Director, Compliance Program Management (Fixed Term) – Sydney, Australia
The Director, Compliance Program Management is responsible for leading the execution, governance, reporting, and oversight of strategic compliance and regulatory uplift program across Western Union Financial Services Australia (WUFSA) and Western Union Group.
This role serves as the senior program leader accountable for the successful execution of the WUFSA Compliance Remediation Program and related global compliance uplift initiatives.
The role is responsible for leading and managing the Program Management Office (PMO) in Sydney, coordinating activities across WUFSA, APAC Regional Compliance, and Global Group functions, and ensuring all regulatory commitments and obligations, milestones, and deliverables are executed in accordance with the approved plans and governance frameworks. The position partners closely with senior compliance, legal, technology, operations and business leaders to drive effective execution of program activities, monitor risks and dependencies, manage schedules, track budgets, and provide transparent reporting to executive management, governance committees, and various 3rd parties (auditors, regulators).
The role requires deep expertise and track record in AML/CTF remediation programs in Australia, regulatory engagement with AUSTRAC, and large-scale compliance transformation initiatives in highly regulated financial services environments with multinational institutions.
An opportunity to join Western Union’s Compliance Team on a full-time basis for a 24-month period.
Role Responsibilities:
- Lead the end-to-end execution of the WUFSA AML/CTF compliance uplift program, ensuring regulatory commitments, milestones, deliverables, and outcomes are effectively planned, governed, monitored, and delivered in accordance with regulatory expectations and approved timelines.
- Establish and lead the dedicated PMO, including governance frameworks, integrated program planning, dependency management, risk and issue management, budget tracking, resource coordination, milestone tracking, quality assurance, and executive reporting across all remediation workstreams.
- Act as a senior contributor for regulatory engagement activities associated with program initiatives. Coordinate program updates, responses, support 3rd party examinations and reviews and ensure effective management of senior stakeholder relationships and expectations.
- Prepare and deliver regular reporting and strategic updates to key stakeholders, including the Head of Compliance Australia, Australia AML/CTF Compliance Officer, VP AML/CTF Compliance APAC, Global Chief Compliance Officer, executive leadership forums, management committees, and Board governance committees.
Western Union Competencies:
- Customer Focus
- Ensures remediation outcomes strengthen customer protection, regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and trust in Western Union's products and services.
- Management & Planning
- Develops and executes complex remediation plans, governance structures, resource strategies, reporting frameworks, and cross-functional delivery models across multiple jurisdictions and stakeholder groups.
- Business Expertise
- Demonstrates extensive expertise in AML/CTF compliance, remediation programs, regulatory affairs, financial crime risk management, and enterprise-wide compliance transformation initiatives.
- Leadership
- Influences senior executives and cross-functional leaders globally, drives accountability across remediation workstreams, manages competing priorities, and ensures successful delivery of critical regulatory commitments.
Core Factors:
Functional Knowledge
- Requires extensive knowledge of AML/CTF regulations, Australian regulatory frameworks, track record of executing complex regulatory remediation programs in Australian and international context, governance practices, program management disciplines.
Area of Impact
- Directly impacts regulatory outcomes, remediation commitments, enterprise compliance risk management, executive decision-making, governance effectiveness, and Western Union's regulatory standing within Australia and globally.
Nature of Impact
- Decisions influence remediation success, regulatory credibility, compliance program maturity, risk mitigation, organizational effectiveness, and achievement of regulatory obligations.
Problem Solving
- Resolves highly complex, high-risk, and often ambiguous issues involving multiple stakeholders, regulatory scrutiny, competing priorities, resource constraints, and evolving compliance expectations.
Role Requirements
- Minimum 12 years of experience in AML/CTF compliance, financial crime compliance, regulatory affairs, risk management, program management, consulting, banking, payments, fintech, or other regulated financial services environments.
- Minimum 7 years of senior program management experience leading large-scale regulatory remediation, compliance transformation, or large-scale AML/CTF uplift programs.
- Bachelor's degree required in Law, Finance, Business, Risk Management, Accounting, Public Policy, or a related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
- Industry certifications are strongly preferred: Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA, PMP, PRINCE2, CFE, CRCM, or equivalent certifications are highly desirable.
Additional Skills:
- Advanced expertise in AML/CTF regulatory frameworks, Australian regulatory requirements, remediation program execution, PMO leadership, governance frameworks, risk and issue management, regulatory engagement, executive reporting, change management, project portfolio management, data analysis, and program controls
- Strong knowledge of AUSTRAC expectations and regulatory remediation practices is highly desirable.
- Advanced communication, executive presence, stakeholder management, negotiation, influencing skills, regulatory relationship management, strategic thinking, problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, leadership, organizational agility, and ability to drive results under significant regulatory scrutiny and demanding deadlines.
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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Estimated Job Posting End Date:
09-01-2026
This application window is a good-faith estimate of the time that this posting will remain open. This posting will be promptly updated if the deadline is extended or the role is filled.
