Senior Specialist: Compliance

ABOUT CELLULANT

Cellulant is Africa's leading payments company, providing seamless, secure and innovative solutions that empower businesses, banks, and global brands to thrive in a fast-changing global economy.

With a presence in over 24 countries and 200+ payment methods across cards, bank transfer and mobile money, our single API payment platform, Tingg, simplifies collections, disbursements, and reconciliations. It processes over 1 million transactions daily for market leaders in various sectors, such as Airlines, Telecoms, E-commerce, Ride-Hailing, Retail, and Remittances.

By simplifying how people pay and get paid, we drive trust, commerce and scale – and connect companies to their ambitions.

OUR STORY:

Across Africa, payments are more than transactions. They are gateways to prosperity, connecting people, businesses and communities to opportunities and growth.

From enabling a logistics company in Lusaka to pay suppliers across borders, to enabling a hospitality brand in Lagos to scale effortlessly, to supporting an airline in Nairobi to reconcile payments from multiple platforms, Cellulant is the bridge that makes it all possible.

Through trusted technology and customer-centric innovation, we build connections that inspire progress, strengthen economies and transform payments into a tool for progress.

Since our founding in 2003, we've continuously adapted and grown, leveraging our experiences to simplify payments for businesses. We are driven by an unshakable belief that seamless people-centred payments are the key to unlocking prosperity.

Today, Cellulant powers online and offline payment processing, allowing businesses to collect payments, send payouts, and accelerate business growth.

OUR VISION:

To enable seamless payments across Africa for businesses, banks and consumers.
Read more about us and our leadership team .

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Role Summary: As a Senior Specialist: Compliance at Cellulant, you are a critical member of the Compliance team within the Risk and Compliance division of the company. You will support the team and the company at large to ensure Compliance with relevant laws, regulations including AML/CFT.

Senior Specialist : Compliance will support the Compliance lead to implement and maintain a robust compliance program across the company.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of relevant laws and regulations, as well as internal policies and communicate changes to the Business.
• Conduct Compliance monitoring of the Business and assess the level of Compliance with extant laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with other stakeholders to track instances of non-compliance and ensure remedial actions are implemented accordingly.
• Support the team in coordinating regulatory audits and ensure prompt closure of observations / findings.
• Conduct AML/CFT Risk assessment of the Business, it's products and services, as well as customers.
• Support the team to draft, update relevant AML/CFT policies, procedures and control documents that are tailored to current business activities of Cellulant.
• Ensure AML/CFT-related regulatory reports and returns are submitted to relevant authorities within the stipulated timelines.
• Conduct due diligence reviews including enhanced review on customers, partners.
• Detect customers / partners that fall outside Cellulant's risk appetite and derisk them accordingly.
• Carryout ongoing transaction monitoring to identify suspicious transactions.
• Report suspicious activities or transactions to relevant authorities.
• Conduct ongoing transaction filtering and screening.
• Develop AML/CFT training plan for members of Staff.
• Collaborate with HR to ensure members of Staff are adequately trained on Compliance and AML/CFT requirements.
• Develop Compliance awareness newsletters, nuggets to be circulated to members of Staff in periodic basis.
• Oversee the risk-based periodic reviews of existing customers.
• Review and investigate incidents reported or escalated to the Compliance team - including whistleblower reports, code of conduct, Conflict of Interest, etc.
• Support the Compliance lead in implementing a robust anti-bribery and Corruption program.
• Introduce initiatives that could simplify existing process and procedures including the use of automation, AI.
• Support the implementation of AML/CFT control tools.
• Collaborate with the Product and Technology team to ensure AML/CFT tools are working optimally by conducting periodic quality checks and escalating anomalies.
• Continuously strive to optimize ROI on investments in AML/CFT tools.
• Carryout Compliance assessment of new products / services and updates to existing products / services.
• Provide advisory services to the Business in Compliance matters.
• Maintain, update the Company's internal watchlist / blacklist and communicate updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Promptly Respond to due diligence requests from business partners or bankers.
• Carryout any other exercise that may be assigned to you by your supervisor.
• Support the Compliance lead to prepare periodic Management Information reports.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Risk Management, or any other relevant field of study.
• Member of relevant professional bodies (such as ACCA, CIN, ACFE, ACAMS, ACA, etc).
• A master's degree or Professional Certifications such as DCP, CAFCA, ICA, CAMS is an advantage.
• Knowledge of fundamental Banking products and services, including operational processes.
• Significant experience of Payment Services in major African Markets - including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, etc.
• In Depth knowledge of AML/CFT regulations and requirements as it relates to Payment Services, Remittance and digital financial services.
• 2-6 years of experience in customer due diligence reviews and approvals including enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers such as Remittance companies, PEPs, companies with complex structure, virtual assets or VASPs, Forex companies, etc.
• 2-6 years' experience in conduct investigation of incidents especially red flags for AML/CFT risks.
• Demonstrate experience in drafting policies and procedures.
• Ability to conduct research and interpret regulatory provisions.
• Demonstrate ability to use work tools such as Google sheets, slides, notes, Excel, Powerpoint.

Experience that will count in your favor:

• Experience working in a FinTech, insurance or financial institution.
• Strong business acumen
• Integrity, Good Judgement, Team Player

Nice to have experience:

• Excellent Communication Skills
• Excellent Interpersonal skills
• Ability to handle tasks at a given time
• Problem solving

Skills:

• Presentation skills, Interpersonal skills, and Analytical skills

Personal attributes

• Integrity, Good Judgement, Team Player

Why Work For Us?

• At Cellulant, transforming payments in Africa isn't just a job; it is our mission. We believe by simplifying the way people pay and get paid; we are accelerating businesses, opening up markets, bridging wealth gaps and connecting Africa to the global economy.

Some exciting things about us...

• We have an Extensive Footprint: We have an office presence in over 10 countries, and our products serve 35 countries across Africa with a global workforce of about 300 employees.
• We believe that innovation is at the Heart of Fintech: Thousands of companies use our technology to deliver seamless payment experiences. Our customers range from various sectors such as Airlines, Telecoms, E-commerce, Ride-Hailing, Retail, to Remittances.
• We Support a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce: We focus on the growth and development of our employees through well-developed, individualized career paths ensuring you reach your full potential in a supportive and delivery-oriented environment.
• We Put our Employees First: We offer market-related compensation, generous personal time off and, markets permitting, medical and life insurance benefits.
• We Seek Collaborative Builders: At Cellulant, we believe that great ideas happen when we come together. We, therefore, nurture a collaborative work environment that challenges, engages and empowers each person to contribute to the growth and success of the business.
• We Solve for Africa's Digital Economy: We're solving payment challenges on the continent to create opportunities and accelerate economic growth for all of Africa.