Director, Risk Strategy (Fraud & AML | Fiat + Crypto)

We are looking for an experienced Risk Strategy Leader to lead the design and execution of our end-to-end risk control framework across both fiat and crypto ecosystems. This role owns fraud prevention, AML strategy, and fund flow risk management, covering the full lifecycle from fiat on/off ramps to on-chain transactions. The ideal candidate can trace and assess end-to-end fund flows, identify suspicious patterns, and drive clear risk decisions and account actions. This role is not a regulatory-facing MLRO/compliance role, but will work closely with the Philippines (PH) Risk & AML team to ensure strong local execution. Key Responsibilities 1. End-to-End Risk Strategy (Fraud + AML + Fund Flows) - Own and drive the overall fraud prevention and AML strategy across fiat and crypto - Design strategies across the full lifecycle: onboarding, login, fiat deposits/withdrawals, trading, and crypto transfers - Identify and mitigate risks such as payment fraud, account takeover, mule activity, scams, and money laundering - Build unified strategies that connect user behavior, transaction activity, and fund flows (fiat + on-chain) - Balance risk control with user experience and operational efficiency 2. Fiat Risk & Payment Flow Control (New - Core Requirement) - Design and optimize risk strategies for fiat on-ramp and off-ramp flows (bank transfers, e-wallets, payment rails) - Monitor and assess incoming and outgoing fiat transactions for fraud and AML risks - Define review, approval, and escalation mechanisms for high-risk transactions - Work closely with payment partners and internal teams to manage risk exposure 3. Fund Flow Analysis & Risk Decisioning (Key Differentiator) - Analyze and trace end-to-end fund flows across fiat and crypto - Identify suspicious patterns such as layering, structuring, mule networks, and fraud-linked flows - Make or guide decisions on account-level actions (e.g., allow, block, restrict, freeze, escalate) - Build frameworks for consistent and explainable risk decision-making 4. On-chain Risk & Tooling (Elliptic Focus) - Leverage and optimize Elliptic to strengthen on-chain monitoring and AML capabilities - Translate blockchain intelligence into actionable risk strategies (e.g., scam flows, high-risk wallets) - Integrate Elliptic signals into internal systems for automated decision-making - Evaluate other tools (e.g., Chainalysis, TRM) where needed 5. Risk System & Platform Development - Lead the design of scalable risk infrastructure, including rule engines, decision engines, and case management systems - Build unified systems that support fraud, AML, and fund flow monitoring - Drive real-time decisioning and reduce reliance on manual processes 6. Data-driven Optimization - Identify emerging fraud and AML typologies using data analysis - Define and track key metrics (fraud loss, detection rate, false positives, operational efficiency) - Implement testing frameworks (A/B testing, rule tuning, segmentation) 7. Team Leadership & Cross-regional Collaboration - Build and lead teams across risk strategy, fraud operations, and AML operations - Work closely with PH Risk & AML team for execution and local alignment - Partner with Product, Engineering, Compliance, and Operations globally Requirements Experience - 8+ years in fraud risk, AML, payments risk, or risk strategy, with 3+ years in leadership - Strong experience in payments, crypto exchanges, or fintech platforms - Proven experience managing fiat transaction risk and/or payment fraud Core Competencies - Deep expertise in anti-fraud (ATO, payment fraud, scams) and AML - Strong understanding of fiat transaction flows, payment systems, and risk controls - Ability to trace fund flows across fiat and crypto and identify suspicious patterns - Experience making or guiding account-level risk decisions (block/freeze/restrict) - Experience designing scalable risk strategies and rule systems Tools & Data - Hands-on experience with Elliptic (or similar tools like Chainalysis / TRM) - Ability to translate tool outputs into risk decision logic - Strong data skills (SQL required, Python preferred) Leadership & Collaboration - Strong leadership and execution capability across functions - Experience working with regional or distributed teams - Fluent in English Nice to Have - Experience with both fiat payments risk and crypto risk - Experience analyzing complex fund flows (multi-hop, cross-channel) - Familiarity with Southeast Asia / Philippines market - CAMS or similar certifications What We’re Looking For - A full-stack risk leader across fraud, AML, and payments - Someone who can trace money end-to-end (fiat → crypto → fiat) - A decision-maker who can translate analysis into clear account actions - A builder who can turn strategies into scalable systems - A partner who can work effectively with PH teams Originally posted on Himalayas