Head of Fraud Detection

At Aspire, we’re more than just a FinTech company—we’re the leading all-in-one financial operating system built to empower the world’s innovators and entrepreneurs. We are on a mission to reinvent business finance, empowering startups and businesses to realise their full potential.

Founded in 2018, Aspire has raised over USD 300M+ across equity and debt from world-class investors. In 2023, we successfully closed an oversubscribed USD 100 million Series C equity round led by Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Ventures with participation of Tencent, Paypal Ventures, LGT Capital Partners, Picus Capital and MassMutual Ventures. To power our solutions, we have partnered with some of the best companies in the world such as Visa and Wise and empowered more than 50,000 businesses using our suite of products.

Aspire has consistently been recognized for excellence, earning Best Employer and Startup of the Year by the Asia FinTech Awards in 2022 and 2023, ranked as LinkedIn’s Top Startup in Singapore, and listed on CB Insights’ Top 100 Global Fintech in 2023 and 2024.

You will be amazed by the energy and experience of our team! Aspire serves as an environment for you to innovate and drive change with our team of ex-entrepreneurs, ex-founders, and high-achievers with international and diverse backgrounds.

Are you a top talent who is passionate about entrepreneurship? Join our rapidly growing team to make an impact in the fintech space! 

About the Team

At Aspire, we are committed to empowering our customers throughout their journey with us. Our Operations Team ensures customers can operate seamlessly on our platform, and guarantee the best and safest customer experience possible.

About the Role

As the Head of Fraud Detection, you will be at the forefront of protecting Aspire and its customers from fraud. This role is laser-focused on the continuous development, tuning, and optimization of our fraud detection systems. You will be the go-to expert for our rules-based engines and machine learning models, ensuring they are not only effective but also efficient. Your primary objective will be to enhance our detection capabilities to proactively identify and mitigate emerging fraud threats while supporting Aspire's rapid global expansion. You will define and execute the vision for Aspire’s fraud detection framework, ensuring its alignment with both regulatory landscapes and our strategic growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own Detection Systems: Take complete ownership of the performance and strategy for our fraud detection rules and models.
• Rule and Model Lifecycle Management: Design, implement, test, and deploy new fraud detection rules and machine learning models. Continuously monitor their performance and iterate to improve efficacy.
• Effectiveness and Efficiency Metrics: Be accountable for and actively drive improvements in key detection metrics, including:
  • Transaction Detection Rate (TDR)
  • Account Detection Rate (ADR)
  • Value Detection Rate (VDR)
  • Alert False Positive Rates
• Fraud Loss Metrics: Directly influence and take ownership of critical financial fraud metrics, including customer and Aspire fraud losses.
• Strategic Roadmap: In collaboration with product and data science teams, define and drive the roadmap for our fraud detection systems. This includes prioritizing new data sources, model enhancements, and rule logic to counter evolving fraud typologies.
• System Optimization: Continuously refine detection thresholds and model parameters based on data-driven insights from fraud investigations, quality control findings, and business feedback to minimize false positives and enhance detection accuracy.
• Innovation in Detection: Champion the integration of advanced AI/ML, automation, and predictive analytics to evolve our fraud prevention toolkit beyond traditional methods.
• Cross-functional Partnership: Act as the subject matter expert on fraud detection, collaborating closely with Fraud Operations, AML, Compliance, and Product teams to embed robust, automated fraud prevention measures into our products and workflows.
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a specialized team on the technical aspects of fraud detection, fostering a culture of innovation, data-centric decision-making, and precision.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience:
  • Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in fraud management within a FinTech or regulated financial institution.
  • A proven track record of designing, building, and scaling fraud detection systems, with demonstrable expertise in rule writing within rules-based engines and the implementation of machine learning models.
  • Experience in designing and securing customer journeys is highly advantageous.
• Technical Knowledge:
  • Deep understanding of fraud detection tools and platforms (e.g., Sardine, ThreatFabric, Feedzai, Riskshield).
  • Strong familiarity with the underlying data architecture required for effective fraud detection and monitoring.
• Skills:
  • Excellent problem-solving abilities, with a knack for breaking down complex and ambiguous issues into structured, actionable solutions using a first-principles approach.
  • Hands-on proficiency in designing, implementing, and testing detection rules and logic.
  • Exceptional analytical skills, with a proven ability to leverage data to drive insights and tangible improvements in detection systems.
  • Proficiency in SQL is essential. Experience with Python or R for data analysis and model development is highly desirable.
  • Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences in a simple and effective manner.

What we offer

• Uncapped flexible annual leave.
• Hybrid work arrangement. 
• Training subsidy for your professional growth.
• Wellness benefit.
• Team bonding budget to foster collaboration and sense of belonging.
• Flexibility to work from anywhere (for up to 90 days per annum).
• Culture is Key: We always strive to cultivate a special culture that brings special talents together - You can learn more about our culture on our careers site and LinkedIn Life page.
  

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Aspire is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by applicable laws. 

Please note: by submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read and understood Aspire’s Data Protection Policy for Employees, Freelancers, Contractors and Job Applicants (the “Policy”), and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal data by Aspire for the purposes set out in the Policy. You may withdraw consent for such collection, use and disclosure, and make an access or correction request in respect of your personal data, in accordance with the Policy by emailing people@aspireapp.com.