Payment Operations Risk & Controls Team Lead

About the role

Wise is looking for a Risk & Controls Team Lead to head its Control Assurance & Advisory team within PayOps Risk & Controls in Tallinn. The team provides practical assurance, risk advice and constructive challenge across Payment Operations teams, identifying material risks, assessing control effectiveness and helping teams improve sustainably. This is a hands-on leadership role that sets direction and standards while staying close to the work.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the team, setting priorities, objectives and performance expectations, and build an inclusive team through feedback, 1:1s and development plans.
• Set assurance and advisory priorities in line with the wider Risk & Controls and Payment Operations strategy.
• Oversee risk assessments, control testing, monitoring and issues and actions management, ensuring controls are designed well and operating effectively.
• Maintain accurate records of risks, controls, issues and actions in the Risk Management Tool Optro.
• Act as a trusted risk advisor to PayOps, Product, Compliance, second-line Risk, Internal Audit, Finance, Treasury and other teams.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects, measure their impact and report on material risks and remediation progress to senior forums.
• Strengthen frameworks, SOPs and assurance standards, forecast capacity needs, promote knowledge sharing and maintain succession plans.
• Depute for the Risk & Controls Senior Lead when required.

Required profile

• Valid right to work in Tallinn; no visa or relocation support for this role.
• Strong operational-risk experience, including risk assessments, controls testing and issues and actions management.
• Experience leading and developing people, including performance conversations.
• Ability to assess complex information, make proportionate risk decisions and challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Comfortable using data to prioritise work and balancing supportive leadership with accountability.

Nice to haves

• Experience in payments, fintech, banking or another regulated operational environment.
• Familiarity with Optro or a similar risk-management platform.

Candidates apply by submitting their CV in English by 21 September EOD.