Legal/Compliance Lead

Responsibilities:

• Lead the bank's legal and compliance framework by providing legal advisory services, drafting and negotiating contracts, managing litigation, and supporting corporate governance initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with CBN regulations, NDIC requirements, BOFIA, AML/CFT guidelines, NDPA, and other applicable laws through effective policies, controls, and regulatory monitoring.
• Oversee KYC/CDD processes, customer onboarding controls, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, suspicious transaction reporting, and financial crime compliance.
• Conduct compliance reviews, identify regulatory gaps, implement corrective actions, and maintain compliance registers, documentation, and monitoring frameworks.
• Provide legal and compliance guidance on new products, partnerships, operational initiatives, and strategic business decisions to minimize regulatory and legal risks.
• Coordinate regulatory examinations, audits, statutory reporting, and engagements with regulators, external counsel, and other key stakeholders.
• Develop compliance awareness programs, promote a strong culture of ethics and regulatory compliance, and support business units on legal and compliance obligations.
• Drive continuous improvement by strengthening compliance processes, enhancing governance frameworks, and supporting automation of compliance monitoring activities.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B) must have been called to the Nigerian Bar. Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA, CCEP, CIBN, or ACAMS are an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in legal, compliance, AML, risk management, or regulatory roles within banking, fintech, or other regulated financial institutions.
• Proven experience in contract drafting and negotiation, legal advisory, regulatory compliance, KYC/CDD, AML/CFT, transaction monitoring, and regulatory reporting.
• Strong knowledge of CBN regulations, BOFIA, NDIC requirements, AML/CFT regulations, NDPA, corporate and commercial law, and financial services regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret regulatory requirements, manage legal risks, and implement effective compliance frameworks within a digital banking environment.
• Strong analytical, investigative, legal drafting, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and compliance monitoring tools.
• High level of integrity, sound judgment, and leadership capability, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced digital banking environment and build a strong compliance culture.