Head of Financial Crime/ MLRO at Equity Bank Kenya

Head of Financial Crime/ MLRO at Equity Bank Kenya | Iko Kazi

JOB PURPOSE:

The Head of Financial Crime/ Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) is the senior independent officer responsible for ensuring the bank has an effective Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) framework and complies with all applicable regulatory requirements. The MLRO is the accountable executive responsible for designing, overseeing, and assuring the effectiveness of the bank's AML/CFT/CPF framework, including regulatory compliance, suspicious transaction reporting, financial crime risk management, and Board reporting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead and oversee the AML/CFT/CPF compliance programme.
Ensure effective customer due diligence (CDD/KYC), sanctions screening, monitoring, and record-keeping processes.
Review, investigate and escalate suspicious activities and ensure timely filing of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs).
Monitor the institution's exposure to money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks.
Advise Management and the Board on AML/CFT/CPF risks, regulatory developments, and control weaknesses.
Act as the primary liaison with regulators, the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), law enforcement agencies, and external stakeholders on AML/CFT matters.
Drive AML/CFT training and awareness across the institution.
Ensure deficiencies are identified, reported, and remediated.
Maintain sufficient independence, authority, resources, and direct access to Senior Management and the Board to discharge responsibilities effectively

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

Develop, implement, and continuously enhance the Bank's AML/CFT/CPF framework, policies, standards, and procedures.
Ensure compliance with POCAMLA, CBK Prudential Guidelines, FATF Standards, sanctions requirements, and all applicable regulatory obligations.
Conduct and maintain enterprise-wide AML/CFT/CPF risk assessments and ensure implementation of appropriate risk-based controls.
Oversee Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), KYC, beneficial ownership verification, and customer risk-rating processes.
Provide oversight of transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, name screening, and financial crime surveillance systems.
Review, investigate, and determine the reportability of suspicious activities and ensure timely submission of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to the Financial Reporting Centre.
Serve as the primary liaison with regulators, law enforcement agencies, correspondent banks, auditors, and other stakeholders on AML/CFT/CPF matters.
Provide regular AML/CFT/CPF risk, compliance, control effectiveness, and regulatory reporting to Senior Management, Board Committees, and the Board.
Escalate significant financial crime, sanctions, regulatory, and compliance risks through established governance structures.
Lead regulatory inspections, compliance reviews, thematic assessments, and remediation of regulatory findings and audit issues.
Drive AML/CFT/CPF training, awareness, and capability-building initiatives across the three lines of defense.
Monitor emerging financial crime typologies, regulatory developments, sanctions risks, and industry best practices and ensure their incorporation into the control environment.
Ensure robust record-keeping, regulatory reporting, and management information systems supporting AML/CFT/CPF compliance.
Provide independent advisory support to business, operations, technology, and support functions on financial crime risks and regulatory requirements.
Track and report key risk indicators, compliance metrics, regulatory obligations, and remediation progress.
Lead, mentor, and develop the Financial Crime Compliance team while ensuring appropriate resourcing, succession planning, and performance management.
Foster a strong compliance culture and promote accountability for AML/CFT/CPF obligations across the Bank.
Support strategic initiatives, product reviews, digitization programmes, and business change activities by ensuring financial crime risks are identified, assessed, and appropriately mitigated.
Maintain independent access to Senior Management and the Board and provide assurance regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the Bank's AML/CFT/CPF control framework.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Banking, Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field.
Master's degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.
Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA Diploma in AML, CFE, ACAMS, CRCM, CPA, ACCA, CISI, or equivalent financial crime and compliance qualifications.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous professional development in AML/CFT/CPF, financial crime compliance, and regulatory risk management
Minimum 12-15 years' experience in AML/CFT/CPF, Compliance, Financial Crime Risk Management, Risk, Regulatory Compliance, or Internal Audit within the financial services sector.
At least 5 years' experience in a senior management or leadership role.
Demonstrated experience in AML/CFT investigations, transaction monitoring, sanctions compliance, regulatory inspections, and financial crime risk management.
Proven experience engaging regulators, law enforcement agencies, external auditors, and senior governance forums.
Experience in Board reporting, regulatory remediation, and implementation of enterprise-wide compliance programmes.

KEY TECHNICAL SKILLS & LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Strong knowledge of AML/CFT/CPF laws, regulations, prudential guidelines, and international standards.
Expertise in financial crime risk management, sanctions compliance, customer due diligence, and transaction monitoring.
Strong understanding of banking products, operations, and emerging financial crime typologies.
Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements in a practical business environment.
Strong analytical, investigative, and risk assessment capabilities.
Excellent report writing, Board reporting, and executive communication skills.
Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing, and regulatory relationship management capability.
Demonstrated leadership, people management, and team development skills.
High integrity, independence, sound judgment, and decision-making capability.

Head of Financial Crime/ MLRO at Equity Bank Kenya

Stand out to recruiters

Head of Financial Crime/ MLRO at Equity Bank Kenya

Stand out to recruiters