Payment Operations Risk & Controls Team Lead

We’re looking for a Risk & Controls Team Lead to lead our Control Assurance & Advisory team within PayOps Risk & Controls in Tallinn. In this role, you will lead and develop a team that provides practical assurance, risk advice, and constructive challenge across various Payment Operations teams. Your main mission is to ensure that key risks are managed effectively and that controls operate as intended. Additionally, you will be expected to drive strategic initiatives that deliver a lasting impact across the entire organization.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will set direction and standards for the team while remaining close enough to the work to support risk assessments, control decisions/ assessments, issues and stakeholder conversations.

About the team

PayOps Risk & Controls is a global team supporting Payment Operations across multiple locations. The Control Assurance & Advisory team works with operational, product and control partners to identify material risks, assess control effectiveness and help teams implement sustainable improvements. The role offers the opportunity to shape how assurance and risk advice are delivered across PayOps and, over time, contribute to broader Servicing risk-management practices.

How you’ll contribute to the team

• Lead, coach and develop the Control Assurance & Advisory team, setting clear priorities, objectives and performance expectations.
• Build a high-performing and inclusive team through regular feedback, meaningful 1:1s, individual development plans and effective performance conversations.
• Set the team’s assurance and advisory priorities in line with the wider Risk & Controls and Payment Operations strategy.
• Oversee high-quality risk assessments, control testing, monitoring and issues and actions management.
• Evaluate whether controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively, and communicate clearly where risk remains outside the accepted level.
• Ensure audit and risk mitigation actions have clear owners, appropriate evidence and realistic completion dates, and escalate when progress or quality is insufficient.
• Maintain accurate and decision-useful records of risks, controls, issues and actions in Risk Management Tool Optro.
• Act as a trusted risk advisor to PayOps, Product, Compliance, second-line Risk, Internal Audit, Finance, Treasury and other relevant Wise teams.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects, measure their impact and remove activities that do not provide sufficient risk or business value.
• Provide clear, concise reporting on material risks, control performance and remediation progress to senior business and risk forums.
• Strengthen the team’s frameworks, SOPs and assurance standards, and support their consistent adoption.
• Forecast future capacity and capability needs, promote knowledge sharing and maintain appropriate succession plans.
• Deputise for the Risk & Controls Senior Lead when required.