Executive Director, Airwallex Capital UK

Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 150,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.

Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 1,800 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$6.2 billion and backed by world-leading investors including Visa, Airtree, Blackbird, Sequoia, DST Global, Greenoaks, Salesforce Ventures, Lone Pine, and Square Peg, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.

We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.

You're humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.

Company Overview:

Airwallex Capital (UK), a subsidiary of a leading global payments company, is seeking a highly experienced and dynamic CEO (SMF1) and Executive Director (SMF3) to lead the United Kingdom focus of a global initiative to provide investment solutions to our clients as part of our strategy to build the future of Banking. This will start with an initiative called yield - that enables our Clients to make their lazy cash work harder utilising Money Market funds incorporated into our platforms, and has already been successfully rolled out in 5 other countries.. As part of this strategy we require an experienced financial professional and leader to oversee these offerings, shepherd the relevant aspects of our relationship and application with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to help grow and develop the shape of our investment solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for MiFID II license holders.

• Oversee the strategic direction and operation of yield accounts under the MiFID license.

• Lead and represent the company in dealings with regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders.

• Develop and implement strategies for growth, risk management, and operational excellence.

• Foster a culture of innovation, compliance, and customer-centricity within the organization.

Requirements:

• UK Permanent Resident or Citizen.

• Minimum of 12+ years of relevant experience in offering collective investment scheme products to retail customers or similar experience in other investment products.

• Demonstrated experience in roles dealing with capital markets products, specifically units in a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS).

• Strong Investment technical expertise across operations, markets etc. as well as the ability to communicate core investment principles in simple easy to understand ways..

• Proven track record of managerial success within the financial services sector, with a minimum of 8+ years in a leadership position.

• Excellent knowledge of the financial regulatory landscape in The United Kingdom and experience in engaging with FCA.

• Strong educational background in finance, business administration, compliance, or a related field.

• Ability to fulfill the FCA's Guidelines on Fit and Proper Criteria, including competence, capability, and financial soundness.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.

• Prior experience in a senior leadership role within a financial institution that has undergone MiFID licensing with The FCA.

Desirable:

• Experience in a senior role within the Fintech or technology-enabled financial services industry, particularly in regulated investment or banking environments.

• Experience in building and scaling financial products and services in a regulated environment.

To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.

Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.

Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.