Great to Meet You! We are Ascenda
Ascenda powers the growth of leading financial services brands worldwide with premium rewards programs that differentiate their products, drive profitable customer behaviors, and create sustained engagement.
We are behind the world-class rewards propositions of major banks and fintechs around the globe, including brands like American Express, Capital One, Brex, Revolut, Ramp, HSBC, Bank of New Zealand, Virgin Money (Australia), Bradesco (Brazil), ANZ (Australia), HDFC (India) and many others.
We are a thriving global Loyalty-as-a-Service company and are experiencing rapid expansion.
Join our dynamic team contributing to the execution of our business strategies as we strive for hypergrowth. Our team spans 20 cities worldwide, with dual headquarters in Singapore and New York, totalling over 200 team members.
The Role
As Director / Senior Director of Risk, you will play a critical role in shaping how Ascenda manages risk as we scale globally. This is a high-impact, cross-functional position that sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, owning the frameworks that keep the business resilient, compliant, and ready for what's next.
You will serve as Ascenda's second line of defense, partnering closely with functional leaders across Legal, Finance, Operations, and IT Security to build a risk governance function that is rigorous without being bureaucratic. You will lead a monthly Risk Committee attended by all functional leads, driving accountability and surfacing what matters most to senior leadership. Reporting to the CFO, you will have real visibility and influence at the highest levels of the business and the opportunity to build something that genuinely scales with the company.
Your Impact
- Establish and evolve Ascenda's enterprise risk governance framework, defining risk appetite, standards, and accountability across all business functions
- Lead a monthly Risk Committee attended by all functional leads, surfacing key risks, tracking remediation, and driving accountability across the business
- Own counterparty risk across clients and suppliers, including gap assessments, credit and reputational risk monitoring, supplier and client due diligence, single-sourcing exposure identification, tracking of remediation activities and contingency planning
- Develop a framework of commercial risk standards that govern which clients, use cases, and deal structures Ascenda supports it on what terms, and translate risk appetite and policy into clear, actionable guidance for business development and client management
- Provide structured second-line guidance on complex or high-risk client situations, including onboarding edge cases, unusual deal structures, and elevated counterparty exposure
- Lead the coordination of customer risk and due diligence assessments, partnering with subject matter experts across the business to develop responses, coordinate evidence, assess gaps and track remediation activities
- Partner with the IT security team to ensure cyber and technology risks are appropriately identified, assessed, mitigated, and reported within Ascenda's enterprise risk framework
- Support the business across functions, including Commercial, HR, Finance and Operations, to meet assurance requirements in line with leading industry standards (including ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS and others)
- Own the business continuity management framework, including business impact analysis, continuity planning, testing coordination, crisis management preparedness and remediation tracking across business functions
- Own Ascenda's legal and compliance risk posture, including regulatory monitoring across operating markets, oversight of contractual and legal exposure, and management of data privacy frameworks, including GDPR and CCPA
Who You Are
- 10+ years of experience in risk management, with meaningful exposure to commercial or business risk roles that interface directly with business development, client management, or other commercial functions
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing commercial risk frameworks, including supportability standards, deal-level risk guidance, portfolio risk monitoring, and concentration risk management
- Experience in a start-up or high-growth company environment, with the ability to build frameworks that are practical and proportionate to the business context
- Proven track record building or significantly evolving end-to-end business risk governance programs, including enterprise risk management frameworks, BCM, and supplier risk assessments
- Working knowledge of legal and commercial risk concepts, including contract review, regulatory requirements, and data privacy frameworks
- Familiarity with IT security risk sufficient to engage meaningfully with technical teams and provide second-line oversight across cyber and technology-related exposures
- Demonstrated ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders across functions, with a collaborative and constructive approach
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex risk concepts into clear, actionable language and navigate risk-versus-revenue discussions with senior leadership
- Able to build from scratch in a lean environment, prioritizing pragmatically and driving execution with limited infrastructure
- A true role model for Ascenda's core values: growth mindset, hands-on ownership, supportive collaboration, and radical simplicity
Why Join Ascenda
Ascenda offers the unique opportunity to lead in LaaS, shaping the future of rewards programs. You'll be part of an environment that prizes groundbreaking ideas and their execution. We provide unparalleled career growth opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment, complemented by a competitive compensation package that recognizes your impact.
Ascenda is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds. Join us on our mission to power the growth of the financial services industry by making loyalty simple and rewarding for everyone, everywhere.
Ready to Drive Innovation With Premium Rewards
Apply now to become the Director / Senior Director of Risk & Compliance. Together, we'll redefine growth for financial services.
Ascenda is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We thank you for your understanding that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
