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Head of Risk

Airwallex· Regulatory & Compliance
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Hybrid (UK - London), Hybrid (NL - Amsterdam)Full-timePosted 4mo ago

About the role

Senior leadership role responsible for building and scaling Airwallex’s global second line risk management function, shaping risk strategy, governance, and culture across worldwide operations.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and lead Airwallex’s global risk management function and framework, spanning risk monitoring, detection, policy development, governance, escalation, and assurance activities across the Group’s worldwide operations.
  • Create and execute risk strategies, guidelines, performance metrics, and monitoring mechanisms that identify and mitigate vulnerabilities across Airwallex’s existing and future products, while keeping risk management aligned to business priorities and approved risk appetite.
  • Partner closely with Risk Product, Risk Operations, Engineering, Product, Data Science, Commercial, Operations, Compliance, and other stakeholders to manage risk at the product, portfolio, market, merchant, and entity levels.
  • Communicate Airwallex’s risk appetite clearly and effectively across the company, helping teams make sound decisions and strengthening consistent adoption of risk standards and accountability.
  • Collaborate with business, operations, technology, and product leaders to deliver measurable business outcomes while minimising exposure to financial crime, fraud, counterparty, liability, and broader enterprise risks.
  • Monitor, enhance, and embed the Risk Management Framework so that all global entities operate within acceptable risk tolerance levels and in line with Airwallex’s governance expectations.
  • Work closely with the Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer, the CEO, and other senior executives on risk, control, governance, and strategic decision-making topics, including escalation of material issues where appropriate.
  • Advise management on external risk, governance, and regulatory requirements across the markets in which Airwallex operates, and help ensure the company’s risk posture evolves with its global footprint.
  • Champion a strong and practical risk culture across Airwallex by reinforcing that risk excellence is a competitive advantage and a shared responsibility across the company.
  • Recruit, develop, and lead a high performing global team of risk professionals, and help build a scalable second line organisation that can support Airwallex’s next phase of growth.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Law, or a related field.
  • 15+ years of relevant experience in Risk Management, Compliance, Control, or Audit within fintech, payments, remittance, banking, or broader financial services.
  • Strong experience building or leading risk management frameworks, governance models, and oversight programmes in a complex, multi jurisdiction environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to define and operationalise risk appetite, policies, metrics, and escalation processes that support business growth while maintaining effective control standards.
  • Experience working closely with senior management and cross functional teams, with excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to influence at executive level.
  • Experience leading international teams and operating effectively in a fast-paced environment with high standards, evolving priorities, and significant cross functional collaboration.

Skills

Required:Risk governanceStakeholder management
Last updated Oct 7, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Airwallex

Trusted Global Payments & Financial Platform

Grow your business faster with Airwallex - global business accounts, high speed transfers, multi-currency cards, online payments, embedded finance, and more.

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