Business Financial Crime Surveillance at Equity Bank Kenya

The role supervises the Financial Crime Surveillance Unit in the Business Compliance Department to conduct surveillance, analyze and investigate customers activity and transactions with respect to potential Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing & Proliferation Financing (ML/TF/PF), related to bribery & corruption, market abuse, other predicate offences and other suspicious activity. The role is a critical element of the Bank’s defense against ML/TF/PF and other predicate offences.

Business Financial Crime Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure timely and quality Name Screening, Transactions Monitoring and Payment screening hits dispensation.
• The prompt identification, investigation, and an in-depth analysis (if necessary) of alerts generated from the highest risk Transactions Monitoring (TM) detection scenarios.
• Lead efforts to conduct in-depth investigations into money laundering and terrorist financing activities, Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), Politically Influential Persons (PIPs) or Tip-Offs in order to identify potential risks for the Bank
• Escalate all high-risk, complex and/or significant issues to the line management to ensure these matters are dealt with timeously and as per the standards set out it in the Financial Crime framework
• Continuously maintain an understanding of policies, processes, procedures and systems with the view to find better ways to execute tasks, improve systems, improve training material, improve money laundering surveillance performance.
• Ensure timely preparation and circulation of required periodic compliance and financial crime reports to Regulators, Management and Executive Committees, the Board and the Board Audit and Risk Committee (BRAC)
• Collaborate with the Banks 2LOD compliance to address large scale or sensitive financial crimes, as they relate to specific requests issued by the FRC and any other regulators.
• Regular review of systems scenarios and rules within AML monitoring solution to reduce the number of positive alerts and ensure optimal system functionalities.
• Take lead in FCC Analysis and Post Investigation Actions, including escalation of STRs to MLRO
• Financial Crime Deep Dives & Complex Investigations
• Maintain pro-active awareness of potential high-risk persons or entities through monitoring of open-source information (e.g. press releases).

Qualifications, Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Professional certifications such as CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) or a Diploma in AML Compliance will be an added advantage.
• At least six (6) years’ experience in risk management and compliance with a minimum of three (3) years at management level.
• Strong understanding of Kenyan banking laws and regulations, including POCAMLA, CBK guidelines, and international standards like FATF.
• Demonstrated knowledge in conducting in-depth reviews and CFCC risk assessments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of developing, reviewing and updating CFCC related frameworks, Policies and Procedures.
• Knowledge in managing risks related to Financial Crimes, Regulatory compliance, and Conduct.
• A good understanding of Sanctions Compliance and Controls.
• Strong understanding of Financial Crimes automated solutions