Chief Risk Officer

About the Company

This organization operates in high-risk payment corridors — cross-border transfers, international emerging markets, and high-risk merchant categories including streaming and online gambling. Compliance is treated not as a checkbox, but as a competitive differentiator and existential requirement. The company is building toward a potential bank charter and requires a risk executive who can credibly own both the financial risk and the compliance risk of the institution.

The Opportunity

This is the highest-priority executive hire. The ideal CRO genuinely straddles risk and compliance — someone with a financial risk background who has deep expertise in BSA/AML, and who can speak intelligently to credit, liquidity, and interest rate risk in the same breath. Candidates with experience exclusively in enterprise risk management or exclusively in compliance are unlikely to be the right fit. The role demands the full picture.

What You'll Do

• Own enterprise risk management across credit, liquidity, interest rate, operational, and compliance risk
• Lead the BSA/AML program — including policy, controls, SARs, and examination management
• Serve as the institution's primary point of contact for regulatory examiners on risk and compliance matters
• Develop and maintain the risk appetite framework and risk governance infrastructure
• Advise on high-risk merchant onboarding and payment corridor risk
• Partner with the CFO on ALCO and capital adequacy matters
• Build and lead the compliance and risk team

What We're Looking For

• 10-15+ years in banking risk and/or compliance — CRO, CCO, or senior equivalent
• Strong financial risk foundation: credit, liquidity, interest rate risk, and asset-liability management
• Deep AML and BSA expertise — ideally with experience in complex, high-risk environments (international payments, high-risk merchants)
• Equal command of regulatory compliance and financial crimes — not siloed in one or the other
• OCC or federal examination experience is highly valued
• Bank experience required; bank + fintech background is ideal
• Certifications (CAMS, FRM, etc.) are a plus but not required