Operational Risk Manager Jobs in California
Operational risk manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in financial services, technology, and healthcare across a market that ranges from entry-level risk analysts through VP-level governance roles. The heaviest hiring is in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose, where institutions like Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Kaiser Permanente maintain large risk and compliance operations. The most in-demand specializations are enterprise risk frameworks, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Airwallex
Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 200,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.
Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,000 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$8 billion and backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, Robinhood Ventures, Sequoia, Salesforce Ventures, DST Global, and Lone Pine Capital, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.
Attributes We Value
We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.
You're humble and collaborative; turn zero-to-one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high-visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.
About the team
The Operations team at Airwallex ensures the smooth and efficient functioning of our services and processes. We focus on optimizing workflows, improving operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional customer support. By streamlining operations and implementing best practices, we help drive the company's growth and maintain high service standards. Our team is dedicated to providing a seamless experience for our customers and supporting Airwallex’s mission to empower businesses globally.
As Senior Manager, Risk Operation Strategy, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Airwallex’s global risk management approach. You will work with the data scientists team to leverage advanced data analytics to uncover anomalies not detected by existing alerts or models, and drive enhancements to our risk controls. You’ll lead proactive risk assessments across multiple risk types and products, identifying critical control gaps and driving end-to-end closure plans. This role requires managing and delivering complex, cross-functional risk projects in partnership with Product, Engineering, Risk and Compliance teams.
This hybrid role is based in San Francisco, CA.
Responsibilities:
- Find anomalies not detected by existing alerts or models through large-scale data analysis, and drive the enhancement of risk controls.
- Lead proactive risk assessments across risk types and products to identify critical control gaps and drive end-to-end closure plans.
- Manage and deliver complex, cross-functional risk projects, ensuring alignment and execution with key stakeholders.
- Develop and implement strategies to uplift operational efficiency, leveraging AI and automation.
- Prepare and present divisional performance updates, project progress, and risk insights to senior leadership.
- Handle special projects and deep dives on emerging risk issues, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
Who you are
We're looking for people who meet the minimum requirements for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have but are not mandatory.
Minimum qualifications:
- Strong risk domain knowledge (e.g., fraud, credit, financial crime, operational risk).
- Adequate product knowledge in payments, issuing, or lending.
- Strong data analytics skills, such as experience with SQL, Python, Databricks, or BI tools. Experience with using analysis tools to identify abnormal patterns.
- Strong consulting skills, including problem solving and project management.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across functions and cultures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience in risk management, operations strategy, or management consulting within fintech, financial services, or high-growth technology environments.
- Proficient in data analysis on large scale data set, experience in modeling or machine learning is a plus.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and projects.
- Bachelor’s degree or above; advanced degree is a plus.
- Experience in Risk management is advantageous.
- Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for delivering key outcomes.
Applicant Safety Policy: Fraud and Third-Party Recruiters
To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.
Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.
Equal opportunity
Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 200,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.
Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,000 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$8 billion and backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, Robinhood Ventures, Sequoia, Salesforce Ventures, DST Global, and Lone Pine Capital, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.
Attributes We Value
We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.
You're humble and collaborative; turn zero-to-one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high-visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.
About the team
The Operations team at Airwallex ensures the smooth and efficient functioning of our services and processes. We focus on optimizing workflows, improving operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional customer support. By streamlining operations and implementing best practices, we help drive the company's growth and maintain high service standards. Our team is dedicated to providing a seamless experience for our customers and supporting Airwallex’s mission to empower businesses globally.
As Senior Manager, Risk Operation Strategy, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Airwallex’s global risk management approach. You will work with the data scientists team to leverage advanced data analytics to uncover anomalies not detected by existing alerts or models, and drive enhancements to our risk controls. You’ll lead proactive risk assessments across multiple risk types and products, identifying critical control gaps and driving end-to-end closure plans. This role requires managing and delivering complex, cross-functional risk projects in partnership with Product, Engineering, Risk and Compliance teams.
This hybrid role is based in San Francisco, CA.
Responsibilities:
- Find anomalies not detected by existing alerts or models through large-scale data analysis, and drive the enhancement of risk controls.
- Lead proactive risk assessments across risk types and products to identify critical control gaps and drive end-to-end closure plans.
- Manage and deliver complex, cross-functional risk projects, ensuring alignment and execution with key stakeholders.
- Develop and implement strategies to uplift operational efficiency, leveraging AI and automation.
- Prepare and present divisional performance updates, project progress, and risk insights to senior leadership.
- Handle special projects and deep dives on emerging risk issues, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
Who you are
We're looking for people who meet the minimum requirements for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have but are not mandatory.
Minimum qualifications:
- Strong risk domain knowledge (e.g., fraud, credit, financial crime, operational risk).
- Adequate product knowledge in payments, issuing, or lending.
- Strong data analytics skills, such as experience with SQL, Python, Databricks, or BI tools. Experience with using analysis tools to identify abnormal patterns.
- Strong consulting skills, including problem solving and project management.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across functions and cultures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience in risk management, operations strategy, or management consulting within fintech, financial services, or high-growth technology environments.
- Proficient in data analysis on large scale data set, experience in modeling or machine learning is a plus.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and projects.
- Bachelor’s degree or above; advanced degree is a plus.
- Experience in Risk management is advantageous.
- Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for delivering key outcomes.
Applicant Safety Policy: Fraud and Third-Party Recruiters
To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.
Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.
Equal opportunity
Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
See All 86 Operational Risk Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operational Risk Manager JobsOperational Risk Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Operational Risk Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Clean Harbors5
- TikTok5
- Walmart5
- Airwallex4
- Amazon4
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software18
- Banking & Financial Services11
- Consulting & Professional Services6
- Retail6
- Accounting & Auditing4
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in operational risk manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, or a related quantitative field
- Professional certification such as FRM, CRISC, or CPA preferred by most California employers
- Three or more years of experience in risk management, audit, or financial compliance
- Demonstrated knowledge of regulatory frameworks including OCC, FDIC, or CFPB guidelines
- Proficiency in risk management tools such as RSA Archer, MetricStream, or similar GRC platforms
- Strong communication skills for presenting risk findings to executive leadership and board committees
Operational Risk Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a operational risk manager in California?
Most California employers require a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field as the baseline. There is no state-issued license specific to operational risk management in California, but professional certifications carry significant weight in hiring decisions. The Financial Risk Manager credential and the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control designation are the most recognized. Large California financial institutions and tech firms typically expect candidates to progress from analyst or audit roles before moving into dedicated risk management positions.
How much do operational risk managers make in California?
Operational risk managers in California earn a median of about $129,110 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $76,610 for the lowest 10% to over $208,360 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire operational risk managers in California?
Employers hiring operational risk managers in California right now include Clean Harbors, TikTok, and Walmart, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of major bank headquarters, insurance carriers, and large health systems means demand is consistent year-round rather than tied to seasonal hiring cycles.
Which California cities have the most operational risk manager jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose have the most operational risk manager openings in California. San Francisco and San Jose dominate because of the regional headquarters of major banks and fintech companies, while Los Angeles draws volume from insurance, entertainment finance, and the large healthcare systems operating throughout Southern California.
Are there remote operational risk manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, since operational risk management is an analytical and governance-focused role that does not require a fixed physical location. About 14% of operational risk manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how broadly the financial services and technology sectors have adopted flexible work arrangements. Policy review, risk reporting, and committee preparation are the functions most commonly performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a operational risk manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a risk analyst or internal audit associate role at a California bank, insurance company, or large health system. Institutions like Bank of the West, Pacific Premier Bank, and major California-based insurers run rotational analyst programs that place early-career candidates across risk and compliance functions. Lateral moves from roles in financial analysis, fraud investigation, or regulatory reporting are common stepping stones. Pursuing the FRM or a graduate certificate in risk management from a UC or CSU campus significantly strengthens applications for candidates without direct experience.
Where can I find and apply to operational risk manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to operational risk manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across financial services, technology, healthcare, and other sectors. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 86 Operational Risk Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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