Head of Risk Operations - Payments (Card Acquiring)

About the Client

Our client is a fast-growing fintech company providing an all-in-one payment platform, including card payments and acquiring solutions. The company operates at scale and is focused on building robust, efficient, and secure financial infrastructure for global merchants.

Role Overview

The Head of Risk Operations will play a critical leadership role, working closely with the COO to build, optimize, and scale Fraud & Risk operations. This person will be responsible for driving operational excellence, setting and managing KPIs, leading cross-functional teams, and delivering key strategic projects across the risk domain.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage end-to-end risk operations across onboarding, monitoring, and reviews

• Oversee KYC/KYB processes, including high-risk merchant due diligence

• Oversee transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, and key risk metrics

• Manage chargeback and dispute processes in line with card scheme requirements

• Translate risk appetite into operational rules, policies, and procedures

• Build and scale efficient risk processes, including automation and workflows

• Define and track KPIs and SLAs for risk operations teams

• Collaborate with Compliance, Product, Sales, and external partners (banks, card schemes)

• Lead and develop risk operations team

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in risk, payments, or fintech, preferably within card acquiring or EMI environments

• Strong hands-on experience with merchant risk, KYC/KYB, and transaction monitoring

• Solid understanding of fraud prevention, chargebacks, and card scheme requirements (Visa/Mastercard)

• Experience working with high-risk industries (e.g. gambling, adult, crypto, FX) is a strong advantage

• Proven track record of building and scaling operational processes in a fast-growing environment

• Experience implementing automation, workflows, and risk tools/systems

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to work with risk metrics, KPIs, and performance data

• Experience managing and leading teams, including scaling and restructuring

• Good understanding of regulatory and compliance frameworks in payments/fintech

• Ability to balance risk control with commercial objectives

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

• Structured, detail-oriented, and able to operate in a fast-paced environment

Key Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and ownership mindset

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution

• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

  If you are excited about shaping risk operations at scale and want to make a real impact in a rapidly growing fintech company, we would love to hear from you.