Job Description
Up to £110,000 plus excellent bonus and benefits
Are you a senior payments risk expert with a deep understanding of the merchant acquiring ecosystem?
Due to exciting business growth, we are recruiting on behalf of a leading UK-based FinTech EMI that specializes in card issuing and acquiring. This is a high-impact leadership role designed for a strategic operator who can oversee the entire first-line risk monitoring lifecycle—from transaction surveillance and fraud trends to card scheme compliance.
The Role
As the Head of Risk Monitoring, you will serve as the operational right hand to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO). You will have full strategic and operational oversight of the merchant portfolio, ensuring all activity remains within the internal risk appetite and meets rigorous regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities of the Head of Risk Monitoring (FLOD) to include:
* Monitoring Framework Leadership: Own the first-line operating model for merchant, transaction, fraud, and dispute surveillance.
* Transaction & Fraud Oversight: Lead the daily triage of transaction monitoring alerts to identify unusual or suspicious merchant activity and manage fraud/chargeback performance.
* Data-Driven Rule Optimization: Collaborate with Data and Tech teams to optimize rule sets, dashboards, and automation to enhance decision quality.
* Card Scheme Compliance: Monitor merchant performance against Visa and Mastercard triggers, ensuring early identification of root causes and corrective actions.
* Exposure Management: Monitor processing activity against underwriting assumptions, reviewing the adequacy of reserves, settlement holds, and processing caps.
* Team Leadership: Mentor and develop a high-accountability team of managers and analysts across monitoring, fraud, and dispute functions.
Requirements for the successful Head of Risk Monitoring (FLOD) to include:
We are looking for a candidate who balances technical data proficiency with sharp risk judgement:
* Industry Experience: 5+ years in merchant risk operations, acquiring, or EMI monitoring within a FinTech or regulated financial institution.
* Merchant Acquiring Expertise: Deep knowledge of portfolio monitoring, merchant risk re-grading, and behavioural risk analysis.
* Scheme & Regulatory Knowledge: Strong familiarity with Visa and Mastercard monitoring programs, as well as UK regulatory expectations (FCA and Money Laundering Regulations).
* Data & Systems Savvy: Proficient in using data reporting environments and fraud/dispute tooling (e.g., BI tools, G2, WebShield, or similar) to interpret trends and investigate anomalies.
* Leadership Track Record: Proven experience building monitoring frameworks and managing teams in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
Why Join?
This role offers a significant platform for progression, providing exposure to executive leadership and the opportunity to shape the risk culture of a scaling business.
* Location: Central London (Modern office facilities).
* Holidays: 30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
* Benefits: Private healthcare, company pension plan, and support for professional certifications (e.g., ICA, ACAMS).
This vacancy is being advertised by Montpellier Resourcing Associates Limited. The services advertised by Montpellier Associates Resourcing Limited are those of an Employment Agency