Payment Operations Risk & Controls Team Lead

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.

We’re looking for a Risk & Controls Team Lead to lead our Control Assurance & Advisory team within PayOps Risk & Controls in Tallinn.

In this role, you will lead and develop a team that provides practical assurance, risk advice, and constructive challenge across various Payment Operations teams. Your main mission is to ensure that key risks are managed effectively and that controls operate as intended. Additionally, you will be expected to drive strategic initiatives that deliver a lasting impact across the entire organization.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will set direction and standards for the team while remaining close enough to the work to support risk assessments, control decisions/ assessments, issues and stakeholder conversations.

About the team:

PayOps Risk & Controls is a global team supporting Payment Operations across multiple locations. The Control Assurance & Advisory team works with operational, product and control partners to identify material risks, assess control effectiveness and help teams implement sustainable improvements.

The role offers the opportunity to shape how assurance and risk advice are delivered across PayOps and, over time, contribute to broader Servicing risk-management practices.

How you’ll contribute to the team:

• Lead, coach and develop the Control Assurance & Advisory team, setting clear priorities, objectives and performance expectations.
• Build a high-performing and inclusive team through regular feedback, meaningful 1:1s, individual development plans and effective performance conversations.
• Set the team’s assurance and advisory priorities in line with the wider Risk & Controls and Payment Operations strategy.
• Oversee high-quality risk assessments, control testing, monitoring and issues and actions management.
• Evaluate whether controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively, and communicate clearly where risk remains outside the accepted level.
• Ensure audit and risk mitigation actions have clear owners, appropriate evidence and realistic completion dates, and escalate when progress or quality is insufficient.
• Maintain accurate and decision-useful records of risks, controls, issues and actions in Risk Management Tool Optro.
• Act as a trusted risk advisor to PayOps, Product, Compliance, second-line Risk, Internal Audit, Finance, Treasury and other relevant Wise teams.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects, measure their impact and remove activities that do not provide sufficient risk or business value.
• Provide clear, concise reporting on material risks, control performance and remediation progress to senior business and risk forums.
• Strengthen the team’s frameworks, SOPs and assurance standards, and support their consistent adoption.
• Forecast future capacity and capability needs, promote knowledge sharing and maintain appropriate succession plans.
• Deputise for the Risk & Controls Senior Lead when required.

• You're placed in Tallinn, and have a valid right to work here (we don't support visas nor relocation for this role).
• You have strong operational-risk experience, including risk assessments, controls testing and issues and actions management.
• You have experience leading and developing people, including setting priorities, giving feedback, coaching and handling performance conversations.
• You can distinguish between completing a control activity and demonstrating that risk is being managed effectively.
• You can assess complex information, make proportionate risk decisions and explain your reasoning clearly.
• You have led cross-functional projects and can translate strategic objectives into practical plans, ownership and measurable outcomes.
• You are comfortable challenging senior stakeholders while maintaining trusted and constructive working relationships.
• You communicate material risk information clearly, both in writing and in senior discussions.
• You use data to prioritise work, assess control performance and demonstrate impact.
• You can balance being a supportive leader with holding people and stakeholders accountable.
• You are proactive, pragmatic and comfortable working across several complex topics at the same time.

Nice to haves:

• Experience in payments, fintech, banking or another regulated operational environment would be valuable, but it is not essential.
• Familiarity with Optro or a similar risk-management platform would also be beneficial.

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.

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