Head of Compliance and Risk

About the role

Wave is building a cashless Africa and needs a senior leader to shape its compliance and risk function in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the Head of Compliance and Risk you will own the local compliance framework, protect the business from regulatory exposure, and foster a culture of integrity across the organization.

Key responsibilities

• Define and drive the strategic direction of the compliance program for the DRC market.
• Maintain and update all compliance policies, procedures, and risk controls.
• Monitor evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g., Central Bank, AML/CFT regulations) and ensure internal alignment.
• Support AML and CFT investigations, including filing Suspicious Transaction Reports to CENAREF.
• Oversee implementation of core compliance requirements such as KYC, agent and merchant onboarding controls.
• Manage relationships with regulators, banking partners, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with operations, legal, product, and engineering teams.

Required profile

• Hands‑on, analytical leader with extensive experience in compliance, risk, and AML/CFT within the financial services sector.
• Proven ability to advise senior leadership and board members on compliance matters.
• Strong understanding of local regulatory bodies in the DRC, including the Central Bank (BCC) and CENAREF.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills.

Required skills

• Knowledge of AML/CFT regulations and reporting procedures.
• Experience with KYC processes and risk control frameworks.
• Familiarity with local banking and regulatory environments.

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape compliance strategy in a fast‑growing fintech.
• Collaborative, mission‑driven environment focused on financial inclusion.
• Competitive compensation package.