Risk & Compliance Officer

About the company

The organization is working to accelerate the shift toward a cashless Africa by building financial services that are simple, affordable, and widely accessible. It launched a mobile application in Senegal in 2017 for cash deposits, withdrawals, peer-to-peer transfers, and business payments, and now serves millions of users across nine countries.

Role overview

As the Risk & Compliance Officer, you will help safeguard operational integrity in a fast-moving environment. The role centers on field audit execution in Sierra Leone, while also contributing to compliance, internal controls, and, when needed, fraud-related work. You will act as a local coordinator for the company’s global risk and compliance standards.

Field audit and control responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate field audit work, including agent audits, spot checks, and reconciliation reviews.
• Partner with field audit and agent operations teams to raise and resolve weaknesses identified during audits.
• Track the execution of control actions and report any control failures or gaps.
• Support the deployment of internal control frameworks across different business areas.

Compliance and risk support

• Track implementation of core compliance requirements, such as KYC and controls for agent onboarding.
• Take part in incident reviews and follow through on corrective actions.
• Document and report internal risk and compliance matters.
• Support AML and CFT investigations in Sierra Leone, including submitting Suspicious Transaction Reports to the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA).
• Help implement the compliance program.
• Provide guidance, advice, training, and educational support to improve understanding of laws and regulatory obligations.
• Handle due diligence requests from partners and respond to incoming due diligence requests.
• Prepare scheduled and ad hoc compliance reports for regulatory agencies.
• Work with functional teams to identify and assess operational risks.

Fraud support

• Assist with fraud investigations and awareness efforts when required.
• Escalate fraud indicators and trends to regional and global stakeholders.

Location and work arrangements

This is an office-based role in Sierra Leone, with travel to field locations as required. Work authorization in Sierra Leone is mandatory.

Compensation and benefits

The salary is competitive and determined through a transparent formula. Benefits include health insurance for you and your dependents, parental leave (26 weeks for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers), subsidized childcare after return to work, subsidized gym memberships and fitness classes, airtime reimbursement, free meals, and a pleasant office environment.

Requirements

You should have at least four years of experience in compliance, risk management, or audit, along with a master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Business & Economics, or a related discipline. Experience in AML is required, while mobile money or broader financial services exposure is considered a plus. Prior team management experience is also expected. French fluency and working knowledge of English are strong advantages.

What makes you a strong fit

The ideal candidate is committed to protecting customers, employees, and the organization from risk; works with integrity and discretion; and is eager to grow in the role. You should be able to build practical risk mitigation solutions, collaborate across functions, influence stakeholders, communicate proactively, stay highly organized, and manage projects independently while knowing when to escalate.

Equal opportunity

The employer is an equal-opportunity organization and values diversity and inclusion in the workplace.