Head of Banking Operations

Wahed

84d

About The Position

Wahed is embarking on its most ambitious venture yet: launching a full-service, ethical digital banking and neobank offering for our customers in the US and the UK. This is a ground-floor opportunity to architect the operational engine that will power this new chapter of our growth. As the Head of Banking Operations, you will be the foundational leader responsible for building, scaling, and leading a world-class, multi-jurisdictional banking operations function from scratch. Operating within a strategic Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) partnership model, you will be the principal architect of the controls, processes, and partner governance frameworks required for a resilient, compliant, and hyper-efficient operational ecosystem. You will be entrusted with establishing the operational bedrock upon which our neobank will be built, ensuring every payment is seamless, every risk is managed, and every customer is protected, all while upholding the strictest standards of Shariah compliance. Reporting to the CEO, your work will be critical to the successful launch and scalable growth of this new business line.

Requirements

• 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in banking operations within a fintech, neobank, or regulated financial institution.
• Direct, hands-on experience building and managing operations within a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) or managed-services partnership model.
• Deep domain expertise across multiple core banking functions: US & UK payment systems (ACH, Wires, FedNow, FPS, CHAPS), card operations (issuing, processing, disputes), and treasury/reconciliation.
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and governing a comprehensive financial crime compliance program (BSA/AML, Sanctions, Fraud).
• Expert-level knowledge of the US and UK regulatory landscapes, including the Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation E, Regulation Z, and the UK’s Consumer Duty and APP Scam Reimbursement rules.
• Demonstrated success in building, leading, and scaling high-performing operations teams from an early stage.

Responsibilities

• Design the organizational structure, hire, and lead a high-performing team of operations professionals.
• Establish the vision, strategic roadmap, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the entire banking operations function.
• Serve as the primary operational owner for our BaaS provider and sponsor bank relationships in the US and UK.
• Lead vendor oversight, performance management, and ensure strict adherence to contractual SLAs and regulatory expectations for third-party risk management.
• Architect and govern the end-to-end operational processes for all payment rails, including ACH, Wires, and FedNow in the US, and Faster Payments and CHAPS in the UK.
• Oversee daily liquidity management, partner-managed reconciliations, and the implementation of robust financial controls.
• Build and oversee the operational frameworks for the entire customer lifecycle, including partner-managed KYC/AML processes, onboarding, account maintenance, and dispute/complaint handling.
• Own the design and governance of Wahed’s financial crime prevention framework.
• Ensure all banking processes, product structures, and partner activities adhere to both jurisdictional regulations and the principles of our Shariah governance framework.
• Develop and implement a scalable operational readiness framework to support the launch of new products and features.

Benefits

• Foundational Impact: This is a rare opportunity to be the architect of a global neobank's operational foundation.
• Executive Visibility & Strategic Influence: You will work directly with senior leadership across the company.
• Global Mission, Unified Team: Join a diverse, passionate, and mission-driven team from across the globe.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees