A fast-growing fintech company is seeking a qualified and experienced Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) to lead and manage its Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF), and financial crime compliance framework. The role is responsible for ensuring full compliance with Kenyan regulatory requirements while safeguarding the organization from financial crime and regulatory risk.
Key Responsibilities
The MLRO will be responsible for:
- Acting as the principal officer responsible for AML/CFT compliance in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA), CBK Prudential Guidelines, and Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) requirements.
- Designing, implementing, and maintaining the company’s AML/CFT policies, procedures, and internal controls in line with regulatory and risk-based standards.
- Receiving, reviewing, and investigating internal suspicious transaction reports (STRs) and determining whether they should be escalated to the Financial Reporting Centre.
- Filing external Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and other statutory reports within prescribed timelines.
- Overseeing the company’s transaction monitoring systems, customer risk profiling, sanctions screening, and escalation processes.
- Ensuring robust Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) frameworks are implemented for high-risk customers, PEPs, and complex transactions.
- Conducting and updating enterprise-wide AML risk assessments covering products, customers, geographies, delivery channels, and emerging fintech risks.
- Providing regular AML and financial crime risk reports to senior management and the Board.
- Serving as the main point of contact for the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and other regulators on AML matters. Leading regulatory inspections, audits, and compliance reviews.
- Developing and delivering AML/CFT training and awareness programs for all staff.
- Advising the business on new products, partnerships, and technologies from an AML and financial crime risk perspective.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field.
- Professional certification in AML, compliance, or financial crime such as CAMS, CFE, ICA, ACAMS, or equivalent will be a strong advantage.
- Demonstrable experience working in AML, compliance, financial crime, risk, or regulatory roles within fintech, banking, payments, microfinance, SACCOs, or financial services.
- Strong working knowledge of POCAMLA, FRC guidelines, CBK Prudential Guidelines, and international AML/CFT standards.
- Hands-on experience with transaction monitoring, KYC, sanctions screening, and STR reporting.
- Proven ability to engage with regulators, auditors, and senior management.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and report-writing skills.
- High ethical standards, independence, and professional judgment.
Key Competencies
- Strong understanding of fintech business models and digital financial products
- Excellent risk assessment and decision-making ability
- Ability to operate with confidentiality, integrity, and independence
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Detail-oriented with a proactive compliance mindset.
