Senior Compliance Escalations Officer

This is Adyen

Adyen provides payments, data, and financial products in a single solution for customers like Ifood, Uber, Spotify, and Adidas - making us the financial technology platform of choice. At Adyen, everything we do is engineered for ambition. 

For our teams, we create an environment with opportunities for our people to succeed, backed by the culture and support to ensure they are enabled to truly own their careers. We are motivated individuals who tackle unique technical challenges at scale and solve them as a team. Together, we deliver innovative and ethical solutions that help businesses achieve their ambitions faster.

Senior Compliance Advisory Officer

Our fast-paced Compliance Advisory team is looking for a Senior Compliance Advisory Officer who brings a strong second line compliance mindset and solution-oriented approach to evaluating complex business opportunities in the merchant/platform acquiring and banking spaces. A successful candidate excels at deconstructing complex compliance challenges into manageable components, effectively communicating with internal and external stakeholders, managing cross-team projects, and identifying risk mitigations to support Adyen’s growth. The Senior Compliance Advisory Officer will leverage their knowledge of key financial services risks (regulatory, licensing, scheme, KYC, AML, consumer protection) to review new and existing merchant opportunities, as well as support Adyen’s expansion into new sub-verticals. Our team wears many hats – partnering with commercial teams to unlock new sub-verticals across Latin America and other regions, advising the business and first line teams on compliance risks, and reviewing and approving escalated merchant/platform onboarding cases. No two days are alike.

We are looking for a proactive, hands-on individual who exercises sound judgment, takes ownership of projects, and thrives in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate is structured, efficient and able to work on multiple complex queries simultaneously.

What you’ll do

• Work closely with commercial teams to unlock new business verticals in a controlled and compliant manner, developing the necessary compliance frameworks to support sustainable growth.
• Act as a key point of contact for escalated merchant/platform compliance matters, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Engage with internal stakeholders—including legal, regulatory, scheme, AML and KYC teams—to provide clarity and direction on complex compliance issues. 
• Assess and analyze compliance risks related to AML/CFT, card scheme rules, Pix rules, and regulatory obligations, identifying potential threats and recommending mitigating actions.
• Understand the organization’s risk appetite regarding compliance risks and apply a risk-based approach to decision-making, drafting and implementing control frameworks.
• Develop and implement structured processes and tooling to enhance efficiency in handling compliance escalations.
• Identify opportunities for automation and process improvements to optimize compliance workflows.
• Support the development of frameworks and procedures to enhance the Compliance team’s response strategy.
• Collaborate with global team members across time zones, ensuring seamless communication and execution of compliance initiatives.

Who you are

• You have 8 - 12 years experience in a compliance, regulatory, or risk function within a financial institution, regulatory body, law firm, payments company, audit firm, or financial crime investigation unit.
• You have business-level proficiency in Portuguese and English; Spanish language skills are an added bonus.
• You have availability to work 3 days on site in our office, based in Morumbi/São Paulo.
• You have a strong understanding of risks in the payments and banking sector and how they materialize.
• You possess a thorough understanding of AML/CFT and/or consumer compliance risks and how to manage them effectively.
• You have robust knowledge of regulatory and licensing regimes governing payment/e-money institutions.
• You can break down complex compliance issues into clear, concise components and communicate them effectively to various stakeholders.
• You demonstrate a critical approach, use sound judgment, and make informed decisions quickly.
• You are proactive, take ownership of projects, and work independently.
• You thrive in fast-paced environments, managing multiple intricate queries simultaneously.
• You have strong verbal and written communication skills—clear, direct, and concise.
• You are adept at stakeholder management and balancing multiple priorities effectively.
• You are flexible in working with global colleagues across different time zones.
• You foster teamwork and collaboration while also challenging ideas constructively.
  
  

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitments

Our unobvious approach is a product of our diverse perspectives. This diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives is essential in helping us maintain our momentum. Our business and technical goals are unique, we need as many different voices as possible to join us in solving them - voices like yours. So no matter where you’re from, who you love, or what you believe in, we welcome you to be your true self at Adyen. 

Studies show that women and members of underrepresented communities apply for jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Do you recognise yourself in this statement? If so, Adyen encourages you to reconsider and apply. We look forward to your application.

What is next?

Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable candidate experience is critical for us. We aim to get back to you regarding your application within 7 business days. Our interview process tends to take between 3 or 4 weeks to complete. Don’t be afraid to let us know if you need more flexibility.