At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global financial risk management and shape frameworks for safe business growth.
- Company: Join Airwallex, a leading fintech empowering over 200,000 businesses worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for career advancement.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with a focus on tackling complex challenges.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the future of global banking with innovative solutions.
- Qualifications: 12-15+ years in financial risk management; strong leadership and technical judgment required.
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.
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 Product, Engineering, Operations, Commercial, Financial Crime Compliance, Regulatory Compliance, and Legal 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
You will lead Airwallex’s global second line Financial Risk function, setting the guardrails that allow the business to scale safely across products, markets, and balance sheet activities. This is a senior leadership role for someone who brings deep technical judgment across credit, liquidity, capital, market, and model risk, and who has operated with real authority in a regulated financial institution. You will shape the global framework, challenge first line decisions, and advise senior leadership on the most material financial risk issues facing the company.
This role is based in the US or EMEA.
Responsibilities
- Establish and lead Airwallex’s global Financial Risk framework across credit, liquidity, capital, market, and model risk, including the standards, policies, limits, and escalation paths that support safe product and business growth.
- Own second line credit risk oversight by defining global underwriting standards, credit limits, and governance, reviewing and challenging first line lending policies, and deciding on complex or escalated credit exposures and exceptions.
- Direct the firm’s liquidity, funding, and capital resilience agenda by overseeing intraday and structural liquidity risk, maintaining contingency funding readiness, designing stress testing scenarios, and supporting internal adequacy assessments and high‑stakes regulatory submissions.
- Set and enforce global FX and market risk guardrails, and partner closely with Finance and Treasury leaders on exposure management and hedging strategy.
- Build and institutionalize model governance and independent validation across risk, pricing, forecasting, and automated decisioning models, ensuring strong inventory management, validation standards, and regulator‑ready governance.
- Lead and grow a high‑performing Financial Risk team spanning Liquidity & Market Risk, Capital Risk & Stress Testing, Model Governance & Validation, and Lending, Acquiring & Counterparty oversight, while acting as a visible and trusted advisor to senior management, committees, boards, and regulators.
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
You have 12 to 15+ years of experience in financial risk management within banks, fintechs, payments companies, digital banks.
Global Lead of Financial Risk in London employer: Airwallex
Airwallex is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, empowering employees to take ownership of their projects while collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the fintech industry. With a strong focus on professional growth, employees benefit from accelerated learning opportunities and the chance to tackle complex challenges that shape the future of global banking. Located in vibrant hubs across the US and EMEA, Airwallex offers a unique environment where ambitious individuals can thrive and make a real impact on a global scale.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Lead of Financial Risk in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Airwallex. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Airwallex's products and recent news. Show us you’re genuinely interested in what we do and how you can contribute to our mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Global Lead of Financial Risk. We want to hear how you can help us tackle complex challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Global Lead of Financial Risk in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Global Lead of Financial Risk. Highlight your experience in financial risk management and any relevant achievements that align with what we’re looking for at Airwallex.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you’re passionate about this role and how your skills can contribute to our mission. Be genuine and let your personality shine through – we want to get to know the real you!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior leadership role, make sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've built and led teams, and how you've tackled complex challenges in financial risk management.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Airwallex
✨Know Your Financial Risk Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of financial risk management, especially in areas like credit, liquidity, and market risk. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled similar challenges in the past and how your experience aligns with Airwallex's needs.
✨Show Your Collaborative Side
Airwallex values teamwork, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams. Highlight instances where you've partnered with product, engineering, or compliance teams to drive results and manage risk effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Decision-Making Skills
Expect questions that assess your judgment and decision-making abilities. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, focusing on how you balance speed and rigor when making tough calls in a regulated environment.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your genuine interest in Airwallex's mission and operations. Inquire about their approach to risk management and how they foresee the role evolving as the company grows. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm and strategic thinking.
