Risk and Compliance Specialist (Fintech/Payments)

About the role

Our client, a technology company providing payment solutions for businesses in Africa, is seeking a Risk & Compliance Specialist to design and own the enterprise risk management framework for a micro‑finance bank. The role will go beyond day‑to‑day compliance, building risk architecture from the ground up and ensuring proactive risk mitigation as the bank scales.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, including risk registers, risk appetite statements and key risk indicators.
• Identify, assess and mitigate risks across credit, operational, liquidity, market and regulatory domains.
• Collaborate with Head of Legal & Compliance to strengthen regulatory compliance operations.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations and Finance teams to embed risk awareness into processes and product decisions.
• Prepare for regulatory examinations, audit readiness and regulatory returns.
• Maintain knowledge of BOFIA 2020, CBN circulars for MFBs and NDIC requirements.

Required profile

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in risk management, compliance or internal control within a commercial bank, micro‑finance bank or digital bank.
• Proven experience building or contributing to an ERM framework.
• Deep understanding of banking risk categories: operational, credit, liquidity, market and reputational risk.
• Experience with regulatory examinations and audit readiness.
• Integrity and courage to escalate risks that could threaten the bank’s licence.
• Meticulous, investigative mindset with ability to trace risks across systems and partners.
• Clear interest in leveraging technology to automate risk and compliance processes.
• Professional certification in risk management or compliance is a plus (e.g., ACAMS, ICA, FRM, CRISC).

Required skills

• Knowledge of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA 2020) and CBN circulars.
• Understanding of payments processing, transaction flows, settlement mechanisms and dispute resolution.
• Proficiency with modern banking core applications, compliance software and risk management tools.
• SQL experience (advantageous).
• Strong communication skills to translate complex risk concepts for technical and non‑technical stakeholders.