Risk and Compliance Specialist (Fintech/Payments)

About the role

Our client, a technology company focused on payments solutions for African businesses, is seeking a Risk & Compliance Specialist to design and own the enterprise risk management framework for a trusted micro‑finance bank. This senior‑level position goes beyond day‑to‑day compliance, requiring you to build risk architecture from the ground up and embed risk awareness across product, engineering, operations and finance.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive ERM framework, including risk registers, appetite statements and KRIs.
• Identify, assess and mitigate credit, operational, liquidity, market and reputational risks.
• Collaborate with the Head of Legal & Compliance to strengthen regulatory compliance and prepare for examinations and audits.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations and Finance to integrate risk considerations into all processes and product decisions.
• Maintain oversight of payments processing, transaction flows, settlement mechanisms and dispute resolution.
• Ensure readiness for regulatory returns and audit inquiries, escalating critical risks when necessary.

Required profile

• Minimum 4 years of experience in risk management, compliance or internal control within a commercial bank, micro‑finance bank or digital/neobank.
• Proven experience building an Enterprise Risk Management framework (risk registers, appetite, KRIs).
• Deep knowledge of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA 2020), CBN circulars for MFBs and NDIC requirements.
• Strong understanding of operational, credit, liquidity, market and reputational risk categories.
• Experience with regulatory examinations, audit readiness and preparing regulatory returns.
• Solid grasp of payments processing, settlement and dispute resolution.
• Integrity, investigative mindset and ability to trace risks across systems, processes and partners.

Required skills

• SQL (significant advantage).
• Familiarity with modern banking core applications, compliance software and risk‑management tools.
• Experience with GRC platforms or similar risk‑management solutions.