Head Compliance at Ecobank Kenya

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide advice on laws, regulations to the bank and ensure its compliance with the related requirements.
• Adhere to the Compliance Charter.
• Implement the Group Compliance Manual and adapt it to local risks and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure that Compliance Manual is available to all Staff and its requirements implemented in operational procedures.
• Implement the Group Compliance Monitoring Plan (CMP) and adapt it to local risks and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Perform reviews planned by the CMP and perform planned reviews. Report finding to Management and Group Compliance.
• Liaise with Regulators, External Auditors, Group Internal Audit, Internal Audit and Internal Control to ensure that their recommendations are implemented.
• Monitor evolution of the legal and regulatory framework and make impact analysis for the business. Ensure that, further to legal & regulatory changes, policies and operational procedures are updated accordingly.
• Communicate changes which may help to improve or comply with laws and regulations, best practices recommendations and internal policies pertinent to team members and impacted persons.
• Ensure and review implementation of requirements related to new law or regulations.
• Advice business on specific compliance matters.
• Ensure liaison with local regulators, Group Internal Audit (GIA), Group Risk, Group Internal Control, Group Legal, External Auditors and Lawyers.
• Prepare Compliance reports to Senior Management and the Board.
• Responsible for the monthly compliance reporting to Group Compliance.
• Ensure that Compliance reporting to regulators, counter parties or partners are sent at due time with the required information and quality.
• Become a stakeholder in key projects and developments initiated by the Bank and ensure that compliance issues identified are tackled with the adequate measures.
• Liaise with Group Compliance in order to advise the Bank on compliance best practices.
• Ensure that SIRON (KYC, AML, Embargo) controls are performed and issues tackled with adequate measures.
• Act as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for the bank.
• Responsible for all AML/CFT cases and ensure that they are properly handled.
• Organize in-house AML/CFT trainings to all staff.
• Liaison with correspondent banks ensuring that assessments are completed and requirements for information are responded to in a timely manner.
• Ensure that KYC documents provided by clients are complete and regularly updated where required.
• Participate actively in industry working groups and represent Ecobank view and interests.
• Review AML/CFT related wording in agreements.
• Advises the compliance officers of emerging compliance issues and consults and guides them in the establishment of controls to mitigate risks.
• Guides and provides suggestions on compliance related matters to the senior management team and Board.

Experience & Qualifications

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Legal or other related fields
• Ideally holds professional qualification.
• Five to Seven years’ experience in financial services or banking
• Background in legal, accounting, finance or audit
• In-depth knowledge of local/regional financial regulatory requirements
• Ability to manage changes.
• Ability to understand, interpret and adapt legal and regulatory requirements to the business.
• Must be able to respond to inquiries from regulatory agencies, courts, and external consultants.

Skills, Capabilities & Personal Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills are a must as it is necessary to relay alternative solutions regarding compliance issues to the Management and other staff members.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills.
• Capacity to add efficiencies to the organization.
• Strong communication skills to motivate and develop other teams, conduct full time formal training, influence at senior levels, provide professional counseling, manage sensitive internal and external information and relationships.
• Ability to work under pressure in a competitive environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively on technical and other related issues.
• Result oriented and self – starting attitude.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing environment.