Head of Risk, Compliance & Licensing (fintech) at Bridge Talent Management

Key Responsibilities

Risk Management

• Develop and maintain a company-wide risk management framework
• Identify, assess, and monitor operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational risks
• Conduct risk assessments for new products, markets, and partnerships
• Design and implement mitigation strategies and internal controls
• Provide regular risk reporting to executive leadership

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with local and cross-border regulatory frameworks
• Stay updated on fintech and payments regulations across markets
• Act as the primary liaison with regulators and supervisory bodies
• Manage regulatory filings, reporting, and audits

AML / KYC / Financial Crime

• Lead AML/CFT, KYC/CDD, and transaction monitoring frameworks
• Oversee suspicious activity detection and reporting
• Implement sanctions screening and fraud prevention controls
• Continuously strengthen financial crime risk controls

Market Assessment & Licensing

• Assess regulatory requirements for new and existing markets
• Identify licensing needs and regulatory obligations per jurisdiction
• Lead end-to-end licensing processes with regulators and internal teams
• Ensure ongoing compliance throughout market entry and operations

Policies, Controls & Governance

• Develop and enforce compliance policies and procedures
• Conduct audits, gap assessments, and ensure audit readiness
• Maintain strong documentation and internal controls
• Embed compliance into product, operations, and partnerships

Data Protection & Privacy

• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR and local laws)
• Oversee data security frameworks and controls
• Conduct data protection impact assessments where required

Partner & Market Compliance

• Support onboarding of banks, PSPs, and partners
• Conduct due diligence on partners and counterparties
• Ensure compliance readiness for market expansion

Training & Culture

• Build and drive a strong compliance culture across the organization
• Train teams on regulatory requirements and best practices
• Provide ongoing advisory support to internal teams

Requirements

• 5–8+ years’ experience in risk and compliance within fin tech, payments, or financial services
• Proven experience assessing markets and securing regulatory license
• Strong understanding of:
  • AML/CFT frameworks
  • KYC/CDD processes
  • Sanctions compliance
  • Payments regulations and licensing
• Experience operating across multiple jurisdictions (Africa preferred)
• Proven track record managing regulators, audits, and reporting
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• High attention to detail with strong ownership

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications such as CAMS, CFE, CIPP, or equivalent
• Experience in cross-border payments or digital wallets
• Exposure to emerging areas (e.g., crypto, digital assets)
• Experience in a high-growth or startup environment