US Sanctions Senior Lead (First Line Risk)

Posted 13 Days Ago
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Austin, TX
Hybrid
Mid level
Fintech • Mobile • Payments • Software • Financial Services
Wise is one of the fastest growing Fintechs in the world and we’re on a mission to make money without borders a new norm
The Role
The US Sanctions Senior Lead will oversee Global Sanctions Complex Investigations, manage sanctions operations, and lead compliance projects. Responsibilities include improving processes, reducing risks, and supporting cross-team initiatives while collaborating with compliance and risk committees.
Summary Generated by Built In

Job Description

Your mission:
Wise has already pioneered new ways for people to transfer money across borders and currencies. Our customers can also manage their hard-earned money with the world’s first platform to offer true multi-currency banking.
We are looking for an experienced Sanctions Senior Lead that is willing to roll up their sleeves and make a big impact in our Operations team based in Austin. This is a Compliance/Ops hybrid role where we are specifically looking for 2LOD experience however you will be leading teams within 1LOD.
You will lead the Sanctions complex investigations teams as well as owning first line risk in Sanctions Operations, improving our existing controls and processes to reduce risk.

Here’s how you’ll be contributing to the team

  • Lead Global Sanctions Complex Investigations teams
  • Own Sanctions operational processes and policies

  • Lead complex compliance projects acting as a subject matter expert for the rest of the business

  • Partner with the QA team to strengthen our Quality Assurance programme

  • Implement effective controls to reduce risk

  • Represent Operations in risk committees and audits 

  • Maintain strong relationships with Compliance, ensuring we have the right structure and processes in place for effective oversight 

  • Own the plan to develop Sanctions Operations team capabilities, strategic placement of staff across teams, skills and capacity over 12+ months, including skills mapping and training plans, leading significant cross-team projects requiring material decisions and content contribution as well as project management

Qualifications

About you

  • 3+ years of Sanctions experience (in the US)

  • Strong understanding of legal aspects and recordkeeping requirements of banking regulations relating to money transfer (especially OFAC, AML, BSA, USA PATRIOT Act).

  • Strong knowledge of market practices related to foreign and domestic money transfers; knowledge of OFAC.

  • Strong level knowledge of banking policies, statutory and compliance regulations.

  • Strong knowledge of risk management principles and practices.

  • Great communicator both verbal and written

  • You have proven track record of taking individual ownership and responsibilities as well as being a great team-player

  • You can work collaboratively within a complex organisation, across multiple cultures, geographies, and disciplines

  • You have project management and organisational skills and capability to handle multiple projects at one time

  • You're able to travel as needed

Some extra skills that would be awesome:

  • Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) certification or similar

  • Experience in L&D and Knowledge Management

  • Experience with outsourced sanctions operations and controls

  • Experience interfacing with regulatory enforcement agencies

  • Experience with the OFAC e-filing system and potential VSD analysis

  • Additional language skills in one or more jurisdictions in which Wise has operations.

Additional Information

Required:

  • How did you hear about this job?

  • Had you heard of Wise before you started your job search?

  • Have you used Wise as a customer?

What We Offer:

  • RSU's in a rapidly growing company

  • An annual self-development budget

  • Medical, dental, & vision insurance – including HSA and FSA options

  • Company-paid: Life Insurance, Short & Long-Term Disability, and an EAP program

  • Flexible working model – a mix of working from home and from the office

  • Relocation expenses covered

  • 25 days PTO, 15 sick days, 11 holidays, 5 compassionate leave days, 3 paid “Me” days and a paid volunteer day, annually

  • A paid 6-week sabbatical leave after four years

  • 18-weeks of paid parental leave, after a year with us

  • 401k with up to a 4% employer match

  • 2025 Austin BuiltIn Best Award winner for Best Places to Work and Best Large Places to Work

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 Wise.Jobs.

Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

What the Team is Saying

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The Company
HQ: Austin, TX
6,000 Employees
Hybrid Workplace
Year Founded: 2011

What We Do

We’re making a positive, irreversible change in the world of finance. Together.

People on every continent around the world are choosing Wise to help them live, travel and work internationally. We’re the fairest, easiest way to send money overseas.

Built by and for people who live global lives, we make sending money abroad up to 8 times cheaper than the bank. This is money without borders - instant, convenient, transparent and eventually free.

For our customers, using Wise is as simple as sending money from A to B, but behind our app and website is a complex engine of currencies and routes, that’s being designed, built and powered by our talented teams in cities around the world.

We’re just at the beginning of our story and we’re growing at an incredible pace. We won’t stop until anyone, anywhere can send, spend and receive money wherever they are, whatever they’re doing. There’s still heaps to do and we can’t do it alone.

Why Work With Us

We are a mission-driven company, looking to change banking for the better. Current banking systems don’t let us send, spend or receive money across borders easily. Or quickly. Or cheaply. So, we’re building a new one. If you're looking for an autonomous work environment, where you'll face cool challenges, learn and grow, you'll like working at Wise

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WISE Offices

Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

Here at Wise we have a hybrid working model – a mix of working from home and from the office. Wisers can also work remotely for 90 days a year. By ‘remote’ we don’t just mean from home, but from wherever in the world you choose to!

Typical time on-site: 2 days a week
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