Head of Risk, Audit & Compliance

Job title : Head of Risk, Audit & Compliance

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain the Risk Management Framework, risk appetite statement, and enterprise risk register in line with CBN MFB Guidelines and Prudential Guidelines, ensuring scalability for National license operations.
• Identify, assess, and monitor key risks — credit, operational, liquidity, market, compliance, strategic, and reputational — across all branches and business lines.
• Conduct periodic stress testing and scenario analysis on growth, branch expansion, and new product initiatives; present findings and recommendations to Management and the Board Risk Committee.
• Maintain credit risk policies covering underwriting standards, concentration limits (by product, sector, geography, and obligor), portfolio quality monitoring (PAR, NPLs, roll rates, recoveries), and CBN-compliant provisioning and write-off processes.
• Develop and implement a risk-based internal audit plan covering all branches, business lines, and support functions; ensure independent, objective execution and timely reporting of findings to Management and the Board Audit Committee.
• Conduct periodic audits of financial controls, credit processes, branch operations, IT systems, and compliance with internal policies and CBN regulations.
• Track and report on the status of all audit findings; ensure management responses are adequate and that agreed remediation actions are implemented within committed timelines.
• Support external audits and CBN examination processes, coordinating management responses and driving timely closure of all findings.
• Monitor and ensure full compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements including CBN MFB Guidelines, Prudential Guidelines, BOFIA 2020, AML/CFT Regulations, KYC/CDD requirements, CBN Consumer Protection Framework, and NDPA 2023.
• Act as the Bank's designated Compliance Officer and AML/CFT Reporting Officer, overseeing Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and filing of STRs and CTRs to the NFIU.
• Coordinate all CBN regulatory examinations and inspections; ensure timely, accurate regulatory reporting and proactive closure of all regulatory findings.
• Proactively track and prepare for National MFB license requirements covering risk governance, capital adequacy, and enhanced compliance standards.
• Design and maintain a standardized internal control framework replicable across all existing and new branches.
• Develop, update, and enforce risk, compliance, and operational policies, SOPs, and process manuals; conduct periodic spot checks and branch visits to verify consistent implementation.
• Review new products, channels, and expansion initiatives for risk, control, and regulatory compliance implications, providing clear advisory input before launch.
• Prepare and present comprehensive risk, audit, and compliance reports to Management and the Board/Board Committees; support the effective functioning of the Management Risk Committee, Credit Committee, and ALCO.
• Provide risk and compliance input strategic planning, particularly around branch expansion, product diversification, digital channels, and the National license transition roadmap.
• Develop and deliver regular training on risk management, AML/CFT, KYC, and internal controls; promote a strong culture of compliance, ethics, and risk ownership at all levels.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Law, or Risk Management.
• Relevant professional certifications are a strong advantage: CRMS or CBN-recognized risk certification, ACA/ACCA, ACAMS or equivalent AML/CFT certification, CIA, or CISA.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in risk management, internal audit, compliance, or internal control within a Nigerian financial institution; Microfinance Bank or retail bank experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience designing or significantly upgrading risk, audit, and compliance frameworks in a growing or multi-branch environment.
• Strong working knowledge of CBN regulations for MFBs, including the distinction between State and National MFB license requirements.
• Strong grasp of enterprise risk management across credit, operational, liquidity, market, compliance, and reputational risk dimensions.
• Sound credit analysis and portfolio management skills in micro, SME, and retail lending contexts.
• Excellent analytical, investigative, and problem-solving abilities; high integrity and independence of judgment.
• Ability to build scalable processes, controls, and frameworks and influence senior management and cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including Board-level reporting.