Senior Compliance Specialist - AML/Fraud Controls

Wise • Austin, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Wise is hiring a Senior Compliance Specialist for its North America Financial Crime Compliance Oversight team in Austin, Texas. Reporting to the Deputy BSA/AML Officer, this individual contributor and subject matter expert provides second-line oversight of AML and fraud controls across the United States and Canada. The role translates regulatory and risk requirements into practical control expectations, independently challenges first-line controls, and partners with teams such as Product and Operations to identify gaps and drive improvements.

The position covers customer due diligence, investigations, fraud risk controls, suspicious activity and transaction reporting governance, financial crime risk assessments, and regulatory horizon scanning. The specialist uses management information, key risk indicators, and control evidence to identify trends and deficiencies, agree remediation actions, and track them through closure. They also prepare decision-ready documentation, support auditors, regulators, and partners within their scope, and share expertise through onboarding, coaching, and knowledge sharing.

This is a full-time, non-remote role based in Austin, with three days of in-office work. Travel to other Wise offices may be required, approximately 10%. Applicants must already be legally authorized to work in the United States; Wise cannot provide visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• Strong working knowledge of US and Canadian AML/CTF requirements.
• Hands-on experience with AML and fraud controls in a financial institution, fintech, money services business, or consulting environment.
• Experience reviewing, challenging, or improving controls and investigations, and the ability to connect regulatory requirements, risk, and customer impact.
• Ability to identify material issues, make sound risk-based recommendations, and determine when to decide independently or escalate.
• Ability to manage medium-complexity work from start to finish, prioritize competing deadlines, and keep stakeholders aligned with minimal direction.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex information and constructively challenge Operations, Product, and Compliance stakeholders.
• Proactive, thorough, data-minded approach; ability to follow actions through to closure and document risk, decisions, and rationale.
• Ability to build strong relationships, welcome feedback, and share expertise.
• Willingness to travel to other Wise offices as required, around 10%.
• Must already be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) certification or a similar professional certification.
• Experience contributing to financial crime or enterprise risk assessments.
• Experience with suspicious activity or transaction reporting, transaction monitoring, and/or fraud investigations.
• Experience using management information, key risk indicators, control effectiveness testing, model validation, or tuning to identify risk and drive action.
• Experience training, onboarding, or mentoring colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Provide second-line oversight of AML and fraud controls across the United States and Canada, including customer due diligence, investigations, and fraud risk controls.
• Review and challenge first-line control design, performance, and changes, including new products or features; recommend proportionate improvements and escalate material issues.
• Advise regional and global teams on applicable US and Canadian AML/CTF requirements and Wise policies, translating obligations into practical control expectations.
• Use management information, key risk indicators, and control evidence to identify trends, exceptions, and gaps; agree actions and track remediation through closure.
• Contribute to financial crime risk assessments and horizon scanning, helping ensure relevant AML and fraud developments are reflected in controls.
• Support suspicious activity and transaction reporting governance, including the US SAR Committee where relevant, and provide clear analysis and control feedback.
• Prepare concise, decision-ready documentation and support responses to auditors, regulators, and partners within the role's scope.
• Own medium-complexity work end to end and share expertise through onboarding, coaching, and knowledge sharing.

Benefits

• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including HSA and FSA options.
• Company-paid life insurance, AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, and an EAP program.
• 25 days of PTO, 11 paid banking holidays, 10 paid sick days, and one paid volunteer day annually.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave after one year with the company.
• 401(k) with up to a 4% employer match.
• Six-week paid sabbatical after four years with the company.

What This Job Offers

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