[Hiring] Global Head of Payments & AML @Employment Hero

Role Description

Employment Hero already moves wages, super and payroll tax payments for employers. We are expanding into business accounts, spend cards and expense payments, starting in Australia, then moving into the UK, Canada and New Zealand. We are applying for our own Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) to support that growth.

This role builds and runs the compliance function behind it. You will be a Responsible Manager on our AFSL. You will also take part in the day-to-day decisions on how those payments run. You will set one global standard for payments compliance and AML/CTF across our payments, managed payroll and employer of record products. You will lead our in-country compliance leads to meet that standard.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will design the framework, and you will also run it yourself in Australia and New Zealand, where there is no local compliance team yet. We are looking for someone who sees what needs doing and drives it, without waiting to be asked.

This will include:

• Licensing and Responsible Manager (Australia)
  • Take part in day-to-day decisions on how our payments services run: fund holding, settlement, reconciliation, incident handling and partner oversight.
  • Be a Responsible Manager on our AFSL, alongside our GM of Fintech & Payments.
  • Own the compliance arrangements ASIC assesses: compliance plan and obligations register, breach reporting (RG 78), internal dispute resolution (RG 271), conflicts management (RG 181), outsourcing oversight, training and competence (RG 146).
  • Run the obligations that follow a licence grant: ASIC reporting, AFCA membership, compliance certification, audit support, keeping the licence aligned with the payments licensing reforms as they land.
  • Support future licence applications in other markets.
• Payments compliance
  • Own the compliance and control framework for money movement: wages, super, payroll tax, business accounts, cards and reimbursements.
  • Set the compliance requirements our product teams must meet. Work with product and engineering to build controls into the platform from the start, not bolt them on afterwards.
  • Oversee material partners, such as payment providers, card issuers and banking partners, against an outsourcing policy.
  • Lead incident assessment for payments, including whether an event must be reported to a regulator.
• Global AML/CTF
  • Set one global AML/CTF standard and oversee how it runs in Australia, the UK, Canada and New Zealand. Allow for local legislation, and cover how the program and its controls apply to each product: payments, managed payroll and employer of record.
  • Lead our in-country compliance leads, who run local programs to the global standard.
  • Oversee our regulator and supervisory body relationships globally, and hold them directly in Australia.
  • Set the customer and business verification (KYC/KYB) standard for every product, so each customer is checked once, not once per product.
  • Lead the rollout of our global verification and transaction monitoring platforms, moving from Canada to Australia and then the UK.
  • Keep our exemption positions under review, and stand up full AML/CTF programs where a product or market needs one.
• Global risk and compliance framework
  • Build and run the risk register, risk appetite statement and compliance calendar for the payments and financial services business.
  • Run a regular cycle of control testing. Report to the executive team and the Board, with direct access to the Board.
  • Within 90 days, give an evidence-based view on what further resourcing the function needs, if any, and what can be automated instead.

Qualifications

• Significant operational payments experience, with at least 3 years of relevant experience in the last 5 years, in a role with day-to-day responsibility for payment, stored value, deposit, card and banking products.
• A degree in a relevant discipline (finance, commerce, law, accounting or similar) plus relevant industry training (e.g. RG146 training in non-cash payment facilities), or a recognised compliance or AML qualification.
• Working knowledge of AFSL obligations and ASIC’s regulatory guides on licensing, compliance, breach reporting and dispute resolution.
• Working knowledge of AML/CTF obligations and how they apply to payments.
• A track record of both setting strategy and doing the work yourself.
• Comfort working with engineers and product managers to design controls into the product.
• Ability to pass AFSL fit and proper checks. These include national criminal history and bankruptcy checks, plus overseas checks where relevant.

Requirements

• You have prepared or supported an AFSL application or a licence variation.
• You have acted as a responsible manager on an AFSL before.
• You have working knowledge of non-cash payment facilities, purchased payment facilities and/or stored value products.
• You have a general understanding of Treasury’s upcoming payments licensing reforms.
• You have experience running AML/CTF programs: risk assessment, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and reporting.
• You have built a compliance framework from scratch, not only run an existing one.
• You have AML or payments regulation experience in the UK, Canada or New Zealand.
• You hold a recognised compliance or AML certification, such as from GRC Institute or ACAMS.

Benefits

• Work in a remote-first environment, giving you the autonomy to do your best work while delivering meaningful outcomes.
• Be trusted to own your work, make decisions, and have a real impact from day one.
• Access cutting-edge AI tools and technology that help you move faster, think bigger, and amplify your expertise.
• Surround yourself with ambitious, high-performing teammates who will challenge, support and inspire you to do the best work of your career.
• Own ESOP (Employee Share Options) in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology companies, so you can share in the value you help create.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including generous parental leave, subsidised egg freezing, a home office allowance, and outstanding learning and development opportunities to support your growth.
• Celebrate together globally at our Annual Global Gathering – from Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Dubai and Australia to Singapore in September 2027!