Compliance Officer

Compliance Officer

Department: Legal & Compliance

Reports to: Head of Legal & Compliance

Job Purpose

The Compliance Officer will establish, implement, and maintain a robust compliance framework. The role ensures operational alignment with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, internal policies, and ethical standards. Key functions include identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating regulatory risks, while supporting a culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout the organization.

Key Relationships

• Internal: Collaborate with operational departments, Internal Audit, Risk & Control, Finance, IT, and HR.
• External: Liaise with regulatory agencies (e.g., the Central Bank of Nigeria and NDIC), external auditors, compliance consultants, and inspectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Regulatory Oversight: Monitor applicable laws and directives, track regulatory updates, translate requirements into actionable operational guidance, and maintain the regulatory obligations register.
• Policy Management: Draft, implement, and review compliance frameworks, manuals, codes of conduct, and internal control policies to ensure alignment with current regulatory standards.
• AML/CFT/CPF and Sanctions: Oversee Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, and Counter-Proliferation Financing programs, including Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), and sanctions screening processes.
• Risk Assessment & Monitoring: Identify and document compliance risks, conduct periodic compliance testing, track identified breaches, and monitor agreed mitigation plans.
• Regulatory Reporting: Prepare and submit accurate, timely regulatory filings to relevant authorities, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and maintain comprehensive, audit-ready documentation.
• Training & Advisory: Deliver organization-wide compliance and AML/CFT/P training programs, advise internal teams on regulatory matters, and investigate policy violations.
• Governance & Ethics: Promote high ethical standards, oversee whistleblowing protocols, and support the enhancement of corporate governance frameworks.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a closely related field is required. Relevant professional certifications such as CAMS, ACA, ACCA, CISA, or CRMA are advantageous.
• Experience: A minimum of 2–4 years of experience in regulatory compliance, risk management, or internal controls is required. Working knowledge of local financial regulatory frameworks is essential.
• Core Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, effective regulatory liaison skills, the ability to conduct independent investigations, clear technical reporting skills, and sound ethical judgment.