Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to join our team as the Head of Risk Operations. This pivotal role will oversee multiple groups including Fraud Operations, Credit Risk Underwriting & Operations, Disputes & Chargebacks Operations, and Collections & Recovery Operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset, exceptional leadership skills, strong communication skills with the ability to build partnerships and influence others, and a proven track record in risk management within the financial industry.

You will: 

• Lead and oversee various departments within the Risk operations team, ensuring efficient and effective operations across all functions.

• Drive initiatives to enhance productivity and quality, leveraging advancements in technology, including AI, to optimize operational workflows.

• Establish and monitor key metrics to measure team performance, track progress, and achieve organizational goals.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Risk product, policy, engineering, design, Sales & Account Management, and data to develop and implement comprehensive risk management strategies.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards, and actively contribute to the development of policies and procedures.

• Manage multi-site operations, including Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), to support operational scalability and efficiency.

• Work closely with teams across Square to ensure new products are launched safely, our sellers have a remarkable experience through their entire lifecycle and Square is meeting regulatory and audit requirements. 

• Seek out trends in risk management and their applicability to the Square business model. In addition, stay current on innovative business and technology trends in payments and lending in order to advise senior leadership on operational risk initiatives. 

• Lead or contribute significantly to overarching strategies related to fraud prevention, disputes management, credit risk, and other risk-related areas.

Qualifications

You have:

• A relevant BA/BS degree. MBA a plus.

• 10+ years of experience in the financial industry, with a focus on risk assessment, management, fraud prevention, disputes/chargebacks, credit risk or payment processing.

• Experience leading and managing large-scale teams.

• Demonstrated success in overseeing organizations of 100+ individuals.

• Proven experience in a technology-driven environment with a history of rapid growth and expansion into new markets.

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with a demonstrated ability to apply data-driven insights to improve operational effectiveness.

• Excellent written, oral and presentation skills and an ability to synthesize information and make clear, concise recommendations on a course of action.

• Passion for leveraging new technologies, including AI, to enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risks.

• Experience leading high-performing teams and developing future leaders through mentorship and coaching.