Head of Fraud

About this role

Head of Fraud | Payments, Fintech and Crypto

London (Hybrid 3-4 days per week)

Are you a payments fraud specialist with genuine technical depth across fraud typologies, detection rules, and controls? Have you built or shaped fraud prevention frameworks within a payments, fintech, or crypto business? Are you looking for a senior role focused purely on fraud expertise, without team management?

If yes, this could be a good fit

We are working with a regulated, scaling payments infrastructure and embedded finance business, processing significant transaction volumes across multiple markets, to appoint a Head of Fraud and Risk Oversight.

This is an individual contributor position, designed for a seasoned fraud professional who wants to apply deep, hands-on expertise at a senior level and act as the go-to fraud authority across the business.

This is a second line of defence role. You will provide independent oversight and challenge of fraud prevention and detection controls operated by first line teams, rather than running day-to-day fraud operations.

What You Will Do

• Provide independent second line oversight of fraud prevention and detection across products, customer segments, and payment flows
• Review and challenge fraud controls, transaction monitoring rules, and detection mechanisms with genuine technical scrutiny
• Conduct fraud risk assessments, identifying control weaknesses, process gaps, and emerging typologies
• Provide independent challenge to the effectiveness of first line fraud operations and investigations
• Maintain fraud risk reporting and MI for senior management and governance forums
• Act as the internal subject matter expert on fraud risk across the business

What We Are Looking For

• Deep, hands-on payments fraud experience, with real technical command of fraud typologies, rules, and detection mechanisms
• A fraud specialist background specifically, rather than a career built primarily in transaction monitoring or AML operations
• Payments industry experience specifically, rather than general fintech exposure
• Strong knowledge of fraud typologies including APP fraud, card fraud, account takeover, and scams
• Experience with fraud detection rules and prevention frameworks, including the transaction monitoring that supports them
• Demonstrable second line of defence experience: fraud risk oversight, control testing, or independent review
• An individual contributor mindset, comfortable operating without direct reports and challenging first line teams credibly
• Crypto, stablecoin, or on/off ramp experience is a distinct advantage

If you are a payments fraud specialist looking to apply genuine technical expertise and influence at a senior level, without stepping away from the fraud itself, this is a rare opportunity.

About fraud prevention roles for ex-police

Fraud investigation, detection and financial-crime roles in banks, insurers and public bodies. Detective and economic-crime backgrounds map straight across, often with hybrid working and clear progression.