Director of FCC Operations

As Global Lead of FCC Operations, you will shape and scale Airwallex’s second-line operational advisory and escalation capability globally, ensuring compliance policies are translated into practical, consistent execution. Leading a team of embedded subject matter experts across core FCC control functions (KYC, TM, Sanctions)core compliance disciplines, you will serve as the final decision-maker for complex Level 3 escalations, ensure the consistent application of our global policy framework, and turn policies into localized standard operating procedures. You will work closely with the FCC Strategy team, frontline operations leaders, and regional MLROs to turn complex compliance requirements into clear operational action, while building a strong, risk-aware culture across our operational execution teams. This role is based in the US or EMEA.

Responsibilities

Lead and scale a global second-line team of embedded compliance subject matter experts across four core disciplines: Transaction Monitoring, KYC/KYB, Sanctions, and Suspicious Activity Reporting (SMR/STR/SAR); Serve as the final second-line decision-maker for complex Level 3 compliance escalations, providing independent adjudication on high-risk customer offboarding, account restrictions, and material transaction holds; Operationalize global FCC policies, frameworks, and methodologies into clear, localized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), in consultation with Global Policy and Local MLROs, to ensure consistent compliance execution across all geographies within the Airwallex footprint; Oversee the training, calibration, and compliance standards for frontline (L1/L2) operations teams, ensuring the consistent application of policies and driving effective remediation of execution gaps; Partner closely with FCC Strategy, Investigations & FIU, Risk Product, and Engineering to continuously improve compliance workflows, case management tooling, and automated triage systems, ensuring operational processes adapt to business growth; Represent FCC operations in regulatory examinations, internal or external audits, and banking partner reviews, clearly presenting case decision rationales, operational procedures, and performance metrics

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Law, Business Administration, or another relevant analytical discipline; CAMS or an equivalent globally recognized financial crime compliance certification; 12 to 15+ years of experience in financial crime compliance, risk management, or compliance operations within financial services, fintech, payments, or banking; At least 5+ years leading a global or multi-jurisdictional compliance advisory, escalation, or operational oversight function at a senior level; Deep domain expertise across core compliance pillars, specifically transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, customer due diligence, and suspicious activity reporting workflows; Proven experience translating compliance policies into practical operational procedures, training programs, and quality calibration frameworks; A high-ownership, pragmatic approach, with the ability to navigate a fast-paced environment, collaborate cross-functionally, and communicate effectively with senior leadership and external partners

Nice to have

Advanced degree such as an MBA, Master’s in Regulatory Compliance, or JD; Professional certification such as CAMS-Audit, CGSS, or equivalent risk designations; Deep fintech and payments experience, including exposure to cross-border payments, virtual accounts, and multi-currency wallets within a high-velocity environment; Strong data literacy and comfort using operational metrics, BI dashboards, and automated tools to track quality, detect control drift, and manage capacity; Experience partnering directly with Product and Engineering teams to optimize compliance workflows, case management tooling, and rule deployments in production environments