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 170 people. Drive high-performance through leadership of 3 Senior Team Leads (direct reports) and 13 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. ABT1/ABT2 certifications are a plus; otherwise, we will sponsor your certification process! For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders — without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive. We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences. Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers. If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit . Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram . Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed. Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money. As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money. For everyone, everywhere. More about our mission and what we offer .