KYC Operations Senior Lead - Consumer & Regional

Location: Global

Team: General

About the Role

Wise is a global technology company revolutionizing the way people and businesses move and manage money across borders with minimal fees, maximum ease, and full speed. As the KYC Operations Senior Lead - Consumer & Regional, you will oversee multiple KYC Team Leads and their analyst teams in Hyderabad, driving exceptional team performance, process optimization, and adherence to Wise's customer-centric values. Your role is pivotal in delivering high-quality customer due diligence reviews while meeting key operational metrics aligned with our mission to build a new network for the world's money—for everyone, everywhere. In this leadership position, you will foster a culture of ownership, coach Team Leads on skill development and career growth, identify process improvements for greater efficiency, and monitor group-wide KPIs with proactive performance management. As a subject matter expert in KYC/AML regulations, you will train your teams, handle escalations, support audits, and collaborate with stakeholders to execute initiatives that prevent financial crime through a risk-based approach. With excellent communication skills, you will bridge teams, document impacts clearly, and ensure seamless coordination in a fast-paced environment. Join Wise to lead high-performing teams, champion continuous learning, and contribute to our inclusive culture without borders or prejudice. This role offers 1,450,000 INR annual salary plus RSUs, flexible working, and opportunities for global impact in financial services.

Key Responsibilities

• Group Leadership: Lead by example and drive a customer focused mindset across your team as well as the wider organisation. Promote a culture of ownership and accountability. Build high-performing teams that value knowledge sharing and continuous learning
• People management: Coach and develop a strong team of KYC Team Leads. Come up with initiatives to help your team to grow their skills, behaviours, and competencies. Design and manage development plans on identified opportunities. Conducts career map check-ins and makes recommendations for promotions, salary raises, and other decisions
• Operational management: Identify and propose opportunities for process improvements. Collaborate with central functions and other operational teams as needed to increase automation and operational efficiency. Monitor team resource allocation and refine standard operating procedures to improve the ways we work
• Performance management: Measure group wide KPIs and ensure that your team leads as well as their direct reports meet performance targets and quality standards. Conduct regular one on one coaching sessions, usually on a weekly or biweekly basis. Act as a key escalation point for issues that cannot be resolved by team leads. Generate reports based on teams performance and propose corrective actions on identified opportunities
• Expertise Sharing: Be a subject matter expert in your area with the ability to train and coach your team on operational topics. Maintain a great understanding of our regulatory obligations, internal policies, and applying a risk-based approach to deterring and preventing money laundering and financial crime. Able to assist senior leadership with audits and developing our policies and processes
• Planning and execution: Ensure operational team plans are set in place and provide insights to other stakeholders. Take full accountability in delivering your own initiatives and making sure your group is making progress on their goals. Effectively executing and supporting department goals through delegation and empowerment of team leads
• Stakeholder management and communication: Collaborate closely with your stakeholders ensuring clear communication and coordination of actions. Your initiatives and reports are well documented and you choose the right platforms to communicate to a wider audience in a timely manner

Required Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written English skills (additional language skills are a plus)
• A minimum of 3+ years of experience in Operations (preferably in CDD/EDD/AML or Risk Assessment domain)
• A minimum of 1 year of experience in KYC/AML, Financial Compliance field and having great understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding KYC/AML
• At least 2+ years of leading medium to large sized teams (20 to 60 employees)
• You are punctual, independent, proactive and willing to get things done
• You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong organisational skills, great time management, and ability to work in a fast paced and high pressure environment
• Ability to multi-task and take responsibility in challenging situations
• Proven track record of taking individual ownership and responsibilities as well as being a great team-player
• Ability to analyze and move the team's metrics

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Law, or related field
• Certifications: ICA, CAMS, or equivalent certification (EDD/AML focused)
• 2-3 years experience in KYC/AML, financial crime, compliance, or a related field within the financial services industry
• Ability to use analytics tools like Looker, Superset, or other

Required Skills

• Excellent verbal and written English skills
• Operations experience (CDD/EDD/AML or Risk Assessment)
• KYC/AML and Financial Compliance knowledge
• Team leadership (20-60 employees)
• Process improvement and automation
• Performance metrics analysis and KPI management
• Stakeholder communication and collaboration
• Regulatory framework understanding
• Coaching and people development
• Time management and multitasking

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.