Senior Compliance Specialist - AML/Fraud Controls

Wise is looking for a Senior Compliance Specialist to join our North America Financial Crime Compliance Oversight team in Austin, TX. Reporting to the Deputy BSA/AML Officer, you'll be an individual contributor and subject matter expert for AML and Fraud controls across the US and Canada. You'll provide independent second-line challenge, translate regulatory and risk requirements into practical controls, and partner cross-functionally (e.g. with Product, Operations, etc) to identify gaps and drive improvements. Your Mission: • Provide second-line oversight of AML and Fraud controls across the US 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 MI, KRIs 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/Fraud developments are reflected in controls. • Support suspicious activity/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 your scope. • Own medium-complexity work end to end and share expertise through onboarding, coaching and knowledge sharing. A Bit About You: • Theory. You have strong working knowledge of US and Canadian AML/CTF requirements and hands-on experience with AML and Fraud controls in a financial institution, fintech, money services business or consulting environment. • Practice. You have experience reviewing, challenging or improving controls and investigations, and can connect regulatory requirements, risk and customer impact. • Judgement. You can identify material issues, make sound risk-based recommendations, and know when to decide independently or escalate. • Ownership. You manage medium-complexity work from start to finish, prioritise competing deadlines and keep stakeholders aligned with minimal direction. • Communication. You write and speak clearly, simplify complex information and can constructively challenge stakeholders across Operations, Product and Compliance. • Delivery. You are proactive, thorough and data-minded. You follow actions through to closure and leave a clear record of the risk, decision and rationale. • Teamwork. You build strong relationships, welcome feedback and share your expertise to help others succeed. • Travel. You are willing to travel to other Wise offices as required (around 10%). • You must already be legally authorised to work in the US; Wise cannot provide visa sponsorship for this role. • This is not a remote position. This full-time role is based in Austin, TX, with three days of in-office work. Nice to haves: • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), or similar professional certification. • Experience contributing to financial crime or enterprise risk assessments. • Experience with suspicious activity/transaction reporting, transaction monitoring and/or fraud investigations. • Experience using MI/KRIs, control effectiveness testing, model validation or tuning to identify risk and drive action. • Experience training, onboarding or mentoring colleagues Key benefits: • Salary range: $82,000 - $110,000 USD annually. • Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) • Medical, dental, & vision insurance - including HSA and FSA options. • Company-paid: Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, Short & Long-Term Disability, and an EAP program. • 25 days of PTO + 11 paid banking holidays + 10 paid sick days + a paid volunteer day, annually. • 16-weeks of paid parental leave, after a year with us. • 401k with up to a 4% employer match. • 6-week paid sabbatical after 4 years with us.