Senior Manager, Compliance at Cellulant

Role Summary: 

• As a Senior Manager, Compliance at Cellulant, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring regulatory compliance and AML/CFT risk management across Cellulant's expansive operations in Africa and beyond. With a focus on maintaining integrity and adherence to relevant local laws, regulations and international best practices and standards, you will develop, implement and oversee robust compliance programs tailored to the diverse regulatory landscape of each operational country.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, business unit leads, technology leads.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align compliance initiatives with the organization's strategic objectives and drive company-wide strategic initiatives within the compliance team, ensuring alignment and commitment from all team members.
• Leadership and Team Management: Experience in managing compliance teams to maximum efficiency and effectiveness, providing leadership, mentorship, and guidance to team members to achieve set objectives and drive continuous improvement.
• Ethical Conduct: Upholding ethical standards and integrity in all compliance activities, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements, and promoting a culture of ethical behavior within the organization.
• Conduct thorough regulatory assessments and monitor changes in legislation, regulations and industry guidelines across all operating countries.
• Collaborate with other leaders within the company, including legal, operations, risk management, Audit, to provide compliance guidance and support for new product launches, partnerships and business initiatives.
• Develop and implement comprehensive compliance policies, procedures and controls aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practices across all operational countries.
• Lead the Compliance evaluation program of the company and ensure escalation and closure of agreed remediation plans.
• In conjunction with other team leaders, coordinate regulatory audits and ensure prompt closure of observations / findings.
• Lead compliance training program to educate employees on regulatory requirements, AML/CFT obligations, ethical standards and compliance requirements specific to our Business activities.
• Oversee compliance monitoring and reporting activities, including transaction monitoring, customer due diligence and suspicious activity investigations, to identify and mitigate potential compliance risks.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with regulatory bodies, industry associations and other relevant stakeholders to stay informed about emerging
• trends, regulatory developments, and best practices in the payment service industry.
• Oversee the prompt submission of AML/CFT-related regulatory reports and returns to relevant authorities.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory enquiries, audits, and examinations, liaising with regulatory authorities and external auditors as necessary to ensure compliance transparency and cooperation
• Lead the AML/CFT investigation and de-risking of services, customers that may expose the company to unacceptable risks, in line with the company's risk appetite
• Responsible for reporting suspicious activities or transactions to relevant authorities
• Serve as a primary point of contact for incidents reported or escalated to the Compliance team - including whistleblower reports, code of conduct, Conflict of Interest, etc
• Lead Compliance initiatives aimed at simplifying existing process and procedures including the use of automation, AI, whilst also ensure compliance and without compromising the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes
• Lead the implementation and optimization of AML/CFT compliance controls and tools
• Collaborate with the Product and Technology team leads to ensure AML/CFT tools are working optimally by conducting periodic quality checks and escalating anomalies
• Carryout any other functions that may be assigned to you by your Chief Risk / Compliance Officer
• Provide periodic MI to Executive Management and Board of Directors on status of Compliance, new Risks and action items aimed at mitigating the risks.
• Drive Company Strategic initiatives within the team and ensure alignment by all members of the team
• Manage the Compliance Team to maximum efficiency and effectiveness to achieve set objectives.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

• A Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• Member of relevant professional bodies (such as ACCA, CIN, ACFE, ACAMS, ACA, etc)
• A master's degree or Professional Certifications such as DCP, CAFCA, ICA, CAMS
• Extensive experience (7+ years) in compliance management within the financial service, with a focus on Payments, Fintech, Remittance and banking operations in multiple jurisdictions especially within Africa
• In Depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and AML/CFT regulations as it relates to Payment Services, Remittance and digital financial services in Africa and beyond
• Strong understanding of payment systems, money transmission regulations and risk management principles applicable to the payments industry
• Proven track record of developing and implementing effective compliance programs, policies, and controls in a multi-country environment
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across diverse teams and cultures.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail in regulatory interpretation and compliance assessment.
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a high degree of autonomy and accountability
• Member of relevant professional bodies (such as ACCA, CIN, ACFE, ACAMS, ACA, etc)

Experience that will count in your favor:

• Member of relevant professional bodies (such as ACCA, CIN, ACFE, ACAMS, ACA, etc)

Nice to have experience:

• Excellent Communication Skills
• Excellent Interpersonal skills
• Ability to handle tasks at a given time
• Problem-solving

Skills:

• Presentation skills, Interpersonal skills, and Analytical skills

Personal attributes:

• Integrity