We are seeking a seasoned risk leader to head the Payment Ecosystem and Enterprise Risk function across the CEMEA region. This strategic role is responsible for safeguarding the integrity and resilience of the company's payment ecosystem spanning 86 countries, 1,500+ financial institutions, and 600 billion+ in payment volume. The successful candidate will lead the execution of global risk programs, elevate enterprise risk management capabilities, and ensure regulatory excellence while enabling business growth through robust risk partnership.
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Key Responsibilities
- Drive operational excellence to execute global risk programs across fraud risk, issuing risk, and acquiring risk, ensuring consistent standards and controls across the payment ecosystem.
- Partner with banks, fintechs, and payment service providers to uplift risk management practices and strengthen ecosystem resilience.
- Develop and implement risk frameworks that balance innovation with robust controls in a rapidly evolving digital payments landscape.
- Lead Payment Facilitator and licensing programs from a risk perspective, ensuring standards are met while supporting business growth.
Qualifications
- 15-18+ years of progressive risk management experience in well-established financial institutions.
- Proven track record of leading a risk function directly for a line of business and/or a geography.
- Deep expertise and hands-on experience in a variety of risk types covering credit, enterprise, operational, fraud, reputational, regulatory, and data privacy risk.
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and experience working with supervisory authorities.
- Demonstrated success in setting and successfully implementing a vision and strategy for a large organization.
Leadership & Capabilities
- Exceptional team leadership with experience managing geographically dispersed, culturally diverse teams.
- Self-starter with strong entrepreneurial mindset and ability to drive initiatives independently.
- Outstanding communication and influencing skills with ability to engage effectively across all organizational levels.
- Highly task and outcome-oriented with proven ability to deliver results in complex, matrixed environments.
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability to work effectively across different regions and business contexts.
- Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and ability to balance risk management with business enablement.
Education
- Advanced degree (MBA, Master's in Risk Management, or related field) preferred.
