FinCrime Operations Team Lead - PEP Focus

Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money.

Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.

Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money.

As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money.

For everyone, everywhere.

More about our mission and what we offer.

We're looking for a FinCrime Operations Team Lead (focused on PEP Screening) to join our team in Tallinn, Estonia.

As a FinCrime Operations Team Lead, you will develop and oversee the daily operations of an analyst or specialist team. Your mission is dual-focused: to effectively mitigate financial crime risks while driving operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and a customer-centric approach.

You will be instrumental in fostering a high-performing culture, acting as a key subject matter expert, and ensuring the team consistently meets or exceeds performance targets (KPIs).

Key Responsibilities

• People Leadership & Development: Lead by example, fostering a high-performance culture based on ownership and accountability. Coach and mentor team members of varying experience levels, providing regular, actionable feedback and managing performance issues swiftly and effectively. Conduct career map check-ins and make promotion/development recommendations.
• Operational Management & Excellence: Oversee daily operations, ensuring strict adherence to regulations and internal policies. Drive team and individual performance outcomes, measuring KPIs and quality standards. Identify and propose opportunities for process and tooling improvements, and manage timely administrative tasks (scheduling, hiring, training).
• Expertise Sharing & Risk: Act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in KYC/AML/Fraud/Screening. Support deep dives, identify root causes of problematic cases, and propose solutions. Apply a risk-based approach to financial crime prevention and maintain a comprehensive understanding of regulatory obligations.
• Stakeholder Management & Strategy: Collaborate closely with stakeholders, acting as the primary liaison between your team and the wider FinCrime organization. Escalate critical incidents (high-risk customers, control weaknesses) in a timely manner and employ impactful communication to convey vision and progress.
• Accountability: Take full ownership of your team's results, leveraging data to set targets, resolve blockers, and optimize output and efficiency.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear, concise, accurate, and professional reports, summaries, and customer communications. Additional languages are a plus.
• At least 1-2 years of leading small to medium sized teams, preferably in operations. 
• Good understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding KYC/AML/Fraud/Risk and financial crime prevention.
• You are familiar with money laundering methods and other financial crime trends.
• You can build and maintain an environment where your team is incentivised to make decisions and apply a risk-based approach to their work. This involves the ability to guide the team on the right course or course-correct swiftly when necessary, ensuring resources and focus are directed towards the most impactful tasks.
• You are punctual, independent, proactive and willing to get things done.
• Strong operational management and tactical decision-making skills.
• Can work with tight deadlines under pressure whilst maintaining high level of quality and competency.
• 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.
• You are capable of identifying gaps in policies and processes and providing detailed feedback, including examples when possible, through the established communication channels.
• A strong process-oriented and efficiency-driven mindset.
• Proven track record of taking individual ownership and responsibilities as well as being a great team-player. Ability to deliver constructive, well-evidenced feedback that drives tangible behavioral change and performance improvement.
• Ability to analyze and move of team’s metrics
• You have the right to work in Estonia - we don't offer visa support for this role.

Nice to have:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Law, or related field
• Certifications: ICA, CAMS, or equivalent certification (KYC/EDD/AML/Fraud/Screening/Risk focused)
• Ability to use analytics tools like, looker, superset, or other similar platforms.

About this Role

• Compensation: The monthly gross pay for this position is 3150 EUR
• Work Eligibility: This role is for candidates who are already authorized to work in Estonia. Unfortunately, we can't sponsor visas for this opportunity.
• Click here to see the benefits we offer!

If you’re ready to take on an exciting challenge and make a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume in English on or before 23rd of January 2026!

We will start reviewing and interviewing candidates from day 1 so we would recommend applying rather sooner than later - otherwise, someone else might grab your dream job! 💚

Hiring Process

1. Application Review: We’ll evaluate your experience and skills.
2. Homework: (3 calendar days to complete)
3. Screening Call with the Recruiter (15 min)
4. First Interview with two Team Leads
5. Final Interview: Meet with our Senior Leads for an in-depth discussion.

#LI-KM1

For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders  — without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive.

We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences.

Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.

If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs.

Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.