Vice President, Ethics & Compliance, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA)

Job description

About Us Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid. At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world. Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you. Job Description Team Summary: The Visa CEMEA Ethics & Compliance team oversees the implementation and effectiveness of Visa's Ethics & Compliance Program across one of the company's most dynamic and diverse regions. Our team provides a robust, globally consistent compliance framework that enables responsible business growth, manages regulatory and compliance risk, and protects Visa's reputation and brand. We foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and ethical decision-making, empowering the business to achieve its objectives in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Visa's values. What a VP, Ethics & Compliance, CEMEA Does at Visa: The Vice President, Ethics & Compliance, CEMEA serves as the senior compliance leader for the region and a trusted advisor to business leadership. This role is responsible for providing strategic oversight, guidance, and monitoring of Visa's Ethics & Compliance Program across CEMEA, ensuring strong governance, effective risk management, and alignment with global standards. Key Responsibilities: Lead all Ethics & Compliance Program activities across the CEMEA region, serving as the primary compliance partner to business units, support functions, and other control functions. Provide strategic, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented advice to support responsible business growth while managing regulatory and compliance risks. Serve as the primary point of contact for AML, sanctions, and other regulatory compliance matters with regional regulators, working closely with Legal, Government Affairs, Risk, and other key stakeholders. Partner with Visa's Financial Intelligence Analytics Center and Financial Crime teams on enhanced due diligence, sanctions reviews, AML investigations, client engagements, and regulatory inquiries. Oversee regional compliance risk assessments and ensure effective processes, controls, governance, and decision-making frameworks are in place to meet applicable regulatory and policy obligations. Review and advise on significant business initiatives, strategic partnerships, products, market expansions, and transactions, identifying compliance risks and developing practical mitigation strategies. Oversee required regulatory reporting and regulatory engagements across CEMEA, ensuring consistency, quality, and timely execution. Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of regional compliance programs, including Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, AML/CTF, Sanctions, Antitrust, Business Conduct, Conflicts of Interest, and Insider Trading. Promote awareness and understanding of Visa's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and embed a strong culture of integrity throughout the organization. Provide leadership and oversight for ethics and compliance professionals across the region, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive team. Support Business Conduct Office investigations and other compliance-related reviews, as appropriate. Drive compliance training, employee engagement initiatives, and regional outreach programs to reinforce ethical conduct and accountability. Represent the Ethics & Compliance function in regional leadership forums and strategic business discussions, influencing decision-making and risk management outcomes. Why This Is Important to Visa: As Visa continues to grow across CEMEA, maintaining the highest standards of integrity, compliance, and ethical conduct is critical to sustaining trust with clients, regulators, shareholders, and communities. This role plays a pivotal part in helping Visa navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment while enabling innovation and business growth. The VP, Ethics & Compliance, CEMEA helps ensure that compliance is embedded into business strategy, operational decision-making, and corporate culture. Key Areas of Risk Oversight: Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other Sanctions Programs Anti-Money Laundering (AML) / Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) Antitrust and Competition Compliance Harassment, Discrimination, and Workplace Conduct Regulatory compliance obligations applicable to Visa's operations across CEMEA Conduct and Ethics Focus Areas: Business Conduct and Ethics Conflicts of Interest Prevention of Insider Trading Speak-Up Culture and Non-Retaliation Ethical Decision-Making and Accountability Visa requires at least 3 days in office, expectations of these days will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager. Qualifications What You Will Need: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred. Professional AML/CTF certification required. ICA Diploma in Governance, Risk & Compliance or similar qualification preferred. 15+ years of progressive leadership experience managing ethics, compliance, financial crime, or regulatory compliance programs within the financial services industry. Strong understanding of payments, fintech, banking, and emerging payment technologies. Deep knowledge of AML/CTF, sanctions, anti-bribery, ethics, and regulatory compliance requirements. Demonstrated experience engaging with financial regulators and supervisory authorities. Proven executive leadership and people management experience, with the ability to develop high-performing and diverse teams. Experience partnering effectively with senior executives and influencing decisions at the highest levels of the organization. Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to balance risk management and commercial objectives. Experience conducting or overseeing internal investigations and compliance reviews. Exceptional analytical, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed, global organization and manage competing priorities across multiple jurisdictions. Demonstrated courage and independence, including the ability to constructively challenge decisions and "speak truth to power." Willingness to travel throughout the region and work across multiple time zones. What Will Also Help: Significant experience leading a compliance function across multiple CEMEA markets. Experience within the payments, banking, fintech, or broader financial services industry. Familiarity with regulatory frameworks across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Experience managing large-scale regulatory engagements or remediation programs. Ability to speak multiple languages and experience working across diverse cultural environments. Visa is an EEO Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.