At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in global financial crime compliance monitoring and testing.
- Company: Join Airwallex, a leading fintech empowering businesses worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse team, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping the future of global banking.
- Qualifications: 12+ years in compliance with strong leadership and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ 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 2,200 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.
About the Team
The Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) team at Airwallex is a strategically vital function operating under a clear Three Lines of Defence model. As the independent second line, FCC owns the global AML/CTF programme, sanctions framework, risk assessment methodology, and governance infrastructure across all global entities. As Airwallex scales into new markets and deepens its engagement with global regulatory bodies, we are building a world-class compliance organization capable of managing complex financial crime risks at scale. This is an environment where you will tackle high-impact challenges, shape global fintech risk strategies, and help establish foundations for long-term growth.
What you'll do
- Lead the strategic development, execution, and continuous evolution of Airwallex’s Global FCC Monitoring & Testing Programme, establishing robust, risk-based testing methodologies and annual plans for independent second-line assurance.
- Design comprehensive testing frameworks to validate core compliance controls across customer onboarding, periodic reviews, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and regulatory reporting workflows, ensuring coverage keeps pace with product and market expansion.
- Oversee the ongoing FCC monitoring program, including establishment of KPIs and operating effectiveness metrics, and coordinating with the Head of FCC and AML & Sanctions Governance and Policy Lead to ensure transparency and escalation as appropriate within the FCC Governance & Risk Management Framework.
- Advance the transition from traditional sample reviews toward continuous, data-enabled assurance by leveraging data analytics, system logs, and automated testing scripts to evaluate compliance control performance at the population level.
- Oversee the independent validation of system-encoded controls, including transaction monitoring thresholds, screening logic, and customer risk-rating models, ensuring systems function as intended without logic drift or hidden control gaps.
- Translate complex testing outcomes and thematic trends into clear, decision-useful reporting for executive leadership and governance forums, providing constructive challenge to stakeholders and tracking the root-cause remediation of control deficiencies.
- Represent the FCC monitoring and testing function during regulatory examinations, internal or external audits, and banking partner reviews, confidently defending testing methodologies and control evidence while scaling a technically fluent global 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, Accounting, Law, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related quantitative/analytical discipline.
- CAMS certification or an ICA International Diploma in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (or equivalent professional credential).
- 12 to 15+ years of experience within FCC quality assurance, compliance monitoring, internal audit, or a related second/third-line control function inside a fintech, payments, or highly regulated banking environment.
- At least 5+ years leading a global or multi-jurisdictional monitoring, testing, or control validation function at a senior level.
- Deep technical knowledge of financial crime controls across transaction monitoring, sanctions/PEP screening, customer due diligence, and digital KYC/KYB workflows.
- Proven mastery of risk-based testing methodologies, including scoping, sampling, design and operating effectiveness assessments, issue writing, and remediation validation.
- A high-ownership, pragmatic approach, with excellent written communication and stakeholder management skills to challenge senior partners constructively and drive operational accountability.
Preferred qualifications:
- Advanced degree such as an MBA, Master’s in Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, or a related field.
- Professional assurance or audit certifications such as CAMS-Audit, CISA, or CIA.
- Deep fintech and platforms experience, including exposure to cloud-native, API-driven, high-growth global environments with significant cross-border transaction volume.
- Strong data literacy, including comfort using SQL, Python, BI dashboards, or automated tools to support continuous control validation and population-based testing.
- Experience partnering directly with Product, Data Science, and Engineering teams to validate automated rules, model-driven controls, and rapid deployments within an agile product lifecycle.
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 (i.e. passport), 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. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.
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. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Director, FCC Monitoring & Testing in London employer: Airwallex
Airwallex is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, empowering employees to make a real impact in the global fintech landscape. With a commitment to professional growth, team collaboration, and cutting-edge technology, employees are encouraged to take ownership of their projects while benefiting from a diverse and inclusive environment. Located in vibrant cities across the US and EMEA, Airwallex offers unique opportunities to engage with top-tier clients and regulatory bodies, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, FCC Monitoring & Testing in London
✨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 the interview by understanding Airwallex's mission and values. Show us how your experience aligns with our goals, especially in financial crime compliance. We love candidates who are genuinely excited about what we do!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We want to see your personality shine through, so don’t be afraid to share your unique experiences and how they relate to the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, 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. Let’s build the future of global banking together!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, FCC Monitoring & Testing in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Director, FCC Monitoring & Testing role. Highlight your relevant experience in financial crime compliance and showcase how your skills align with our mission at Airwallex.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to illustrate your success in compliance monitoring and testing.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role without wading through unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, apply directly through our careers page. This ensures your application is seen by the right people and helps us keep track of all candidates efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Airwallex
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of financial crime compliance, especially in relation to AML, KYC, and sanctions. Brush up on the latest regulations and trends in the fintech space, as this will show your commitment and expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead a global team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure environments. Highlight your experience in developing testing frameworks and driving operational accountability.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves leveraging data analytics for compliance monitoring, be ready to discuss your experience with data tools like SQL or Python. Share specific instances where you've used data to improve compliance processes or validate controls, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and judgement. Think about complex compliance challenges you've encountered and how you approached them. This will help you demonstrate your analytical thinking and decision-making abilities.