Deputy CRO Wise Europe

About the role

We are seeking a Deputy Chief Risk Officer to oversee our risk management functions across the European region. You will guide our EU Risk team in monitoring and improving the risk profiles of our licensed entities while supporting our goal of providing accessible financial services. In this capacity, you will adapt our global risk management framework for the EU region and advise product teams on resolving issues and launching new features. You will create and update policies and procedures to ensure they meet licensing requirements while collaborating with the first line to build control assurance metrics and manage outsourcing oversight. Your role will involve reporting monitoring results to executive management, the Board, and regulators, as well as mentoring and managing the Europe team to ensure they provide effective oversight and challenge. You will conduct stress tests and risk assessments covering operational, tech, compliance, financial, and strategic risks, acting as a primary risk advisor for product planning and market launches. Finally, you will escalate incidents and risk changes to group management when required and prioritize risk-based remediations across the three lines of defense.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Adapt our global risk management framework for the EU region, ensuring all controls align with local regulatory expectations and business objectives.
• Advise product teams on resolving issues and launching new features, embedding risk considerations into the product lifecycle from inception to scale.
• Create and update policies and procedures to ensure they meet licensing requirements, maintaining documentation that is clear, current, and auditable.
• Collaborate with the first line to build control assurance metrics and manage outsourcing oversight, monitoring third-party risk performance and remediation tracking.
• Report monitoring results to executive management, the Board, and regulators, synthesizing complex risk data into actionable insights and regulatory narratives.
• Mentor and manage the Europe team to ensure they provide effective oversight and challenge, fostering a culture of rigorous risk management and continuous improvement.
• Conduct stress tests and risk assessments covering operational, tech, compliance, financial, and strategic risks, identifying emerging vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.
• Act as a primary risk advisor for product planning and market launches, evaluating risk implications and supporting go/no-go decisions.
• Escalate incidents and risk changes to group management when required, ensuring timely communication and alignment with group risk appetite and thresholds.
• Prioritize risk-based remediations across the three lines of defense, coordinating efforts to close gaps efficiently and sustainably.
• Integrate regional risk tools and data analytics into our monitoring processes, leveraging data to enhance visibility and predictive risk management.
• Maintain professional relationships with regulators and industry stakeholders, contributing to Wise's reputation as a trusted and compliant financial services provider.

Requirements

• 7-12 years of experience in risk management within UK or EU financial institutions, demonstrating a track record of managing complex risk portfolios.
• Proficiency in European or Belgian risk management frameworks, including knowledge of how these frameworks intersect with global standards.
• Subject matter expertise in DORA, third-party risk management, outsourcing, data privacy, and safeguarding, with practical experience in applying these regulations.
• Background in implementing enterprise risk management programs, including designing frameworks, risk taxonomies, and governance structures.
• Experience managing various risk categories including financial, operational, and strategic risks, with the ability to see interconnections and dependencies.
• Familiarity with management information and reporting systems, using data to drive decision-making and monitor risk trends effectively.
• Proven ability to maintain independence and provide critical challenge as a second line of defense, balancing objectivity with business support.
• Capacity to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment, making sound judgments with limited direct supervision and adapting to changing priorities.

Skills & tools

• Enterprise risk management frameworks, including their application to financial services operations in the EU context.
• EU regulatory compliance (DORA, outsourcing, data privacy), understanding the practical implications for technology and business functions.
• Risk assessment and stress testing, using these techniques to evaluate resilience and inform strategic decisions.
• Management information systems, leveraging these tools to produce accurate, timely, and insightful risk reporting.
• Three lines of defense model, working effectively across functions to ensure robust risk oversight and accountability.

Practical notes

• Wise is a global technology company focused on international money movement, operating under a regulated financial services model.
• We prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion across all our teams, ensuring that all individuals have equal opportunity to contribute and grow.
• Further details on our mission and culture are available at Wise.Jobs, providing insight into our values, expectations, and working environment.

About the company

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a financial technology company that provides international money transfers and multi-currency accounts. Founded by Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus in 2011, Wise went public on the London Stock Exchange in July 2021 and moves over $12 billion per month.