Head of KYC Full Time

Description:

• Develop and execute the global KYC operations strategy for Mercury, ensuring alignment with broader risk management objectives and seamless integration across multiple Risk teams.
• Lead a large team of over 50 professionals responsible for application reviews, ongoing due diligence, and decision-making on applications and accounts, including mentorship and support of risk managers, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Drive short- and long-term initiatives to enhance risk performance, including improving SLAs, approval rates, capacity planning, and reducing friction and losses.
• Ensure the efficiency of KYC reviews through automation, tooling improvements, and clear policies and procedures.
• Partner with internal teams across Risk, Legal, Compliance, Engineering, Product, Design, Customer Support, and Go-To-Market, to design and implement KYC project initiatives and enhance overall customer experience.
• Understand the implications of KYC and due diligence on other risk areas such as Fraud, AML, and Sanctions, and ensure a robust first line of defense.
• Educate internal stakeholders on KYC efforts, articulating how we strengthen our processes while minimizing unnecessary friction, and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including banking and financial institutions partners.
• Become a champion of Mercury’s KYC programs, and an expert in Mercury’s products, policies, and tools, clearly articulating the balance between risk identification and requirements vs. product and customer experience.
• Provide senior management and Executive-level reporting on KPIs, program health, and key initiatives, ensuring visibility and alignment with organizational goals.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience working in an operational risk management function, such as Onboarding, KYC, Enhanced Due Diligence, or a related operational function, ideally in a financial technology company, large banking institution, or the payments industry.
• Significant experience in a people management role, both of ICs and Managers, leading and developing operational teams at scale.
• Deep knowledge of global KYC best practices and regulations, with a proven ability to design and scale KYC programs globally and across jurisdictions.
• Be a strong analytical thinker and have the ability to leverage data to develop team and organizational metrics, such as KPIs, SLAs, approval rates, capacity planning, and other related performance indicators.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to motivate and guide teams through complex situations, secure Executive-level buy-in, and work effectively across internal functions and external partners.
• Comfortability with decision-making and working in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment.
• An ambitious sense of curiosity and a willingness to explore how KYC impacts areas outside of one’s comfort zone, such as new markets or new financial products.
• Respect for and interest in financial rules and regulations, as well as an eagerness to innovate and drive the industry forward.

Benefits:

• Base salary, equity (stock options), and benefits.
• Highly competitive salary and equity ranges based on experience, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers.