Ecosystem Risk Controls Director - job 4 of 5

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

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

The Ecosystem Risk Controls Director role manages the deployment of client control processes throughout the Europe region, primarily through the Visa Integrity Risk Program. The objective of these processes is to assess the effectiveness of controls Acquirers have in place to onboard and manage merchants that are active across defined, high-risk merchant activities. 

This role has responsibility for deploying and further developing an “underwriting” as well as an “ongoing monitoring” approach to ensure minimum standards and acceptance criteria are used to approve Acquirers operating in High Integrity Risk sectors.  The role holder will drive risk remediation where required, working in conjunction with the wider Europe Ecosystem Risk team, Risk Managers and other stakeholders. As Visa looks to expand its control offerings and requirements beyond Acquirers, this role will be responsible for ensuring those approaches are effective within the European ecosystem. 

What we expect of you, day to day:

• Perform the assessment of Acquirer controls at the time of registering a new High Integrity Risk Acquirer.  Such underwriting may include any of the following: review of Self-Assessment Questionnaires, of acquirer policies, procedures and sample merchant files, various external diligence information, payment fraud performance, etc.

• Perform periodic risk-based assessment of Acquirers covered under the Visa Integrity Risk program (VIRP)

• Conduct on-site Acquirer reviews or coordinate reviews through 3rd parties including managing Acquirer remediation plans

• Engage with Account Executives to share intelligence, assess mitigating actions, and ensure clear accountability across functions and/or individuals to drive a consistent and timely remediation approach to excessive risk situations

• Work closely with the Visa Integrity Risk Program (VIRP) global team to ensure Europe risk mitigation requirements form an integral part of the global program

• Propose and coordinate risk mitigation plans for Europe’s High Integrity Risk acquirers, with focus on those acquirers on the Europe Watch List, under Close Monitoring or on Risk Conditions

• Provide VIRP and underwriting training and education both to acquirers and to Risk Managers

• Line management responsibilities as required

• Lead detailed and thorough risk assessments and onsite investigations at client, payment facilitator and merchant sites, as required

• Develop the ecosystem risk approach in utilising on-site client engagements to support Visa business strategies – e.g. promote cross border acceptance.

• Establish a Europe approach to direct client engagement to drive risk mitigation beyond acquirers, e.g. with Payment Facilitators and issuers

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

• Strong Visa or 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 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.
• 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 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
• Relationship/Client management experience
• Knowledge or experience in audit or underwriting
• Flexible and creative thinker with strong execution skills, generate out-of-the-box solutions, manage ambiguity, anticipate the impact of decisions/initiatives and able to move seamlessly from high level concepts to details
• Ability and desire to travel in order to perform on-site reviews and client engagement across the Europe region
• Fluent in English (verbal and written)
• Proficient with Microsoft Power Point, Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Applicable qualifications in regulatory compliance, anti-money laundering, risk, fraud would be beneficial

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.