Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing in London

Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Airwallex

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the global financial crime compliance monitoring and testing framework at Airwallex.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing fintech company revolutionising global payments.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse team, and opportunities for career growth.
  • Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping compliance strategies for a global leader.
  • Qualifications: 12+ years in compliance with strong leadership and analytical skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € 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.

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.

What you'll do

As Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing, you will shape and scale Airwallex’s global financial crime compliance monitoring and testing framework, establishing a rigorous, data-driven second-line assurance function. You will lead a high-performing global team to independently validate the design and operating effectiveness of AML, Sanctions, and KYC/KYB controls across all production environments and establish a monitoring framework and associated metrics to support executive decisioning and ongoing maintenance of program and control operating effectiveness. You will work closely with the broader FCC organization, Product, Engineering, Operations, and regional leadership to turn testing insights into operational accountability, robust remediation, and a defensible compliance posture before global regulators and institutional banking partners.

This role has a global mandate and can be based in the US or EMEA.

Responsibilities:

  • 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.

Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing in London employer: Airwallex

Airwallex is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, empowering employees to take ownership of their roles while tackling complex challenges in the fintech space. With a commitment to professional growth, employees benefit from accelerated learning opportunities and collaboration with top-tier talent across a global network. Located in vibrant cities worldwide, Airwallex offers a unique chance to be part of a rapidly growing company that values diversity and inclusivity, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.

Airwallex

Contact Detail:

Airwallex Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Know their products and recent news. This shows you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute.

Tip Number 3

Practice common interview questions with a friend or in front of a mirror. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll perform when it counts!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role.

We think you need these skills to ace Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing in London

Financial Crime Compliance (FCC)
AML/CTF Programme Management
Sanctions Framework Development
Risk Assessment Methodology
Governance Infrastructure
Data Analytics
Compliance Monitoring

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Global Lead of FCC Monitoring & Testing. Highlight your relevant experience in financial crime compliance and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention specific projects or achievements that showcase your expertise.

Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data-driven decision-making, make sure to highlight your experience with data analytics and any tools you’re comfortable using. We love candidates who can leverage data to enhance compliance frameworks!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Airwallex!

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 Global Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead a high-performing team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, particularly in a global or multi-jurisdictional context. Highlight your experience in driving operational accountability and fostering collaboration.

Be Data-Driven

Since the role involves establishing a data-driven monitoring framework, be ready to discuss your experience with data analytics and how you've used it to enhance compliance controls. Familiarise yourself with tools like SQL or Python, and be prepared to explain how you've leveraged data in previous roles.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and judgement. Think about complex challenges you've faced in compliance monitoring and how you approached them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.