Senior Legal and Compliance officer (Cross Border Financial Services)

Company Overview

A Start-up financial services company operating in the cross-border payments and fintech ecosystem, providing secure, compliant, and customer-centric payment solutions across multiple jurisdictions, is seeking a Senior Legal & Compliance Officer to lead our legal, regulatory, and compliance function in Nigeria while supporting cross-border operations.

Job Purpose / Role Summary

The Senior Legal & Compliance Officer will be responsible for overseeing the company’s legal, regulatory, and compliance framework, ensuring full adherence to Nigerian and international financial services regulations applicable to cross-border payments.

This role will serve as a strategic advisor to management, balancing regulatory compliance with commercial growth, managing legal risk, engaging regulators, and embedding a strong compliance culture across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal & Regulatory Compliance

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Ensure full compliance with all applicable financial services laws and regulations, including AML/CFT, KYC, sanctions, data protection, and consumer protection laws.

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Monitor, interpret, and implement regulatory requirements issued by CBN, NFIU, SEC (where applicable), and other relevant authorities.

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Provide legal and regulatory guidance on cross-border payment operations and new market initiatives.

2. AML, CFT & Financial Crime Oversight

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Oversee the design and implementation of the company’s AML/CFT, sanctions screening, and transaction monitoring framework.

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Review and manage high-risk customers, PEPs, and complex transactions.

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Ensure timely regulatory reporting, including STRs, CTRs, and regulatory disclosures.

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Keep the company aligned with FATF recommendations and global sanctions regimes

3. Corporate Legal & Contract Management

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Draft, review, and negotiate key commercial agreements including:

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Banking and correspondent relationships

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Payment processor and partner agreements

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Vendor and third-party service contracts

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Ensure contracts appropriately allocate regulatory, operational, and financial risk.

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Advise management on corporate governance matters and legal risk exposure.

4. Regulatory Engagement & Governance

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Act as the primary liaison with regulators, auditors, and external legal advisers.

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Manage regulatory inspections, audits, and information requests.

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Prepare compliance reports and updates for senior management and the Board.

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Support enterprise risk management and compliance governance frameworks.

5. Business Advisory & Strategic Support

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Partner with Product, Operations, Technology, Finance, and Sales teams to ensure compliance-by-design.

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Advise on new products, payment corridors, and market expansion initiatives.

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Balance regulatory obligations with operational efficiency and customer experience.

6. Policies, Training & Compliance Culture

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Develop, update, and enforce internal legal and compliance policies and procedures.

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Conduct staff training on compliance, ethics, AML/CFT, and regulatory obligations.

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Promote a strong culture of ethics, accountability, and regulatory awareness.