Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer

Responsibilities:

Legal & Regulatory Adherence:

• Monitor and interpret changes in local and international laws regulations and industry standards applicable to fintech operations (e.g. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Know Your Customer (KYC) data protection laws like GDPR and consumer protection laws).
  
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory bodies and external auditors coordinating responses to inquiries inspections and investigations.
  
• Ensure all necessary regulatory permissions and licenses remain current and appropriate for business needs.
  
• Negotiate draft and review a variety of legal and business contracts and agreements advising management on legal implications prior to execution.
  

Risk Management:

• Develop implement and maintain a comprehensive risk management framework and corporate risk register.
  
• Conduct regular risk assessments (including regulatory operational cybersecurity and financial crime risks) to identify analyse and mitigate potential threats.
  
• Formulate strategic action plans to minimise and manage identified risks developing strategies for risk reduction and response.
  
• Propose proactive solutions for legal and regulatory "grey areas" where new products might outpace existing regulations potentially engaging with regulators to seek clarity.
  

Compliance Operations & Policy Development:

• Develop implement and maintain internal policies procedures and controls to ensure the organisation meets legal and procedural requirements.
  
• Conduct regular audits and compliance monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls and identify gaps.
  
• Investigate reported compliance issues or violations taking appropriate corrective actions and ensuring proper documentation.
  
• Review all marketing and public-facing materials to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
  

Training & Culture:

• Develop and deliver compliance training programs and workshops to educate employees on regulatory requirements and foster a strong culture of integrity ethics and accountability.
  
• Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders (product finance operations etc.) to embed risk management and compliance within operational planning and decision-making processes.
  

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelors degree in Law Finance Business Administration or a related field.
  
• Experience: At least 2-3 years of proven experience in a compliance risk management legal or regulatory affairs role preferably within the fintech or financial services industry.
  
• Knowledge: Deep understanding of relevant financial regulations (e.g. AML KYC data protection laws) compliance frameworks and methodologies.
  
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with strong attention to detail.
  
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to non-experts.
  
• Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  
• High degree of integrity professionalism and ethical judgment in handling sensitive information.
  

Preferred Requirements:

• Professional certifications in compliance or related fields (e.g. CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) CRCM (Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager)).
  
• Experience in a startup environment or experience building a risk/compliance framework from the ground up.
  
• Knowledge of specific regional regulations (e.g. Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines SEC regulations if applicable).