Financial Crime Team Leader (APAC)

ABOUT US

We’re Wirex and we’re not like anyone else. Why? Because we always do things our way, before anyone else does them – like creating the first ever debit card that lets you pay with crypto, making it easier for ordinary people to access DeFi-powered savings and setting up the world’s first cryptocurrency rewards scheme.

Our vision is a world in which everyone can enjoy the benefits of digital currency – everything from the power to send money around the world near-instantly without breaking the bank to buying, storing and exchanging 40+ top tokens on a secure, easy-to-use platform at some of the best rates in the industry.  

We must be doing something right, because more than 6 million people across 130 countries are helping to change the world by using Wirex. 

Are you part of the digital money movement? Do you want to change the way people think about money, forever? If your skills fit our vision and you want to join a company that’s really going places, apply now! 

OVERALL ROLE PURPOSE

The Financial Crime Team Leader is a Malaysia-based role within Wirex’s Global Risk & Compliance function, responsible for leading and supervising a team of Financial Crime Analysts supporting AML/CFT and fraud controls across the APAC region. 

The role combines hands-on technical expertise with people leadership, ensuring the effective investigation, escalation, and reporting of financial crime risks, while maintaining strong operational standards, team performance, and regulatory compliance. The role supports the Head of Compliance, Director of Financial Crime, and APAC MLROs but does not hold MLRO accountability.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITES

• Create and sustain a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team environment with open communication and clear expectations. 

• Set clear objectives, allocate work effectively, and manage priorities and deadlines across the team. 

• Lead by example by participating in and supporting complex AML, CFT, and fraud investigations across fiat and crypto products. 

• Apply and oversee the use of fraud rules, monitoring thresholds, and investigative tools in line with approved frameworks. 

• Review, challenge, and approve STRs prior to escalation to the STRO, ensuring regulatory quality and consistency. 

• Oversee ongoing AML monitoring activities, including enhanced due diligence (EDD), source of funds (SoF), and source of wealth (SoW) assessments. 

• Support transaction testing, data validation, and the ongoing enhancement of transaction monitoring systems, scenarios, and controls.
  

• Review and contribute to compliance and financial crime training materials to support staff awareness and capability. 

• Identify gaps or weaknesses in current processes, policies, or controls, and work collaboratively to implement remediation and process improvements. 

• Analyse internal and external STR data to identify emerging trends and risks, presenting insights to the Financial Crime Compliance Committee to support risk mitigation. 

• Produce regular MI for the investigations function, highlighting volumes, trends, backlogs, capacity constraints, and resourcing needs. 

• Actively listen to team feedback, addressing concerns, resolving conflicts, and escalating issues where appropriate. 

• Provide support to the Financial Crime Operations Manager on projects, regulatory initiatives, and ad hoc requests.

REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPEREINCE

• Proven experience working within a FinTech, payments, or digital assets environment, ideally with exposure to both fiat and crypto products. 

• Strong and demonstrable experience in financial crime, AML/CFT, and fraud investigations, including STR reporting. 

• Previous people leadership experience is essential, including coaching, performance management, and workload oversight. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Highly organised, resilient, and comfortable working to deadlines in a fast-paced, regulated environment. 

• Solid KYC, customer due diligence, and investigations background, including EDD and complex case handling. 

• Professional certification such as CAMS, ICA, or equivalent is desirable. 


• Familiarity with APAC regulatory expectations (e.g. Malaysia, Singapore, Australia) is advantageous.
  

BENEFITS 

• Generous leave + Public Holidays.    

• Paid Charity Day.   

• Flexible working hours and remote working.   

• Company-provided equipment.  

• Annual training and development budget.  

• Extensive opportunity to grow your career at an innovative FinTech.