Head of Compliance & MLRO - Nigeria

Nigeria (Remote). Posted 16 days ago

The role

The Head of Compliance and MLRO will build the compliance programme from the ground up and embed a culture of compliance. This person will serve as the primary contact for regulatory bodies and oversee the AML/CFT framework.

What you will do

Serve as the primary point of contact with relevant regulatory bodies.
Ensure the organisation meets all applicable governance requirements.
Monitor and interpret regulatory developments relevant to virtual assets.
Design, implement, and maintain a comprehensive compliance framework.
Develop, review, and update all internal policies and procedures.
Establish and oversee the compliance monitoring programme.
Prepare and present regular compliance reports to the Board and relevant committees.
Act as the designated MLRO with full statutory responsibility for the AML/CFT framework.
Receive, review, and assess all internal Suspicious Transaction Reports.
Design and deliver AML/CFT and compliance training programmes for all staff.

Required qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business, or a related field.
Minimum of 8 years of experience in compliance, AML, or financial crime prevention.
At least 3 years in a senior or leadership compliance role.
In-house experience working within virtual asset service providers (VASPs), cryptocurrency exchanges, fintech firms, or regulated financial institutions.
Experience engaging directly with financial regulators and the financial intelligence unit.
Deep understanding of FATF Recommendations and their application to virtual asset service providers.
Strong knowledge of crypto-specific AML typologies.
Proficiency with blockchain analytics and transaction monitoring tools.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French.
Strong analytical and investigative skills.
Demonstrated ability to engage constructively with regulators, external auditors, and law enforcement.
High degree of personal integrity and sound professional judgment.

Nice to have

Postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
Professional certification in compliance or AML is strongly preferred (e.g. CAMS, ICA Certificate/Diploma in AML or Compliance, CFE, or equivalent).
Prior experience as an MLRO or Deputy MLRO is highly desirable.
Hands-on experience building compliance programmes from the ground up in a start-up or scaling environment is a significant advantage.
Familiarity with the regional regulatory framework and requirements is strongly preferred.
Experience in cryptocurrency or blockchain compliance programs.
Experience working in a multi-national financial institution setting.
Familiarity with compliance technology and analytics tools.
Prior exposure to multi-jurisdictional compliance oversight.
In-depth knowledge of crypto products, including spot trading, derivatives, staking, lending/borrowing, DeFi, and stablecoins.

About the company

OKX is a leading crypto exchange and the developer of OKX Wallet, giving millions access to crypto trading and decentralized crypto applications. The company is a trusted brand by hundreds of large institutions seeking access to crypto markets.