Director, Payments and Fraud Operations

About the role

Who We Are

At Justworks, you will experience a welcoming and casual environment, comprehensive benefits, wellness program offerings, company retreats, and the opportunity to learn from leaders in the startup community. We work hard and prioritize our people as our most valued asset. Our mission is to help businesses launch and grow by enabling them to focus on their core operations. We solve Human Resources challenges, operate with a data-driven mindset, and commit to continuous iteration. If you are motivated by a supportive, entrepreneurial culture, seek meaningful work, and enjoy a collaborative atmosphere, we encourage you to explore this opportunity further. Our values define our shared goals and motivations, shaping both our product and our team.

Who You Are

You are an experienced operations leader with a demonstrated ability to scale payments and fraud functions within high-growth, regulated environments. You combine deep subject matter expertise with strong business acumen, balancing risk management with operational speed and customer experience. You lead with rigor and sound judgment, remain relentlessly focused on the customer, and build high-performing teams and systems capable of scaling alongside business growth.

Your Success Profile

As the Director of Payments and Fraud Operations, you will lead two critical functions responsible for the accurate and timely movement of customer funds and the protection of Justworks from financial and fraud-related risk. You will define the strategic direction for both areas, ensuring reliable and scalable processing of customer funds while maintaining full compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards. Your role will elevate Payments and Fraud Operations into strategic functions that drive revenue growth, strengthen customer trust, and support faster payment products without increasing financial exposure.

What You Will Work On

Lead and Develop the Payments and Fraud Operations Teams

You will build, develop, and retain a high-performing team, establishing a high standard of excellence and fostering an environment where team members take ownership and perform at their best. You will coach leaders and individual contributors to strengthen subject matter expertise and enhance the team's capacity for higher-value analysis and cross-functional collaboration. You will set a clear vision and priorities, aligning the team around shared objectives while cultivating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Drive Operational Excellence in Payments

You will own the end-to-end payments lifecycle across Justworks' product lines, ensuring that customer payrolls are processed accurately and on time to protect customer trust, revenue recognition, and cash flow. You will strengthen risk management through improved visibility, proactive customer engagement, and ongoing refinement of controls. You will enable faster payment methods and expanded payroll timelines while maintaining a strong risk posture. Within the team, you will promote data-driven decision-making, using operational insights to identify inefficiencies, prioritize improvements, and measure outcomes.

Protect Justworks Through Fraud and AML Operations

You will maintain full compliance with AML industry standards and strengthen protection against fraudulent activity across all business lines. You will oversee onboarding and ongoing screening processes, including fraud review, AML checks, and lifecycle monitoring. You will stay ahead of the evolving fraud and financial crime landscape, ensuring that Justworks' approach, controls, and capabilities continuously adapt to emerging risks.

Advance Automation, Tooling, and AI Investments

You will partner with Product and Engineering teams to prioritize tooling investments and use artificial intelligence and automation to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and enhance scalability. You will identify opportunities where technology can streamline workflows, reduce risk exposure, and support sustainable growth. This includes evaluating new tools, defining requirements, and collaborating closely with technical partners to implement solutions that meet operational and compliance needs.

Key Facts

This is a full-time position based in New York, New York. The compensation range is $140,000 to $180,000 USD annually. The role reports to the leadership team and carries responsibility for critical financial operations.

Requirements

You must have managed payments operations in high-growth, regulated environments. You must possess a deep understanding of anti-money laundering standards and fraud prevention lifecycles. You must balance rapid product experimentation with a firm risk appetite and cash controls. You must communicate clearly and effectively with executives, operators, and technical stakeholders.

Nice to Have

Experience scaling transaction monitoring programs within fintech or platform businesses is preferred.

Skills & Tools

Proficiency with platforms such as Stripe, Riskified, Sift, and ComplyAdvantage is expected. Experience with internal dashboards and SQL is strongly preferred.

Practical Notes

Please before proceeding.