Tell us a bit about your background and how you got into the world of Product Compliance

I graduated in Sociology with the goal of becoming a writer, but after graduating, I entered the finance industry and discovered financial crime prevention. I was drawn to the idea of protecting customers from financial crime like money laundering and fraud. After spending several years in banking, I moved into fintech in 2017, seeking a faster, more impactful environment.

A former colleague then introduced me to a role at Wise. Though I wasn’t hired for the position I applied for, which was a FinCrime Product role, I was offered a Product Compliance role, which was an area I hadn’t heard of before. After speaking with the team, I saw that Wise was a great fit—everyone was passionate, knowledgeable, and excited about the mission. 

Three years later, I’m excited to be part of a team that blends innovation with regulatory requirements to ensure our products are secure, compliant, and trusted by customers. It’s been an amazing journey, and I’m excited to see how Product Compliance continues to evolve at Wise.

For those that don’t know, what is Product Compliance? 

Product Compliance is all about enabling Wise to grow while ensuring everything we do stays compliant with the relevant regulations. We work closely with Product teams to make sure that both existing and new products meet the regulatory requirements in each region. This includes areas like Anti-Money Laundering (AML), sanctions, fraud prevention, and more.

Our role is to ensure that the products we offer are fully aligned with financial crime regulations, so customers can use them safely and with confidence. 

A significant part of our work involves assessing the risks associated with these products, but we also collaborate with the financial crime teams to help build and maintain new controls. This allows us to safeguard both customers and Wise.  

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

At Wise, everything we do is driven by our mission and the impact we have on our customers. Knowing that I play a part in creating a safe and compliant experience for them is incredibly rewarding. It’s fulfilling to see how our work helps mitigate or eliminate risks for the products and features they rely on. Even wins, like resolving a potential financial crime issue, have a significant impact. Achieving this often involves strong collaboration across teams—Product, Engineering, Compliance, and Fincrime.

For example, I’m currently working with the Product team to launch a new feature for our UK customers. As part of the process, we had to ensure that the financial crime controls met UK regulatory requirements, while also considering how it would affect internal teams at Wise.

This project is a great example of how product growth and compliance are closely tied. Watching it go live for customers and knowing I played a role—especially in implementing financial crime controls while maintaining a seamless customer experience—was incredibly rewarding.

What do you enjoy about working in the London office?

I absolutely love being based in London—it’s one of the most diverse cities in the world, and that diversity is reflected in our teams. We have people from all over the globe, speaking different languages and bringing unique ideas and experiences to work. 

What advice would you give for someone looking to join the Product Compliance team Wise?

Embrace challenges—they accelerate learning and help you understand the business. Don’t hesitate to engage with people from different teams, even if you’re not the expert. A growth mindset is essential at Wise, both for personal development and driving the business forward. 

And what about advice you would give someone who has an interview with Wise?

Familiarise yourself with the initiatives we’re driving, the new products we’re launching, and the partners we’re working with. 

Focus on where the business is heading and think about how your skills and experience can contribute to our mission.