Regional Compliance Officer, Europe

  • Full-time
  • Job Family Group: Legal and Regulatory Affairs

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 215 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive.

When you join Visa, you join a culture of purpose and belonging – where your growth is priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere. Your work will have a direct impact on billions of people around the world – helping unlock financial access to enable the future of money movement.

Join Visa: A Network Working for Everyone.

Job Description

As a global payments network, Visa maintains a Compliance Program designed to proactively manage legal, regulatory and ethical risks across our business.

The Regional Compliance Officer role is part of the Europe Ethics & Compliance Team and is responsible for the oversight, support and monitoring of the application of the Compliance Program across the France, Belgium & Luxembourg  (FBL) Cluster covering all countries within the cluster. The position is a critical partner to the business and global and regional subject matter experts, providing pragmatic, professional solution-oriented support to ensure that Visa has effectively executes on its Compliance Program to ensure we meet international standards, the requirements of regulations and laws of Europe and the United States and of the countries in which we operate.

These activities include the following areas:

  • Anti-Money Laundering (AML) / Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF)
  • Office of Foreign Assets Controls and other Sanctions
  • Anti-Bribery
  • Interchange Fee Regulation
  • Criminal Finances Act

The RCO also provides training in the following areas:

  • Data Privacy
  • Information Security
  • Anti-Trust and Competitive Intelligence
  • Other specific compliance requirements of regulators who have regulatory authority over our operations in the European Region

This position also holds responsibility for ensuring the highest standards of conduct, as set out in Visa’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Particular areas of focus include:

  • Business Conduct and Ethics
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • Prevention of Insider Trading

Leadership & Responsibilities

  • Core Responsibilities
    • Responsible for all Compliance Program matters as the primary point of contact for country managers across the FBL Cluster, the Regional Managing Director, the Head of Business Development, support functions and other control functions
    • Collaboration with Visa’s Financial Intelligence Analytics Center and the Europe AML team on activities including additional and enhanced due diligence applied to AML/ATF & Sanctions cases, including direct communications and requests for information from clients and partners
    • Review of significant business strategies, activities and transactions to ensure alignment with Compliance requirements
    • Promote understanding of the Compliance Program and Code providing necessary training and drive effective inclusion of Compliance in business activities and strategies
    • Supporting local regulatory requirements
  • Collaboration & Communication
    • Communicate openly, and develop strong and effective internal business partnerships and drive regulatory compliance matters by providing accurate and timely advice and counsel
    • Leading Compliance training for the FBL Cluster tailoring to specific country needs
  • Enable and Inspire
    • Ensure understanding of business strategy through ongoing dialogue to identify potential or emerging Compliance risks and proactively address them to avoid unnecessary exposure or delays to implementation of strategic plans
  • Excel with Partners
    • Respond to queries and questions on the Compliance Program, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and company Policies from the business, support functions, other control groups
    • Provide support to regulators, Clients and partners on the Visa Compliance Program and requirements of Visa Rules
  • Act Decisively
    • Execution of due diligence requirements of the Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption Program, AML/ATF & Sanctions Programs, including third party due diligence, provision of AML/ATF workshops and education for Clients and on-site Client AML program assessments. The AML/ATF component is a significant portion of the position’s overall responsibilities.
    • In conjunction with the Europe Anti-Bribery team, review, assessment and pre-approval of gifts, travel and entertainment, events
    • Oversight of other Compliance Programs in the FBL Cluster including Business Conduct and Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, Criminal Finance Act and Interchange Fee Regulation in conjunction with Europe and Global teams
  • Employee Education
    • Provide effective business education on policy requirements, including delivery of localized training, tailored to specific countries, business and support function needs
  • Reporting
    • Working on local dashboard of Compliance Program activity, metrics and performance assessment each quarter
    • Provide updates to the business leaders and Regional Compliance Leader

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or other higher education qualifications required
  • French and English language skills essential
  • Sound knowledge of AML/ATF, Anti-Bribery and other relevant European laws is essential, more broad generalist compliance knowledge around topics such as data privacy and conduct would be an advantage
  • Professional AML/ATF accreditation preferred
  • Extensive experience in management of compliance programs and controls (including risk and internal audit functions) within the financial services industry
  • Experience in a senior Financial Crime or Compliance role within EMI or Payments Institution would be an advantage
  • Good knowledge of payments industry products, emerging products, regulations and related trends including crypto would be an advantage
  • Highly analytical and self-motivated, adept at working independently and in a dispersed team environment covering multiple and varied tasks
  • Flexible to work in an environment where needs are continually changing
  • A proven track record of managing multiple projects in a complex matrix business and operational environments
  • Intuitive, highly ethical and comfortable to question and challenge when required 
  • Excellent analytical and data analysis skills including use of MS Office systems including Word, Access, Visio, Excel (advanced), Power Point, SharePoint and other applications

Additional Information

Flex Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both home and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office three days a week, Monday (Sunday in some countries where Sunday is the start of the week) and Wednesdays. Wednesdays are designated as in-office collaboration days. The third day in the office will be decided based on team needs and determined in partnership with senior leadership.

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

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