Senior Risk and Compliance Manager

The Risk and Compliance function is a global, matrixed team responsible for protecting EML, its customers, partners and regulated entities through effective second line oversight, risk management, regulatory compliance, financial crime governance, assurance, reporting and data protection. The Risk and Compliance function at EML is divided into two overarching teams:

• Regional Risk and Compliance – hold broad responsibilities within their countries/regions and where applicable hold designated titles (such as SMF or PCF designations). They are supported in the execution of their functions and activities by a global team of specialists but maintain ultimate decision-making authority and control via oversight of all parts of programmes and activities that impact on their country/region.
• Global Risk and Compliance – narrowly focussed specific functions or areas, providing deep subject matter expertise, framework design and execution support and standardisation across the group in the areas of Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management and Strategy, Testing and Assurance, Regulatory Engagement and Reporting, and Privacy and Consumer Protection.

The Senior Risk and Compliance Manager – North America is a regional role and holds local responsibility for the operation and oversight of the risk and compliance programmes for the United States and Canada. The role serves as the primary point of contact for regional banking partners in relation to risk and compliance matters and, in relation to EML’s US sponsor banking arrangements, holds the designation of Bank Secrecy Act Officer (BSAO), carrying specific BSA/AML accountability within EML’s partner-led operating model in the United States.

What you’ll do

The Senior Risk and Compliance Manager - North America is responsible for leading the Risk and Compliance function for EML’s North America business. The role holds senior accountability for the effectiveness of the regional risk and compliance framework, sponsor banking partner relationships, and second line oversight across business activities in the region.

This position ensures EML maintains a strong, practical and scalable Risk and Compliance framework across North America through effective leadership, robust governance, disciplined engagement with sponsor banking partners and close partnership with the business. The role plays a key leadership function in aligning regional risk and compliance outcomes with EML’s strategy, operating model, growth objectives and applicable legal, regulatory, scheme and partner obligations, while working closely with global specialist teams to ensure regional requirements are met within the broader Group framework.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hold local accountability for the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the North America risk and compliance framework across relevant business activities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for North America risk and compliance matters in relation to sponsor banking partners, material partner requirements, significant escalations and key control issues.
• Provide leadership and oversight for the North America financial crime framework, including local governance, escalation, reporting and oversight of partner-related financial crime requirements.
• In the capacity of Bank Secrecy Act Officer (BSAO), hold designated accountability for BSA/AML compliance obligations relevant to EML’s US sponsor banking arrangements, including appropriate liaison with sponsor banking partners and relevant authorities on BSA-related matters and ensuring obligations are met within EML’s partner-led operating model.
• Own and continuously enhance the regional risk and compliance framework to support effective oversight, regulatory compliance, resilience and scalable growth.
• Provide leadership across core disciplines including regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, financial crime, governance, assurance, reporting and data protection within the region.
• Ensure robust second line frameworks, policies, standards and reporting are in place and remain effective across all relevant regional activities and obligations.
• Act as the primary regional partner to Group risk and compliance teams, ensuring global frameworks are implemented effectively within the region, while local legal, regulatory, scheme and partner requirements are addressed appropriately.
• Lead material partner reviews, remediation activity and significant escalations across North America, including support for banking partner reviews, audits and other external oversight activity.
• Provide clear, practical and commercially informed advice to regional leadership, banking partners and key stakeholders on risk and compliance matters.
• Oversee the quality and effectiveness of management, governance forum and partner reporting for risk and compliance matters within the region.
• Drive proactive identification of emerging regulatory, conduct, operational and financial crime risks that may impact the North America business.
• Ensure data protection requirements remain appropriately embedded within the region’s oversight, governance and control environment.
• Ensure robust risk management processes are in place to identify, assess, monitor and report material risks affecting the North America business, in alignment with the Group risk management framework.
• Promote a strong culture of accountability, challenge, partnership and continuous improvement across the regional function and the broader business.
• Support strategic initiatives, new products, market expansion and programme changes by ensuring risk and compliance considerations are addressed early and effectively.
• Represent Risk and Compliance in regional and cross-functional forums and act as a trusted internal leader for North America.

What you’ll bring

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Significant experience in risk and compliance within banking partner-sponsored financial services, payments or fintech environments in North America.
• Strong experience overseeing regional risk and compliance activities across the United States and, ideally, Canada, within a partner-led or outsourced operating model.
• Broad knowledge of regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, financial crime, governance and data protection requirements relevant to payments businesses in the region, including familiarity with BSA/AML obligations in the context of sponsor banking arrangements and an understanding of the accountability requirements associated with the Bank Secrecy Act Officer designation.
• Experience working closely with sponsor banking partners, card scheme requirements and partner oversight models, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments effectively.
• Strong judgement with the ability to balance legal, regulatory, scheme and partner obligations with business priorities and sustainable growth.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a track record of building trust, providing effective challenge and fostering strong risk culture.
• Experience supporting the implementation or enhancement of frameworks, governance arrangements and operating models in changing business and regulatory environments.
• A practical, outcome-focused mindset with the ability to provide clear direction, challenge constructively and drive follow-through.

What we offer you

If you love what you do, you should love where you do it. We offer you:

• A salary commensurate with your skills, experience and market benchmarks.
• Participation in the company bonus scheme.
• Eligible health care and 401k benefits (following any approved waiting periods).
• A flexible hybrid working culture where you’re empowered to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
• Additional leave including our Take 5 extra annual leave program, birthday leave and two days of volunteer leave per year.
• Parental support including up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave.
• Growth and development opportunities including access to funding for professional memberships, certifications, conferences and more.
• A culture that values collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.
• A global business landscape that connects you with colleagues working throughout Australia, UK, North America and Europe.
• Opportunities for international travel.