Head of Onboarding & FinCrime Operations

Airwallex

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Onboarding and FinCrime Operations is a global team responsible for KYC Operations, Name Screening and Transaction Monitoring at Airwallex globally. This is a first-line-of-defence team and the largest part of the Operations division. You will partner closely with 2LOD Financial Crime Compliance (including the MLRO teams), Risk Product and Commercial leaders across our key markets. The team is passionate about operational excellence and delivering an exceptional end-to-end customer experience. The team thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is committed to continuous learning, innovation and growth.

As the Head of Onboarding and FinCrime Operations, you will lead a global team responsible for defining procedures and delivering operational excellence in new client onboarding and periodic review. You will ensure that Airwallex champions high standards for integrity, judgement and documentation in all aspects of financial crime operations.

Requirements

• Proven experience, including senior leadership in large-scale, multi-jurisdiction operations in a regulated financial-services or payments/fintech business
• Deep knowledge of AML/CTF, sanctions, KYC, transaction monitoring and investigations processes and controls and how they map into first-line operations
• Proven track record of scaling FinCrime and/or Onboarding Operations across multiple product lines and geographies, and of building globally consistent performance
• Demonstrated delivery of automation/AI-led transformation in an operations setting (or clear strategic + technical fluency to lead it)
• Strong commercial and analytical judgement — comfortable framing decisions in unit economics, scalability and return on investment
• Track record of operating at the Operations–Product–Risk intersection and driving cross-functional outcomes without full reporting-line authority
• Experience managing outsourced / BPO / offshore capacity at scale

Nice To Haves

• Cross-border payments; multi-entity, multi-licence environments
• Comfort with a highly technical, API-first product
• Demonstrable evidence of driving tooling and rule evolution with Risk Product & Data teams
• Experience of AI transformation in Onboarding and FinCrime Operations
• Top-tier consulting or operator-investor background (structured thinking under ambiguity)
• Relevant professional certification (e.g., CAMS, ICA, ACAMs etc.) would be a strong plus

Responsibilities

• Own the vision, strategy and execution for Onboarding and FinCrime Operations
• Build, lead and develop high-performing a globally distributed team, managing capacity to reflect business growth
• Own the location and resourcing strategy of the team, solving for 24/7 coverage, quality of customer experience and cost efficiency
• Create a repeatable & scalable operating rhythm, including clear OKRs
• Take a data-driven approach to performance management
• Strike the right balance between risk, customer experience and commercial impact, ensuring timely, high-quality decision making and communications
• Drive continuous improvement in the quality of procedures, playbooks and control frameworks, aligned to Airwallex financial crime and fraud policies defined by 2LOD and partnering closely with Risk Product and Engineering
• Ensure that Airwallex continues to improve the quality and consistency of documentation
• Lead AI transformation of the Onboarding and FinCrime Operations teams

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed