk management is a strategic enabler of growth rather than a check‑the‑box exercise. You will translate Board‑approved risk appetite into practical decision‑making, strengthen governance and reporting, guide major product and organization changes, and help the company stay resilient as it grows across markets, products, and regulatory environments. You will work closely with senior leaders across the business to turn complex risk signals into clear action, while building a strong and practical risk culture across the organization. This role is based in the US or EMEA.
Responsibilities
- Lead the evolution of Airwallex’s enterprise risk architecture, ensuring the framework remains aligned with business strategy and global growth priorities.
- Translate complex risk data, issues, and trends into clear, decision‑useful reporting for the C‑suite, Board committees, and external stakeholders.
- Oversee risk‑informed change governance for new products, new markets, major systems changes, and structural changes.
- Own and continue to strengthen the enterprise crisis management framework.
- Drive a unified, risk‑aware culture across the organization.
- Build and lead a high‑performing global second line team.
Who You Are
We’re looking for people who meet the minimum requirements for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have, but are not mandatory.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Law, STEM, or another relevant quantitative field.
- 10 to 15+ years of experience in risk management, operational risk, enterprise risk, compliance, controls, or audit within financial services, fintech, payments, banking, or another highly regulated environment.
- At least 5+ years leading enterprise risk management, operational risk, or governance programmes in a complex, matrixed, multi‑jurisdiction organisation.
- Proven experience designing, building, or scaling second line of defense frameworks.
- Strong familiarity with the regulatory environment relevant to electronic money institutions and payments firms.
- Demonstrated experience preparing risk papers and communicating effectively with senior executives.
- A high‑ownership, pragmatic approach, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree such as an MBA, Master’s in Risk Management, or JD.
- Professional certification such as FRM, PRM, CRMA, CAMS, or CFE.
- Deep fintech and payments experience.
- Experience managing risk approvals and governance in a high‑velocity product and engineering environment.
- Strong data literacy and comfort using dashboards, metrics, and technology‑enabled tools.
- A clear bias toward automation, AI, and scalable tooling.
Applicant Safety Policy: Fraud and Third‑Party Recruiters
To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers, or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page. Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters.
Equal opportunity
Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent.
Global Lead of Enterprise Risk Management employer: Airwallex
Airwallex is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, empowering employees to take ownership and make a real impact in the fintech space. With a strong focus on collaboration and professional growth, team members are encouraged to tackle complex challenges while benefiting from a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Located in key markets across the US and EMEA, Airwallex offers unique opportunities for career advancement and the chance to shape the future of global payments.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Lead of Enterprise Risk Management
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at Airwallex. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Airwallex’s mission and values. Show us how your experience aligns with our goals, especially in risk management. We love candidates who can connect the dots!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled complex challenges in risk management. We want to hear about your journey and how you 'get stuff done'.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the Airwallex team.
We think you need these skills to ace Global Lead of Enterprise Risk Management
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Global Lead of Enterprise Risk Management role. Highlight your relevant experience in risk management and how it aligns with Airwallex's mission and values.
Showcase Your Expertise:Don’t hold back on showcasing your skills! Use specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your ability to lead enterprise risk management initiatives and drive a risk-aware culture.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to convey your ideas, making it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to apply through our official website! This ensures your application is received directly by our team and helps us keep track of all candidates efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Airwallex
✨Know Your Risk Management Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of enterprise risk management principles, especially in the context of fintech and payments. Brush up on your knowledge of risk appetite statements, governance processes, and regulatory environments relevant to electronic money institutions. This will help you speak confidently about how you can shape and scale Airwallex’s risk management capabilities.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Airwallex values collaboration across teams, so be prepared to discuss examples of how you've worked with diverse groups like Product, Engineering, and Compliance. Highlight your experience in building relationships and driving a unified risk-aware culture, as this will resonate well with their team-oriented approach.
✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios
Expect to tackle complex, high-impact challenges during your interview. Prepare by thinking through potential risk scenarios that could arise in a global fintech environment. Be ready to discuss how you would translate complex risk data into actionable insights for senior executives and the Board.
✨Demonstrate Your Data Savvy
Given the emphasis on data-driven decision-making at Airwallex, showcase your comfort with using dashboards and metrics for risk oversight. Bring examples of how you've leveraged technology and automation in your previous roles to improve risk management processes, as this aligns perfectly with their focus on innovation and efficiency.
