Head of Regional Payment Operations - EMEA Region (Europe, UK, SWIFT & MEA)

Location: Global

Team: General

About the Role

Wise is a global technology company revolutionizing the way people and businesses move and manage money with minimal fees, maximum ease, and full speed. We're seeking a strategic Head of Regional Payment Operations for the EMEA Region (Europe, UK, SWIFT & MEA) to lead high-performing teams, ensure compliance across payment schemes, and drive scalability through AI and automation. In this key leadership role within our global Payment Operations group, you'll directly manage senior leads and oversee 100+ professionals, partnering with Product, Engineering, and Treasury to deliver seamless international payment services. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in SEPA, European, UK, and SWIFT payment rails, along with a passion for operational efficiency, team development, and cross-functional collaboration. You'll champion process transformations, maintain SLA excellence across currencies, and scale our infrastructure to support Wise's mission of money without borders. Join our diverse, inclusive team in Tallinn or globally, and help build the future of global payments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow high-performing payment operations teams across UK, European, MEA and SWIFT corridors
• Ensure compliance and SLA excellence across multiple currencies and schemes
• Drive change through AI, automation, and process transformation
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Treasury, and other stakeholders to scale payments infrastructure
• Directly manage senior function leads and indirectly oversee 100+ professionals

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years total in payments or ops leadership roles in a Global environment
• 4+ years managing leaders of teams
• Domain knowledge of SEPA, SWIFT, UK payment schemes
• Experience scaling ops orgs via automation and AI
• Strong risk management awareness
• Background in financial FinTech, PSPs, banks
• Excellent cross-functional stakeholder communication

Preferred Qualifications

• Product background or experience launching payment products
• AI/ML or automation tools experience in ops
• Technical understanding of APIs or system architecture
• Led international teams or expansion projects

Required Skills

• Payment operations leadership
• SEPA knowledge
• SWIFT expertise
• UK payment schemes
• Operational scaling
• Automation and AI in operations
• Risk management
• Compliance and SLA management
• Cross-functional stakeholder communication
• Team development and growth

Benefits

• RSUs (stock options)
• Flexible working
• Parental leave
• Learning budget
• Paid sabbatical after 4 years
• Health insurance
• Company retreat
• Wise card

Wise is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse workforce.