Safeguarding Controller - APAC

About Wise

Wise is a global technology firm dedicated to streamlining the way money is moved and managed globally. Our mission is to reduce fees, maximize ease, and accelerate financial transactions—whether it's sending money abroad, spending internationally, or processing cross-border payments. Join us in building a new global financial network accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Job Overview

As a pivotal member of the Safeguarding team and reporting to the Global Safeguarding Accountable Owner, you will support existing controllers and product managers by ensuring the safeguarding control framework for the APAC region operates efficiently. Your work will cover safeguarding related to both payments, e-money, and investment businesses, providing a unique chance to gain expertise across overlapping regulatory regimes. The role arrives at an exciting phase of product innovation and expansion.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance and proportionate control application during new product introductions in relation to safeguarding regulations.
• Manage completeness and maintenance of safeguarding policies and procedures while collaborating with controllers to secure attestations confirming the operation and alignment of controls.
• Coordinate the deployment of first-line defense assurance for safeguarding controls within APAC.
• Maintain the safeguarding risk and controls matrix for APAC entities.
• Serve as first escalation contact for any discrepancies flagged by the Reconciliations team regarding safeguarding reconciliations and provide expert advice for resolution.
• Participate in incident management, linking incidents to control failures to help senior management identify patterns and themes in the control environment.
• Prepare regulatory filings for MAS and other safeguarding-related reports.
• Coordinate annual safeguarding audits.
• Document, challenge, and develop a comprehensive overview of the internal control setup, highlighting key risks, controls, and processes using internal risk management software.

Opportunities

• High autonomy and responsibility to chart your own success path.
• Exposure to senior leadership and involvement in remediation discussions, enhancing your technical knowledge through change management initiatives tied to regulatory improvements and safeguarding compliance for new products developed alongside engineering teams.
• Strong platform for those interested in advancing within the safeguarding function of a rapidly growing fintech.
• In-depth engagement with various business teams, fostering broad organizational understanding.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated technical expertise with 5-8 years' experience in the CASS (Client Assets Sourcebook) / Customer Moneys and Assets Protection (CMAP) framework, preferably within APAC and Singapore, spanning investment and payment sectors.
• Solid theoretical knowledge of the Payments Services Act (PSA) under MAS.
• Excellent written communication skills for clarifying regulations and articulating key risks to non-expert colleagues.
• Proactive organizational approach, willing to take ownership and resolve complex challenges swiftly.
• Commercial insight to balance risk management and business growth effectively.
• Strong collaborator, comfortable working in multicultural teams, fostering positive and impactful relationships.
• Eagerness to grow understanding of fintech operations within a fast-paced scale-up environment.
• Readiness to participate in video calls and some travel due to the global nature of the Safeguarding team, primarily based in London and Tallinn.

Additional Information

We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, believing that our strength lies in respecting and empowering every member. Our international team celebrates differences and supports career progression across all levels.