Regional Head of AML Investigations

Job description

The Regional Lead of AML Investigations is a leadership role responsible for the strategic direction and operational excellence of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) investigations. Beyond functional oversight, this role serves as a critical strategic partner to regional executives responsible for operations and service delivery. The role is responsible for driving focused results that meet the rigorous expectations of the Regional Business/Operations Leads, defining the regional investigative strategy and governing the standards that ensure sustainable growth.

By bridging the gap between complex regulatory requirements and operational efficiency, the appointed Regional Lead of AML Investigations provides the leadership team with the transparency and execution certainty needed to deliver exceptional service to Wise customers while maintaining the highest standards of financial integrity.

Job Responsibilities

Executive Partnership & Reporting: Act as a trusted advisor to the Regional Product teams, Regional Compliance officers and Business Operations, providing data-driven insights into regional risk profiles, investigative performance, and emerging threats.

Strategic Oversight & Risk Mitigation

Lead a multi-layered AML organization function of approximately 200 people. Drive high-performance through leadership of 5 Senior Team Leads (direct reports) and 20 Team Leads, ensuring workflows are optimized for both high-volume efficiency and deep-dive quality. Proactively identify emerging financial crime trends and implement investigative strategies to protect the platform.

Results-Oriented Execution

Drive the delivery of KPIs that align with regional business objectives, ensuring that AML operations support seamless service delivery and customer experience, aligning with the Global AML operation plans and objectives.

Operational Excellence

Build and maintain scalable high performance teams, uplifting skills level, demonstrating proactiveness, ensuring the timely, high-quality filing of SARs/STRs.

Team Leadership & Culture

Foster a high-performing, mission-driven culture of curiosity and integrity, building the technical expertise required to handle complex cases while continuously evolving the team structure to stay ahead of rapid regional growth. You will mentor Senior Team Leads, investigative leads and specialists, building the technical expertise required to handle complex cross-border cases.

Stakeholder & Product Collaboration

Accountable for the regional roadmap of risk tooling, partnering with Product, Engineering and Global Compliance teams to architect automated investigative solutions.

Operational Resilience & Scalability

Align investigative capacity with the regional growth roadmap, identifying resource gaps and implementing technological solutions to meet executive-level execution goals.

Regulatory Liaison & Governance

Act as the primary regional lead for all internal audits and regulatory exams, ensuring our governance framework is always transparent and review-ready.

Global & Matrix Alignment

Provide dedicated support to the Global Head of AML Operations and to the Head of AML Investigations Service Delivery by ensuring regional initiatives remain synchronized with the global AML strategy. You will act as a key conduit for information, escalating regional insights and implementing global best practices to maintain a consistent and unified approach to financial crime across Wise.