Head of Compliance at Equiti

We see Equiti as a new breed of broker, and we are on the lookout for talented individuals who can perform and excel in a dynamic and innovative working environment. Our Compliance  department would like to welcome a detail-oriented. Head of Compliance in our office in  Kenya

Responsibilities 

• Lead and oversee the firm’s Compliance Framework in Kenya, ensuring full compliance with local regulatory requirements and global compliance standards.
• Act as the firm’s primary point of contact with regulators including the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) and other relevant authorities.
• Develop, implement, and maintain the Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP), ensuring timely identification, escalation, and remediation of compliance issues.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including AML/CFT obligations under POCAMLA and international best practices (e.g., FATF).
• Oversee and manage the KYC/Onboarding team, ensuring robust due diligence processes, AML/PEP/sanction screening, and ongoing monitoring in line with both local and group requirements.
• Provide leadership, training, and guidance to the KYC team, ensuring consistent application of processes and a strong compliance culture.
• Lead the drafting, review, and implementation of compliance and AML/CFT policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Keep abreast of regulatory developments in Kenya and internationally, providing timely updates and strategic advice to senior management and the Board.
• Prepare and submit regulatory filings, returns, and reports to the CMA, CBK, FRC, and other authorities, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Represent Compliance at internal governance committees and actively participate in senior management decision-making.
• Oversee compliance registers, training programmes, and records management to ensure proper retention and accessibility.
• Identify, assess, and monitor compliance risks, and ensure corrective actions are implemented where needed.
• Lead and deliver compliance and regulatory training for staff at all levels, including tailored sessions for management and Board members.
• Oversee the firm’s complaint handling process, ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
• Ensure timely review and escalation of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the FRC or other relevant bodies, maintaining oversight of investigations and reporting.
• Provide periodic compliance reports, risk assessments, and management information (MI) to the Board and other senior stakeholders.
• Lead and mentor the compliance and KYC teams, fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, and regulatory excellence across the organisation.

Experience Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in law, business, accounting, finance, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of compliance experience, with at least 3–5 years in a senior/leadership role within Kenya’s financial services or capital markets industry.
• Proven experience leading AML/CFT and KYC teams, with hands-on knowledge of onboarding, due diligence, and transaction monitoring processes.
• Strong understanding of the CMA regulatory framework, CBK requirements, and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA).
• Direct experience liaising with regulators (CMA, CBK, FRC) and managing inspections, audits, and reporting obligations.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong leadership, people management, and mentoring skills with a track record of building high-performing compliance/KYC teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage regulators, Board members, and senior executives.
• High integrity, professional ethics, and resilience when handling sensitive regulatory matters.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to balance compliance requirements and business objectives effectively.