Governance Lead, Scheme Compliance

Adyen•San Francisco, CA

3d•$195,000 - $263,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Adyen is seeking a strategic, structured, and collaborative leader to lead the Governance pillar within its global Scheme Compliance team. The role manages a small globally distributed team and sets the direction for demonstrating compliance with card scheme and local payment method requirements through governance, control assurance, and coordinated external engagement. The position is accountable for the global governance framework, audit and assessment coordination, internal control mapping and testing, and relationships with scheme Risk and Compliance counterparts. It owns committee and board reporting across regional management levels, the global scheme bulletin intake and update process, scheme communications and requests for information, and recurring governance engagements. The role works with the Brand, Financial, and Data Integrity pillars, Internal Audit, Internal Controls, and operational teams to convert requirements, findings, and commitments into clear ownership, timely action, and transparent management oversight. It is based in Adyen’s San Francisco office, with employees expected to work in the office at least three days per week on average, and requires international travel as needed.

Requirements

Experience leading and developing a small globally distributed team while remaining engaged in complex work and stakeholder decisions.
Experience in governance, compliance, risk, or controls, ideally in payments, acquiring, financial services, or a similarly complex environment.
Skill in audit and assessment management, requirements-to-control mapping, control testing, evidence evaluation, and remediation oversight.
Familiarity with card scheme and payment method requirements, or demonstrated experience translating complex external obligations into practical governance and control frameworks.
Ability to represent the organization externally, manage sensitive discussions, coordinate cross-functional responses, and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders.
Comfort working across lines of defense and understanding the distinction between operational ownership, compliance oversight, and independent assurance.
Structured and pragmatic decision-making, including prioritizing competing demands, constructive challenge, and maintaining accountability without unnecessary process.
Effective written and verbal communication, including turning detailed findings and requirements into concise reporting, actionable recommendations, and clear decisions.
Experience translating complex compliance matters into committee and board reporting and leading global change-governance processes with clear ownership, traceability, and escalation.
Willingness to travel internationally as needed.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without new visa sponsorship. Adyen can support visa transfers but does not sponsor individuals for H-1B CAP applications.

Nice To Haves

Experience in payments, acquiring, financial services, or a similarly complex environment.
Familiarity with card scheme and payment method requirements.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a small globally distributed team, setting responsibilities, priorities, and development opportunities while balancing planned assurance work with incoming requests and emerging priorities.
Define and maintain consistent standards for scheme, debit network, and alternative payment method compliance documentation, control mapping, evidence management, issue tracking, and reporting across program pillars.
Oversee Scheme Compliance participation in scheme and local payment method audits, assessments, and due diligence reviews; coordinate scope, subject-matter contributions, evidence, responses, and follow-up with accountable stakeholders.
Lead mapping of scheme and payment method requirements to internal policies and controls; establish a risk-based testing plan with Internal Controls and pillar leads and ensure control gaps are documented, assessed, and escalated.
Serve as the global point of contact for scheme Risk and Compliance counterparts, connecting regional and subject-matter owners while maintaining a consistent global approach.
Oversee intake, routing, coordination, and quality review of scheme and local payment method communications and requests for information, ensuring responses are accurate, consistent, reviewed, and timely.
Own preparation and coordination of weekly and quarterly business reviews and annual meetings, including agendas, reporting, stakeholder preparation, and tracking decisions and commitments.
Coordinate assurance activities with Internal Audit and Internal Controls, support independent reviews, reduce unnecessary duplication, challenge remediation plans, monitor progress, and escalate overdue actions or unresolved risks.
Lead preparation, consolidation, and delivery of Scheme Compliance reporting to committees, boards, and management forums across regions and management levels, presenting risks, control effectiveness, audit findings, remediation progress, and scheme commitments and escalating matters requiring attention or decisions.
Oversee intake, tracking, distribution, and status reporting of global scheme bulletins and rule updates; ensure owners assess applicability and impact, establish actions and deadlines, provide completion evidence, and escalate gaps, delays, or unclear ownership.
Travel internationally as needed.