M-Pesa Africa Anti-Money Laundering Manager at Safaricom Kenya

As our AML Manager, you’ll lead a high-performing team and work directly with the Risk & Compliance Director to design, drive, and continuously evolve a proactive and responsive risk-based AML & Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) programme across all our markets.

From crafting robust compliance strategies to responding swiftly to emerging threats, your leadership will ensure M-Pesa operates not only within the bounds of the law — but sets the standard across the fintech industry.

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge of current anti-money laundering (AML) laws, regulations, and emerging trends. Use these insights to drive improvements and updates to AML procedures across all M-Pesa Africa markets.
• Develop and oversee effective monitoring and analytical frameworks to assess financial transactions processed through the M-Pesa money transfer service, ensuring risks are proactively identified and addressed.
• Implement a thorough review process for transactional activity within M-Pesa systems to detect unusual or suspicious patterns that may indicate financial crime.
• Supervise the preparation of detailed reports for both internal management and regulatory bodies, clearly highlighting any suspicious activities identified through transaction reviews.
• Lead the deployment and day-to-day operation of AML and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) platforms across M-Pesa’s markets, ensuring systems are fully functional and aligned with compliance standards.
• Ensure all relevant users of AML and CTF systems, as well as key business stakeholders, receive thorough and effective training to support their responsibilities in managing financial crime risks.
• Provide active support during internal and external audits by delivering accurate documentation, offering clear explanations, and guiding stakeholders through relevant processes and systems.
• Conduct regular AML and CTF risk assessments across all products, services, and business activities within M-Pesa Africa, identifying potential vulnerabilities and recommending mitigation strategies.
• Perform ongoing compliance reviews to verify that all market operations adhere to both internal group policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Promptly report any control gaps or compliance weaknesses to senior leadership, propose effective remediation plans, and ensure timely implementation of agreed actions.
• Track the progress and implementation of audit recommendations, whether raised by internal auditors or external regulatory bodies, to ensure all issues are resolved efficiently and sustainably.
• Foster and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key internal teams and external partners to ensure alignment on compliance goals and strengthen the broader financial crime prevention framework.

Qualifications

• A recognised professional certification in anti-money laundering, such as ACAMS, ICA Diploma, or an equivalent AML qualification, is preferred.
• A bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field is required.
• Strong and detailed understanding of anti-money laundering legislation, regulatory frameworks, and financial crime prevention techniques, ideally with knowledge of both local and international standards.
• A minimum of six years' proven experience in AML within a large financial institution or mobile money environment, demonstrating a solid track record of managing complex compliance challenges.
• Hands-on experience in the implementation and optimization of AML platforms, including the configuration and operationalization of monitoring tools and technologies.
• Exposure to big data environments, with proven analytical capabilities and practical experience in using tools such as Python, SQL, or machine learning models to conduct advanced transaction analysis and identify patterns of suspicious activity.
• International exposure or experience working in multicultural and cross-border environments will be considered a strong advantage, particularly within the financial technology or mobile money sector.