About this role
Wells Fargo is seeking a Head of Compliance and Operational Risk for China to lead the local Compliance and Operational Risk function and provide independent oversight, credible challenge and advisory support to the China branches and relevant legal entity activities. This role is responsible for maintaining an effective local compliance and operational risk framework, supporting regulatory engagement, and ensuring that China regulatory expectations are appropriately reflected in business activities, governance and control arrangements.
In this role, you will
- Lead the China Compliance and Operational Risk function and ensure effective on-the-ground support for the Shanghai and Beijing branches and relevant China legal entity activities.
- Develop, maintain and enhance the local compliance and operational risk infrastructure to address applicable regulatory requirements, enterprise policies and supervisory expectations.
- Provide independent oversight, credible challenge and advisory support to business and functional partners on compliance, operational risk, conduct, licensing, regulatory reporting and governance matters.
- Support local management in implementing the Compliance and Operational Risk Program, including risk assessments, regulatory change management, monitoring, issue management, escalation and management reporting.
- Review and enhance local policies, procedures, processes and controls to ensure they remain appropriate for China regulatory requirements and business activities.
- Lead or support engagement with local regulators and authorities, including regulatory meetings, inspections, examinations, supervisory requests and related remediation actions.
- Coordinate with Regulatory Relations, Legal, Financial Crimes Risk Management, Business Control, COO, Operations and other risk partners to ensure regulatory matters are addressed in a timely, consistent and well-governed manner.
- Advise on new business initiatives, business changes, product exits, outsourcing arrangements and strategic projects, including assessment of compliance, operational risk and licensing implications.
- Ensure timely escalation of material compliance and operational risk issues to local senior management, regional management and relevant governance committees.
- Develop and deliver compliance and operational risk training to promote awareness of applicable laws, regulations, internal policies and conduct expectations.
- Collaborate with APAC, International and Enterprise Compliance and Operational Risk teams to deliver consistent program outcomes while addressing China-specific regulatory requirements.
- Manage and develop the local team, including setting priorities, building capability, ensuring appropriate coverage and supporting talent development.
- Provide second-line oversight of operational risk exposures for the China branches, including risk identification, assessment, escalation, monitoring and remediation.
- Support implementation of the local Risk Management Framework and related standards, ensuring operational risk considerations are embedded in branch governance and business decision-making.
- Review and challenge front-line risk decisions, control effectiveness and remediation plans, particularly for regulatory matters, operational incidents, audit or testing findings and key change initiatives.
- Coordinate with regional and enterprise operational risk partners on risk reporting, issue escalation, risk appetite, control assessments and other operational risk program requirements.
Required Qualifications:
- 5+ years of Compliance experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
- 2+ years of Leadership experience
Desired Qualifications:
- Relevant university degree in law, finance, accounting, economics, business, risk management or a related discipline.
- Experience in a foreign bank branch, wholesale banking, corporate and investment banking, markets or cross-border financial services environment.
- Good understanding of international compliance and operational risk frameworks, including the three lines of defense model, risk appetite, issue management, regulatory change, monitoring and governance reporting.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex regulatory and risk matters clearly to senior management, business partners and regulators.
- Proven ability to influence stakeholders outside direct reporting lines and work effectively across local, regional and global teams.
- Control conscious, pragmatic, proactive and able to balance regulatory expectations, enterprise standards and business needs.
- Fluency in written and spoken Mandarin and English would be advantageous for regulatory engagement, internal governance and regional coordination.
Posting End Date:
6 Oct 2026
*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
We Value Equal Opportunity
Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.
Candidates applying to job openings posted in Canada: Applications for employment are encouraged from all qualified candidates, including women, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and visible minorities. Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process.
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