Compliance Lead for MEA

Wise
London
Workplace: HybridFull timeGBP 125,000 - 179,000 annuallyFunction: Legal, Risk & ComplianceSkills: ["Strategic leadership","Mentorship","Negotiation","Clear communication","Adaptability"]

Lead compliance for Wise’s Middle East and Africa region, acting as Compliance Director and setting strategic direction to protect customers as Wise expands across new jurisdictions. Oversee licensing and expansion, establish second-line (2LOD) operational teams, and localise compliance frameworks. Report governance and regulatory health to the Board, act as a spokesperson to regulators, and support regional compliance officers with insights, risk management, and clear communication of product changes.

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FursaFursa
Wise
Wise
2 days ago

Compliance Lead for MEA

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Last checked: 17 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead compliance for Wise’s Middle East and Africa region, acting as Compliance Director and setting strategic direction to protect customers as Wise expands across new jurisdictions. Oversee licensing and expansion, establish second-line (2LOD) operational teams, and localise compliance frameworks. Report governance and regulatory health to the Board, act as a spokesperson to regulators, and support regional compliance officers with insights, risk management, and clear communication of product changes.
Location: London
Workplace: Hybrid
Employment Type: Full time · Permanent
Job Function: Legal, Risk & Compliance
Seniority: Sr. Director level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Act as Compliance Director for the MEA region (including Israel, UAE, South Africa), with later focus on markets such as Nigeria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
  • •Oversee licensing and launch of full capabilities in licensed markets, while managing and supporting licensing requirements in additional jurisdictions.
  • •Build and establish required second-line (2LOD) operational compliance teams across the MEA region from the ground up.
  • •Localise compliance frameworks and oversee governance and reporting to the Board on financial crime and regulatory compliance health across the region.
  • •Support regional Compliance Officers through trust-building and communication with regulators; act as spokesperson and translate information into strategic risk management and product-change communication.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: GBP 125,000 - 179,000 annually

Key Requirements

  • •Solid background and knowledge of regulatory frameworks, with strong understanding of financial crime and regulatory obligations.
  • •Demonstrable experience managing complex licensing entries and interacting with regulators in markets such as the UAE, Israel, or South Africa.
  • •Proven track record standing up operational departments and executing strategic roadmaps across diverse regions.
  • •Experience communicating complex topics clearly to senior management, including overseeing board packs.
  • •Fluent in English; fluency or working proficiency in Arabic, Turkish and/or Hebrew is highly desirable.
Skills:Strategic leadershipMentorshipNegotiationClear communicationAdaptability
Languages:EnglishArabicTurkishHebrew

Company Brief

Wise
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a London-based fintech that provides low-cost international money transfers, multi-currency accounts and payment infrastructure for individuals and businesses worldwide.
Industry: Payments
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 1B+
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 2011
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