Head of Risk & Compliance

Role Overview

This role exists to ensure the country’s operations remain fully compliant with all financial, banking, and statutory regulations while staying within the board-approved risk appetite. Day to day, you will lead the design and execution of credit risk strategies that balance portfolio growth against non-performing debt, capital efficiency, and market sensitivity. Your work directly protects the institution’s stability and supports sound decision-making across lending, investment, and operational activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end implementation of credit risk policies and procedures, ensuring consistent compliance across all business units.
• Build and maintain a country-level risk management function, including a clearly defined risk appetite statement and an integrated governance framework.
• Measure and report on credit, operational, market, and liquidity risks, providing analytical support for risk modelling and portfolio valuation.
• Manage Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing control activities, setting a reasonable threshold for control consistency across all relevant areas.
• Identify emerging and known risks, monitor the risk profile, and facilitate the maintenance of corporate risk policies (security, business continuity, information security, and limit breaches).
• Deliver independent, objective risk analyses to support strategic and operational decisions, and ensure line managers take direct ownership of critical risks.
• Implement board-approved risk strategies and develop processes that adequately identify, measure, monitor, and control all material risks faced by the institution.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Risk Management, Business Administration, or Law. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in risk management, policies, and regulations within the financial or banking sector.
• At least 5 years in a senior management role, with demonstrated ability to translate commercial strategies into risk profiles and assessments.
• Proven track record of building strong networks with regulatory bodies and government authorities.
• International risk management certifications such as CIRM, CRCM, ICM, or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of financial/banking regulations, market trends, and enterprise risk (credit, operational, liquidity, market).
• Solid knowledge of portfolio risk management techniques (loan books, deposit quality, credit lines) and operational risk identification (transformation, HC/IT risks).
• Practical experience in consumer and commercial lending origination, portfolio management, pension plan investments, and capital markets (money markets, securitization, fixed income, interest rates) and associated risks.
• Excellent leadership, delegation, and problem-solving skills, with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work across cross-functional teams.

What We Offer / Why Join

This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape the risk culture of a growing financial institution. You will have the chance to influence strategic decisions at board level and drive the evolution of an integrated risk management framework. The role offers significant exposure to regulatory engagement, portfolio optimisation, and enterprise-wide risk governance.