Risk & Compliance Officer

About Wave Mobile Money

Wave Mobile Money is committed to transforming Africa into the first cashless continent. In 2017, over half of Sub-Saharan Africa's population lacked bank accounts due to high fees, distance to branches, and limited card acceptance. This left people with no safe savings options and small businesses vulnerable to exorbitant lending rates. Wave addresses these challenges by offering financial services free from account fees, instantly accessible and widely accepted even in areas with unreliable infrastructure.

Since launching a mobile app in Senegal in 2017 to enable cash deposit, withdrawal, peer-to-peer, and business payments, Wave has expanded rapidly to millions of users across nine countries.

Role Purpose

The Risk and Compliance Officer plays a vital role in upholding operational integrity within a fast-growing, dynamic environment. Stationed in Sierra Leone, you will spearhead field audit efforts, support compliance and internal control functions, and assist fraud investigations as needed. You serve as the primary liaison for implementing global risk and compliance protocols locally.

Key Duties

• Lead and manage field audit activities, including agent audits, spot checks, and reconciliations.
• Collaborate with audit and agent operations teams to escalate and resolve deficiencies uncovered during audits.
• Oversee control measures implementation and flag any breaches or gaps.
• Assist in deploying internal control frameworks across various business departments.
• Monitor compliance with fundamental requirements such as KYC and agent onboarding controls.
• Participate in incident review processes and support action on remediation.
• Document and report internal risk and compliance matters effectively.
• Conduct AML and CFT investigations locally and file Suspicious Transaction Reports to the Financial Intelligence Authority.
• Contribute to developing and implementing the compliance program.
• Deliver guidance, training, and advisory support to enhance understanding of laws and regulatory requirements among staff.
• Handle due diligence inquiries related to partners.
• Prepare both scheduled and ad hoc compliance reporting for regulatory authorities.
• Identify and assess operational risks jointly with different functional teams.
• Coordinate fraud investigations or awareness campaigns and report emerging fraud trends to regional and global teams.

Location & Working Conditions

Position based in Sierra Leone office, with potential travel to field sites. Work authorization in Sierra Leone is mandatory.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary structured transparently.
• Comprehensive health insurance covering employees and dependents.
• Substantial parental leave policies: 26 weeks for mothers, 4 weeks for fathers.
• Subsidized childcare support upon return from leave.
• Gym membership and fitness class subsidies to promote well-being.
• Airtime reimbursement benefits.
• Complimentary meals and a comfortable, attractive workplace environment.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have at least four years of experience in compliance, risk management, or auditing, preferably with exposure to mobile money or financial services. A Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Business, Economics, or a related discipline is required. Proven leadership experience managing teams and expertise in anti-money laundering (AML) practices is essential.

Successful applicants will be passionate about safeguarding customers, staff, and company interests; reliable; humble; eager for professional growth; and well-versed in risk and compliance frameworks. They will demonstrate strong problem-solving and stakeholder engagement skills, intellectual curiosity, creativity, autonomy, effective communication, exemplary organizational abilities, and unwavering ethics and discretion.

Company Culture

Wave operates in multiple African countries with a distributed global team, united by the mission to provide affordable financial services to underserved populations. Employees enjoy autonomy over their projects from inception to execution. The company boasts significant investment backing and an acknowledged position among top revenue-generating startups.