Senior Compliance Officer (AML/Fintech/Payments)

Black Pen Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mission-driven work

Startup environment with growth opportunities

Competitive compensation

Job summary

A high-growth fintech company is seeking a Senior Compliance Officer to enhance its compliance framework across financial services, crypto asset trading, and payments. The role requires a bachelor's degree in Law and at least 5 years of PQE in compliance roles. Key responsibilities include conducting due diligence, transaction monitoring, and ensuring adherence to regulatory obligations. This position offers competitive compensation and a hybrid work model, allowing you to contribute to meaningful financial innovations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PQE in compliance in financial services, banking or payments.
• Experience or exposure to cryptocurrency and digital asset regulation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Support compliance framework adherence and update policies.
• Conduct KYC checks on clients and perform ongoing reviews.
• Monitor and analyze transactions for suspicious activity.

Skills

Analytical skills

Investigative skills

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Organizational abilities

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law

Job description

Our client is a high-growth fintech company building the next generation of payment infrastructure acrossAfrica. Their mission is to make money movement seamless, inclusive, and scalable across borders. They operate at the intersection of financial innovation and real-world impact, empowering businesses and consumers with tools to thrive in a rapidly digitizing economy.

Role Overview

The Senior Compliance Officer will assist in implementing and maintaining the company’s compliance framework across all business lines, including financial services, crypto asset trading, and payments. The role involves conducting due diligence, transaction monitoring, and investigations while supporting broader regulatory, reporting, and policy initiatives. This is a Senior-level position offering exposure to multiple regulated environments.

Job Type

Full Time. Permanent

Workplace

Hybrid

Location

Cape Town

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or tertiary qualification in Law.
• At least 5 years PQE exposed to compliance in financial services, banking and payments environments.
• Experience or exposure to cryptocurrency and digital asset regulation.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high standard of accuracy.
• Strong organisational abilities and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.

Responsibilities

Compliance Operations

• Support the company’s compliance framework, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards across all business areas.
• Assist in implementing, maintaining, and updating compliance policies and procedures to align with evolving regulatory obligations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date compliance records and documentation.

KYC & Due Diligence

• Conduct Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks on new clients and perform ongoing due diligence reviews on existing clients and counterparties.
• Review and verify KYC documentation during the onboarding process to ensure all required checks are completed prior to account activation.
• Support enhanced due diligence processes for high-risk clients or complex structures.

Screening & Monitoring

• Review and resolve customer screening alerts, including politically exposed persons (PEPs), sanctions, and adverse media matches.
• Monitor and analyse transactions for potential suspicious or unusual activity.
• Conduct investigations and assist in preparing and submitting Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) or Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).

Investigations & Reporting

• Assist in investigating flagged accounts and responding to requests or inquiries from banks, counterparties, and regulatory authorities.
• Collaborate with fraud operations, banking, and payment partners to mitigate financial crime risks.
• Contribute to the preparation of internal and external compliance reports.

Regulatory Awareness & Collaboration

• Stay current with changes in AML, KYC, and financial services and payments regulations across relevant jurisdictions.
• Work closely with senior compliance and legal functions to ensure company-wide understanding and application of compliance obligations.
• Support the maintenance of relationships with payment, banking, and regulatory partners.

Benefits

• Mission-Driven Work: The opportunity to work on solving cross-boarder payments in Africa. Connecting us to the world, and the world to us.
• A startup environment with massive growth: High pace, high growth where your work directly shapes and impacts the company.
• Competitive Compensation: A salary package that matches your expertise and the market rate.