Senior Manager, Financial Crime Compliance Program (Fixed Term)

Senior Manager, Financial Crime Compliance Program (Fixed Term) – Sydney, Australia 

​​As the Senior Manager for our Financial Crime Program, you will be at the forefront of safeguarding our organisation against financial crime risks, ensuring we meet and exceed regulatory expectations while enabling the business to grow with confidence.  

This is a senior leadership role that blends strategic oversight with operational execution, requiring a rare combination of regulatory expertise, program management excellence, and the ability to influence and inspire across all levels of the organisation. 

An opportunity to join Western Union’s Compliance Team on a full-time basis for a 24-month period. 

Role Responsibilities:  

• Extensive Financial Crime Compliance Expertise – At least 8–10 years of progressive experience in financial crime risk management, covering AML/CTF, sanctions, fraud prevention, transaction monitoring, and customer due diligence.  

• You have worked in a banking, fintech, or another highly regulated financial services environment, with a proven track record of delivering robust compliance outcomes. 

• Global & Regional Perspective – While your primary focus will be Australia, you bring an awareness of global financial crime trends, typologies, and regulatory developments, enabling you to anticipate and prepare for future challenges. 

• Strategic Vision with Operational Agility – The ability to balance long-term program vision with the agility to respond to urgent incidents, regulatory changes, or emerging threats. You can operate comfortably at both strategic and tactical levels. 

• Program Leadership & Governance – Demonstrated success in designing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise-wide financial crime compliance programs. This includes establishing governance frameworks, drafting and maintaining policies, embedding risk-based controls, and ensuring effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place. 

• Change Management Capability – Experience leading transformation initiatives, uplifting organizational capability in financial crime prevention, and embedding a strong compliance culture across diverse teams. You can manage resistance, inspire adoption, and ensure sustainable change.  

• Regulatory Mastery – Deep and current knowledge of AUSTRAC obligations, the AML/CTF Act, sanctions regimes, and relevant APRA/ASIC guidance. You can interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into practical, business-friendly policies and controls that withstand scrutiny from regulators and auditors. 

Role Requirements:  

• Bachelor's or master's Degree preferred. Professional certifications in AML/CTF or risk management (e.g. CAMS or equivalent) highly desirable.  

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in complex retail/consumer financial services/payment services organizations with multiple financial products, or a regulatory agency or law firm involving payment services compliance issues relating to anti money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and related state and federal transmission laws and regulations. 

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in any of the following: Bank Secrecy Act, AML or Regulatory Compliance, general and/or risk-based compliance, yielding a comprehensive understanding of technology and best practices in the compliance field. Project management experience/knowledge with the ability to drive projects to successful completion. 

• Can effectively apply working knowledge of Global AML/CFT regulations and standards, current money laundering and fraud schemes and investigative techniques to effectively identify and mitigate risk to Western Union. 

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in a management/supervisory position with direct reports. Can effectively manage and train staff providing leadership and action to complete projects on time 

• Previous internal audit experience and/or financial consulting experience desirable with professional certification in related disciplines preferred (CPA, CIA, and/or CAMS). 

• Must be able to perform independently and with minimal supervision and/or in a team environment when required. 

Additional Skills:  

• Strong working knowledge of: 

• AML/CTF Act and Rules (Australia) 

• AUSTRAC regulatory expectations 

• Customer Due Diligence requirements 

• Transaction Monitoring 

• Suspicious Matter Reporting 

• Sanctions Compliance 

Work Shift 

Western Union values in-person collaboration, problem solving, and ideation whenever possible. We believe this fosters common ways of working and supports how we execute initiatives for our customers. The expectation is to work from the office a minimum of three days a week. 

BENEFITS AND OTHER DETAILS  

Benefits 

You will also have access to short-term incentives, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few (https://careers.westernunion.com/global-benefits/). Please see the location-specific benefits below and note that your Recruiter may share additional role-specific benefits during your interview process or in an offer of employment. 

Your Australia specific benefits include: 

• Life / Accident Coverage 

• Superannuation Plan 

• Paid Time Offs 

• Employee Wellness 

• Global Recognition and Rewards Programs 

Other Details 

We are passionate about honoring our employee's identity and fostering a feeling of belonging. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, following applicable laws. 

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