Ecosystem Integrity Risk Operations Director

Job Description

What’s it all about?

The Ecosystem Risk function upholds the security and integrity of the payment ecosystem through the detection, mitigation and remediation of fraudulent and illegal activity.  The Europe team is responsible for ensuring that Visa’s global ecosystem risk framework and approaches are fit for the European payment system and support Visa’s goal of driving sustainable business growth.

The Ecosystem Integrity Risk team sits within the Ecosystem Risk function, with this role reporting into the Head of Ecosystem Integrity Risk.  The remit of the Ecosystem Integrity Risk team has and continues to increase with new programs and responsibilities that ensure Visa can grow its business while having sufficient oversight to protect against egregious activity.  

The Ecosystem Integrity Risk Director role is an individual contributor role with responsibilities for key aspects of the Ecosystem Integrity Risk function (e.g. oversight of fraud programs linked to Visa A2A transactions) ensuring short and mid-term plans are integrated into the overall Ecosystem Integrity Risk strategy. In addition, the role holder will be the designated deputy for the Head of Ecosystem Integrity Risk.

What we expect of you, day to day:

• Europe lead for the Close Monitoring process,

  • Coordinate cross functional bi-weekly meetings.

  • Propose and execute risk and threat management mitigation actions including recommending Risk Conditions or client suspension / termination when appropriate.

  • Engage with senior stakeholders across functions to promote Close Monitoring actions.

• Accountable for short and medium term strategies to reduce the impact of illegal transactions on the European ecosystem and ensuring the wider Ecosystem Risk team implements those strategies. This includes providing guidance and support to members of staff involved in managing the associated programs.

• Primary accountable person for ensuring maximum 15% of fees/NCAs are waived. This is an important OKR to ensure the Europe risk function supports global risk targets.

  • Liaise with RMDs and Country Managers where risk and business decisions are resulting in a high level of fees waived and agree measures to address for future cases.

• Accountable for client compliance program appeals –

  • Ensuring the accuracy of all risk responses, sufficient legal sign offs etc pending ORS/Europe Leadership Team approvals.

  • Proposing and implementing revised approaches to improve the overall appeal process and drive efficiencies.

  • Engage with global risk leaders on appeal process refining and changing to create efficiencies in the existing processes

• Responsible for the operational execution of new or changed risk compliance programs – Imperative that internal and external socialisation is performed to a high standard

  • Fraud/Dispute programs

  • Illegal/transaction laundering programs

  • A2A programs

  • Ensuring case management systems are fit for purpose – including accountability for Europe implementation of Visa Ecosystem Risk Central (VERC) in FY25.

  • Maximising risk revenues across these programs (USD22.2M FY25 budget for fees and NCAs)

  • Influence global risk team on program changes to ensure they meet the needs of the European business.

• Responsible for agreeing and leading client engagements on all risk mitigation plans for excessive risk clients, particularly ensuring a consistent approach is used across the team.

• Managing Visa’s relationship with European domestic gambling regulators – Regulators are increasingly approaching Visa for support in enforcement requiring a delicate approach with Risk coordinating the engagements with GE and country managers.

• Contribute to expanding Visa’s cross border revenue through identification of target clients with poor risk compliance performance and leverage VCA and risk resources to improve performance (i.e. improved fraud, dispute and approval rates)

• Build relationships to cross silos and work collaboratively with global and in market staff to ensure swift remediation of issues identified.

• Where relevant, use management information, metrics, and analysis to inform decision-making and to measure progress against goals and desired outcomes

• Contribute to a “best in class” Ecosystem Risk function recognised across Visa Europe and globally as experts in their field, professional and business-aware, proactive and solutions-focused, approachable and collaborative

This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both remote and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office 2-3 set days a week (determined by leadership/site), with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% or more of the time based on business needs.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluent in English (verbal and written)
• Proficient with Microsoft Power Point, Excel, Word, and Outlook

Knowledge & Experience

• Strong payments industry experience, with focus on acquirer risk management (including merchant underwriting) and/or financial industry experience with focus on client underwriting
• Knowledge and experience of the Visa Europe ecosystem, its governance principles and Visa Europe’s compliance framework
• Knowledge of the major trends within the UK and wider European payments system and / or financial services industry
• Strong understanding of integrity risk threats (illegality, fraud, disputes) impacting the Visa payments system and mitigation strategies that can be employed by merchants, 3rd parties and Visa clients
• Proven track record of successfully managing operational risk programs within the payment industry and/or regulatory environment.

Personal characteristics

• A strong team player with the ability to organise and mobilise colleagues, build and maintain effective partnerships and coach and give effective development feedback to colleagues
• A results-orientated and highly motivated person who functions well in a global, matrix organisation
• Ability to prepare/review/deliver executive level communications, both written (papers and presentations) and oral (to large and small audiences)
• Comfortable providing business-aware challenge
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight taking projects through from inception to delivery
• Track record of coaching more junior members of staff and effectively delegating tasks to improve team performance
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders (e.g. global and European within the Visa business) to improve programs, processes and procedures
• Intellectual rigour and business acumen needed to make sound judgements and handle complex problems and unique risks
• Is regarded as an expert in their field and an agent for change