Role Purpose:
Leads the delivery of independent, risk-based compliance testing and assurance, ensuring control effectiveness, timely remediation of issues, and actionable insights to support a strong regulatory control environment in all areas of the Bank.
Key Accountabilities:
Lead and oversee the design and implementation of a risk-based compliance testing programme, ensuring full alignment to the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF), regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
Develop and approve the Annual Testing Plan (ATP), ensuring comprehensive coverage of all branches and Head Office functions based on robust, risk-driven prioritization.
Direct and oversee the execution of both onsite and offsite compliance testing, ensuring adherence to approved scope, timelines, methodologies, and quality standards.
Provide independent assurance on technical compliance, control design adequacy, and operating effectiveness of controls, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and internal policies.
Oversee the consistent application of standardized scoring methodologies, rating models, and alignment of testing outcomes to established risk appetite thresholds.
Review and approve all compliance testing reports, ensuring delivery of clear, insightful, and concise outputs, including robust root cause analysis and executive-level reporting.
Enforce and monitor adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) for testing execution, reporting, and remediation, including performance tracking and escalation of delays.
Ensure timely escalation of material findings, high-risk issues, and regulatory breaches in accordance with established governance frameworks and regulatory expectations.
Oversee end-to-end issue management, including identification, tracking, remediation, validation, and ongoing sustainability monitoring of control effectiveness.
Drive effective stakeholder engagement through structured communication and socialization of testing outcomes with Heads of Functions, ensuring ownership, accountability, and timely remediation.
Lead and develop the Compliance Testing team, ensuring delivery of high-quality second line assurance, strong technical capability, and adherence to professional and regulatory standards.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree plus relevant professional qualifications such as CAMS, ICA.
Minimum 8 - 10 years' experience in Compliance, Risk, or Internal Audit
At least 5 years in a leadership role within second line or assurance functions
Proven experience in Risk-based compliance testing, Regulatory engagement, Control assurance and reporting
Key Skills and Competencies:
Strong knowledge of compliance testing, risk assessment, and control frameworks
Good understanding of Banking Operations
Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and their application in practice
Analytical and data-driven decision-making capability
Strong report writing and executive communication skills
Leadership and stakeholder management capability
High integrity, independence, and professional judgment