The Head of Forensic Investigations is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the organization’s fraud investigation function to detect, investigate, and resolve fraud, financial crime, misconduct, or breaches of policy and regulatory requirements. This role safeguards the organization’s assets, reputation, and compliance posture by developing and implementing investigation strategies, managing complex investigations, and recommending effective mitigation and prevention measures. It ensures that investigations are conducted ethically, objectively, and in compliance with legal and regulatory standards while influencing organizational risk management and fraud prevention practices at the highest levels.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Governance: Develop and execute the organization’s fraud and forensic investigation strategy; establish investigation policies, frameworks, and operating standards aligned with regulatory requirements and best practice.
Investigation Management: Oversee end‑to‑end investigations for fraud, financial crime, employee misconduct, and regulatory breaches. Direct complex, high‑risk, and high‑profile investigations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and evidentiary integrity.
Team Leadership & Capability Building: Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary forensic investigations team. Set performance standards, KPIs, capacity plans, and competency requirements to build a high‑performance, ethics‑driven investigative culture.
Risk and Controls: Analyze fraud trends, systemic risks, and control gaps; recommend preventive and corrective measures. Approve implementation of investigative tools, forensic technologies, and analytics.
Stakeholder & External Engagement: Partner closely with Compliance, Legal, Risk, Audit, IT/Cybersecurity, HR, and business units. Liaise with regulators, law enforcement, prosecutors, and industry bodies.
Reporting and Documentation: Ensure comprehensive, accurate, and clear investigation documentation and reporting for internal management and external regulators.
Governance and Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all investigations align with internal policies, legal requirements, and industry best practices.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Lead initiatives to enhance fraud investigation processes, tools, and technologies; stay informed of emerging fraud schemes.
Customer Protection: Oversee the protection of customers impacted by fraud, ensuring best-in-class service and collaboration with customer support teams.
Core Accountabilities and Deliverables
Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive fraud investigation strategy.
Establish and maintain effective fraud governance policies and standards across all business units.
Ensure fraud incidents are reported and escalated appropriately, keeping losses within agreed thresholds.
Deliver timely remedial recommendations and actionable insights, including root cause analyses.
Produce and present accurate, insight-driven reports to senior management and risk committees.
Experience Requirements
8 - 10 years forensic investigation experience.
Over 5 years leadership experience.
Strong fraud investigation and forensic accounting background.
Experience working with regulators and law enforcement.
Academic Qualifications and Certifications
Business related degree from a recognized University or College.
Professional Certification in Fraud Examination (CFE), Auditing, Accounting, Risk management, or Information systems audit is an added advantage.
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the Equity Bank recruitment portal at Equity Bank Kenya on equitybank.taleo.net to apply. Ensure your profile is complete before submitting your application.
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