Head of Fraud & Risk

On behalf of our client, a leading payment orchestration platform, we are looking for a Head of Fraud & Risk to build and lead a next-generation, vendor-agnostic risk function within our payment orchestration platform.

This role will be responsible for developing and scaling a fraud and risk capability that serves both as a merchant-facing product and an internal intelligence layer, enabling advanced risk monitoring, scoring, and decisioning across multiple PSPs, payment methods, and transaction flows.

The role will also extend into supporting crypto and stablecoin-based payment flows, integrating on-chain risk intelligence, wallet screening, and transaction monitoring—while maintaining a clear separation between the orchestration layer and any regulated or settlement-bearing entities.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the requirements for, and oversee the implementation of, a vendor-agnostic risk architecture, working with engineering to enable seamless integration and replacement of fraud, compliance, and blockchain intelligence providers

• Own the strategy and risk logic for a hybrid risk engine (rules + machine learning), partnering with engineering to deliver adaptive fraud detection and dynamic risk scoring

• Define the requirements for merchant-facing risk tools, including dashboards, alerting systems, and configurable rule engines, and work with product and engineering to bring them to market

• Enable risk-informed orchestration, surfacing risk signals across PSPs to support smarter routing and performance optimization

• Oversee the integration of on-chain analytics solutions to support crypto payment flows, including wallet screening, transaction tracing, and tainted funds detection

• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to embed risk intelligence into core platform workflows and APIs

• Monitor fraud, decline, and chargeback trends across merchants and PSPs, supporting partners in maintaining scheme thresholds and performance stability

• Define and implement a Risk Management Framework and Fraud Control Strategy aligned with PCI DSS requirements and internal operational standards

• Lead vendor selection, integration, and performance evaluation across fraud prevention, compliance, and blockchain intelligence providers

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in fraud and risk specifically within payment orchestration, PSPs or fintech

• Deep understanding of payment ecosystems, including PSPs, acquirers, APMs, and transaction flows

• Experience owning and managing fraud detection systems, with a solid understanding of how rules engines and/or machine learning-based risk models work

• Solid knowledge of PCI DSS requirements and general payment security best practices

• Experience selecting, working with and overseeing the integration of third-party fraud and compliance tools

• Understanding of chargebacks, fraud metrics, and scheme monitoring programs

• Familiarity with API-based architectures and vendor integrations

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex transaction and risk data

• Experience working cross-functionally with product, engineering, and business teams

• Ability to translate risk strategy into clear requirements for engineering teams, and to work alongside developers through implementation and testing

• Experience managing risk frameworks related to digital assets, crypto payments, blockchain infrastructure, and emerging financial technologies.

• Deep understanding of AML/CTF regulations, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and broader financial crime compliance obligations across payment and digital finance ecosystems.

• Experience using AI for risk register maintenance, scenario analysis or real time exception flagging.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on vendor-agnostic risk orchestration or middleware projects

• Exposure to blockchain analytics tools and crypto risk monitoring

• Understanding of stablecoin flows, on-chain transactions, and wallet risk concepts

• Experience in building risk products for merchants (SaaS or platform environments)

• Familiarity with machine learning models applied to fraud detection

• Background in high-growth fintech environments

• Experience using AI tools for risk impact assessment

• Ability to identify and articulate AI failure modes

What's in it for you

• Competitive salary, plus a discretionary annual performance bonus tied to agreed goals.

• 23 working days of paid annual leave

• Flexible working hours and a hybrid working model

• Birthday day off

• Private medical insurance from your first day

• Lunch Allowance

• Learning and development support

• New, modern offices in a central location