Compliance Manager

About Wise

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.

Since 2011, Wise has had a clear mission: money without borders. Built by and for people who live global lives, we’re the fairest, easiest way to manage your money across borders. We’re growing at an incredible pace and we won’t stop until anyone, anywhere can send, spend and receive money wherever they are, whatever they’re doing. There’s still heaps to do and we can’t do it alone.

To help us achieve this, we are looking for an experienced Regulatory Compliance Manager to support our upcoming launch and rapid growth in South Africa following the acquisition of our Category 2 Authorized Dealer with Limited Authority (ADLA) license. Acting as the Deputy MLRO, you will provide critical financial crime prevention oversight and regulatory compliance leadership to ensure our products scale safely and in full compliance with local laws.

What immediate impact you will have:

• Deputy MLRO Ownership: Serve as the designated Deputy MLRO for Wise South Africa, acting as the primary delegate for the Compliance Lead (Firdaus Noorshib) and taking full responsibility for statutory AML/CFT reporting to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) when required.
• ADLA Category 2 Governance: Oversee day-to-day regulatory compliance under our Category 2 ADLA license, ensuring strict adherence to South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Financial Surveillance (FinSurv) regulations and reporting mandates.
• Launch & Scale Execution: Partner closely with the Compliance Lead, Product, Legal, and Operations teams to finalize pre-launch compliance requirements, operationalize local policies, and support market entry execution.
• Financial Crime & Policy Localization: Maintain, test, and update local compliance policies, including the South Africa Risk Management and Compliance Programme (RMCP), Sanctions, PEP, and KYC/CDD frameworks, pursuant to emerging South African regulatory developments.
• Regulatory & Audit Liaison: Support regulatory engagement, managing regulatory returns, handling queries from SARB and FIC, and preparing materials for internal/external audits and regulatory inspections.

This role will give you the opportunity to:

• Build at Launch Stage: Be at the heart of establishing Wise's regulatory operations in South Africa from day one under a newly acquired ADLA license.
• Drive Dual-Track Expertise: Manage both strategic regulatory compliance (SARB ExCon) and high-stakes financial crime prevention (FICA/AML) in a fast-paced fintech environment.
• Develop Global & Regional Networks: Collaborate with global compliance, product, and engineering teams while building a strong presence among South African regulators and industry peers.

Experience & Regulatory Background:

• 4+ years of experience in Compliance.
• Proven track record in compliance management within a South African bank, ADLA, payment institution, or fintech.
• Strong knowledge of South African financial crime prevention regulations (FICA, POCDATARA, POCA) and SARB Exchange Control Regulations.
• Deputy MLRO / Governance Experience: Prior experience acting as an MLRO, Deputy MLRO, or senior AML compliance specialist with direct experience filing reports with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).
• Regulatory Vetting & Qualifications: Familiarity with SARB FinSurv regulatory reporting and approval processes. Recognized compliance certifications (e.g., CAMS, ICA, or Compliance Institute Southern Africa / CISA designation) are highly advantageous.
• Stakeholder Communication: Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable advice for Product, Operations, and Executive stakeholders.
• Adaptability & Execution: Self-motivated and hands-on manager who thrives in a fast-paced launch environment, capable of managing multiple regulatory workstreams independently.

Logistics

• Hybrid working - 3 days in the office and 2 from home
• Working hours - 9am to 6pm

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.