Head of Banking Operations

About Wahed The global financial system wasn't built for everyone. For millions of people, its reliance on interest (riba) creates a barrier to managing money and building wealth without compromising their values. At Wahed, we're changing that. We are a global fintech company on a mission to build a new financial system‑one that is ethical, accessible, and entirely interest free. From our offices across the globe, our team is building products that were once deemed impossible. If you're driven to solve complex problems and believe finance should empower, not exclude, join us in building a more equitable financial future. The Opportunity Wahed is embarking on its most ambitious venture yet: launching a full‑service, ethical digital banking and neobank offering for our customers in the US and the UK. This is a ground floor opportunity to architect the operational engine that will power this new chapter of our growth. As the Head of Banking Operations, you will be the foundational leader responsible for building, scaling, and leading a world‑class, multi‑jurisdictional banking operations function from scratch. Operating within a strategic Banking as a Service (BaaS) partnership model, you will be the principal architect of the controls, processes, and partner governance frameworks required for a resilient, compliant, and hyper‑efficient operational ecosystem. You will be entrusted with establishing the operational bedrock upon which our neobank will be built, ensuring every payment is seamless, every risk is managed, and every customer is protected, all while upholding the strictest standards of Shariah compliance. Reporting to the CEO, your work will be critical to the successful launch and scalable growth of this new business line. Job Description Strategic Leadership & Function Building: Design the organizational structure, hire, and lead a high performing team of operations professionals. Establish the vision, strategic roadmap, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the entire banking operations function. BaaS & Sponsor Bank Governance: Serve as the primary operational owner for our BaaS provider and sponsor bank relationships in the US and UK. Lead vendor oversight, performance management, and ensure strict adherence to contractual SLAs and regulatory expectations for third party risk management. Payments, Treasury & Financial Control Architecture: Architect and govern the end to end operational processes for all payment rails, including ACH, Wires, and FedNow in the US, and Faster Payments and CHAPS in the UK. Oversee daily liquidity management, partner managed reconciliations, and the implementation of robust financial controls. End to End Customer Operations Governance: Build and oversee the operational frameworks for the entire customer lifecycle, including partner managed KYC/AML processes, onboarding, account maintenance, and dispute/complaint handling in compliance with US (Reg E/Z) and UK (Consumer Duty) regulations. Financial Crime & Risk Framework: Own the design and governance of Wahed's financial crime prevention framework. This includes overseeing the effectiveness of our partners' AML transaction monitoring, sanctions screening programs (OFAC/OFSI), fraud detection rules, and suspicious activity reporting (SAR) processes. Shariah & Regulatory Compliance: Act as the operational champion for compliance. Ensure all banking processes, product structures, and partner activities adhere to both jurisdictional regulations and the principles of our Shariah governance framework, guaranteeing an interest free and ethically sound offering. Operational Readiness & Scaling: Develop and implement a scalable operational readiness framework to support the launch of new products and features. Ensure that all new initiatives have robust operational playbooks, SOPs, and controls in place before rollout. Job Specification 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in banking operations within a fintech, neobank, or regulated financial institution. Direct, hands‑on experience building and managing operations within a Banking as a Service (BaaS) or managed services partnership model is essential. Deep domain expertise across multiple core banking functions: US & UK payment systems (ACH, Wires, FedNow, FPS, CHAPS), card operations (issuing, processing, disputes), and treasury/reconciliation. Proven track record of designing, implementing, and governing a comprehensive financial crime compliance program (BSA/AML, Sanctions, Fraud). Expert level knowledge of the US and UK regulatory landscapes, including the Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation E, Regulation Z, and the UK's Consumer Duty and APP Scam Reimbursement rules. Demonstrated success in building, leading, and scaling high performing operations teams from an early stage. Skills & Attributes You have an entrepreneurial mindset and are eager to take ownership, build processes from scratch, and drive projects to completion in a fast paced environment. You are a structured problem solver, capable of breaking down complex, cross jurisdictional issues into manageable components and developing logical, data driven solutions. You are an excellent communicator and influencer, able to articulate complex operational concepts and build strong relationships with executive leadership, sponsor banks, and regulatory stakeholders. You are deeply aligned with Wahed's mission to build an inclusive, ethical, and interest free financial ecosystem for everyone. Why Wahed? Foundational Impact: This is a rare opportunity to be the architect of a global neobank's operational foundation. The systems, teams, and culture you build will be the bedrock of our success for years to come. Executive Visibility & Strategic Influence: You will work directly with senior leadership across the company, shaping the strategic decisions that will drive the growth and success of this critical new venture. Global Mission, Unified Team: Join a diverse, passionate, and mission driven team from across the globe, all dedicated to making finance more accessible and equitable. Your work will be a critical part of a movement with a worldwide impact. #J-18808-Ljbffr