Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.
Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their life easier and save them money. 
As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money. For everyone, everywhere.

We’re looking for a Japan Investment Lead to accelerate our expansion plans in Japan. This is an unique and exciting pioneering opportunity to grow Wise in the region, allowing millions more potential customers to save money by using our services.

This is not your typical business development or relationship role. You are responsible for registering us as a Type 1 Financial Instruments Business and leading the overall expansion in Japan together with the country manager.  You will have full responsibility for overseeing the expansion of our Assets product, figuring out a next level growth strategy and executing on it, and managing critical relationships with government departments and regulators. Through your work, you will have the ability to directly influence our Asset product capabilities in Japan.

What will you be doing?

• For a Type 1 Financial Instruments license registration, you will need to manage the licensing process end-to-end: from preparing necessary documents, preparing internal policies to setting up the sufficient internal structure/governance to the product execution. 

• Work with the global Assets product team for product launches, potential product changes and new features in the market that would have the biggest impact for our customers. You will be one of the Asset product team’s go-to people for regulatory knowledge, and will lead the early stages of setting the team up with the new Assets product features.

• Together with the compliance team, understand existing and new regulations, figuring out the best way in which our product and setup are compliant with them. We see regulation as an opportunity, and we want you to help us achieve that vision! 

• Manage the relationship with regulators and other important non-commercial relationships.

A bit about you:

• Must be a Japanese native speaker residing in Japan and fluent in English.

• Experience in Type 1 Financial Instruments Business licence business for at least 5-8 years to be able to manage the entire business from relationships with financial institutions, negotiate commercials, structure operational processes to have a deep understanding of the Financial Instruments Business regulation, governance requirements and dynamics.

• Experience in regulation, licensing or payments in a fast paced professional environment.

• If you have experience in fund transfer service provider business, it would be a plus but if not, you are willing to learn about fund transfer service provider business.

• Able to get stuff done independently. Not afraid to get your hands dirty to deliver what is needed. Bonus points if you have completed a licence application or regulatory compliance experience in a highly regulated industry in the past. 

• Experience of building business relationships with financial institutions, and dealing with risk/compliance teams within these institutions.

• Able to understand financial and securities regulations in a changing regulatory environment An analytical and critical thinker. You have the ability to figure out the ideal operational and commercial process with every new partner

• Excellent at managing external relationships (regulators and financial institutions)

• Able to understand regulations across various jurisdictions, and make pragmatic, risk-based decisions on how these need to be implemented

• Happy to work independently and thoroughly

• Passionate about transforming the financial industry for good

• You are willing to travel to our global offices as needed

Your mission:

• Manage end-to-end licensing process - You will need to execute the process end-to-end: understand the regulations, do the application and get the regulatory buy-in. This will be your initial focus.

• Product evolution - Identify the most appropriate way to launch current and future Wise products in Japan,  then roll up your sleeves and make it happen. 

• Financial services partnerships - Build and maintain relationships with financial institutions (banks, fund managers and trading partners) and lead commercial negotiations to drive down costs. You will monitor our economics to ensure that our service is competitive; if needed, onboard new Financial Institution partners.

• Understanding how our product works will be key to finding these new opportunities.

This role will give you the opportunity to:

• Choose your own path to success - not only Assets business, you will get a deep knowledge/experience to work in remittance/payment business. And  you’ll have the freedom to define the vision and the responsibility for making it happen

• Gain international exposure -  you will work with our teams in offices around the world as well as meet with regulators and partners across APAC

• Be a part of starting something new by helping launch new Wise products 

For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders  — without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive.

We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences.
Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.

If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs.

Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.