Head of Risk & Compliance / MLRO, Rwanda

About the Role

The Head of Risk & Compliance / MLRO will lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of Chipper’s Risk and Compliance Framework in Rwanda. You will act as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and serve as the second line of defense — ensuring adherence to all anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and counter-proliferation financing (CPF) regulations.

This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented leader with strong regulatory acumen and the ability to balance compliance rigor with business enablement.

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Who we are

Chipper Cash was founded in 2018 by Ham Serunjogi and Maijid Moujaled, with the aim to “chip away” at the problem of inaccessible financial services, a high population of underbanked consumers, reliance on cash for daily commerce and the difficulty of cross-border transactions. Today, Chipper Cash is connecting more than three million people in Africa, one transaction at a time with an easy-to-use mobile app that makes money transfers fast, secure and free. Whether it’s sending money home to support your family, running a cross-border business or paying local expenses, Chipper Cash saves time, saves money, and opens up new opportunities for Africans everywhere. 

With plans for rapid expansion, the Chipper Cash mobile app is currently available to consumers and businesses in eight countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and the UK. Headquartered in San Francisco, California with offices across the globe, Chipper Cash delivers fair financial services that make the lives of millions of Africans better in a small way, every day. Chipper’s mission is to unlock global opportunities and bring Africa together, one transaction at a time. Come join us.  For more information, please visit our website: www.chippercash.com  

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Key Responsibilities

Core Compliance & AML/CTF Oversight

• Serve as the designated Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for Chipper Rwanda, ensuring timely and accurate filing of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs/STRs) with the Rwanda Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR).
  
  
• Maintain overall accountability for Chipper’s compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and regulatory directives under which the company is licensed.
  
  
• Design, implement, and monitor the AML/CFT/CPF Framework to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, or proliferation financing risks.
  
  
• Oversee day-to-day compliance operations, ensuring effective internal controls, independent reviews, and ongoing monitoring processes.
  
  
• Stay up to date with emerging regulatory changes, advising the business and leadership on compliance impacts and required updates to internal policies.
  
  

Regulatory Engagement & Reporting

• Act as the primary point of contact for regulators, law enforcement, and partner institutions on compliance and AML/CFT/CPF matters.
  
  
• Ensure prompt and transparent communication with regulators and provide periodic reports to the Local Board and Global Risk & Compliance leadership on compliance performance, key findings, and risk exposure.
  
  
• Respond to law enforcement and regulatory enquiries, maintaining accuracy, timeliness, and professionalism.
  
  

Risk Management & Governance

• Lead the implementation of Chipper’s risk management framework, including maintenance of the country risk register and coordination of periodic risk assessments.
  
  
• Conduct annual AML/CFT/CPF risk assessments, product risk reviews prior to launch, and data protection risk assessments in line with regulatory expectations.
  
  
• Perform independent testing on risk, consumer protection, and data protection processes, serving as the local Data Protection Officer (DPO).
  
  
• Provide insights and recommendations to group functions based on jurisdictional nuances and evolving regulatory landscapes.
  
  

Advisory & Culture Building

• Provide advisory support to internal teams (Product, Operations, Engineering, etc.) on compliance, conduct, data privacy, and risk-related matters.
  
  
• Drive compliance awareness through training programs, communications, and culture initiatives across the organization.
  
  
• Foster a proactive compliance culture by empowering teams to integrate compliance into day-to-day decision-making.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related discipline (advanced degrees preferred).
  
  
• 5–7 years of progressive experience in Risk, Compliance, or Financial Crime, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within a regulated financial institution or fintech.
  
  
• In-depth knowledge of Rwandan regulatory frameworks (BNR, FIU, RISA, etc.) and practical experience handling regulatory audits, inspections, or licensing processes.
  
  
• Strong familiarity with international AML/CFT standards (FATF, OFAC, EU AMLD, GDPR, etc.) and ability to translate global compliance principles into local application.
  
  

Technical Knowledge

• Advanced expertise in AML/CFT, KYC, Sanctions, Transaction Monitoring, and Data Protection.
  
  
• Skilled in building and maintaining Risk & Compliance Control Frameworks.
  
  
• Hands-on experience with compliance technology, case management systems, and transaction monitoring tools.
  
  
• Strong working knowledge of Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive).
  
  
• Familiarity with digital financial products and services, particularly in the payments and fintech ecosystem.
  
  
• Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA, CFCS, or ACIN/DCP are highly desirable.
  
  

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to influence, advise, and engage senior stakeholders and regulators.
  
  
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a proven ability to build a compliance culture across diverse teams.
  
  
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment, integrity, and the ability to make decisions under pressure.
  
  
• High emotional intelligence, professionalism, and resilience in fast-paced environments.
  
  

Who You Are

You’re a proactive, mission-driven compliance professional who thrives in complexity. You see compliance not as a blocker, but as an enabler of trust and sustainable growth. You lead with empathy, communicate with clarity, and build systems that balance regulation with innovation.

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What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape the future of compliance in one of Africa’s fastest-growing fintechs.
  
  
• A collaborative, high-performing culture built on trust, transparency, and innovation.
  
  
• Professional growth through regional exposure, leadership collaboration, and development programs.
  
  
• Competitive compensation and benefits aligned to global fintech standards.

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Location:

This role is based in Rwanda and follows a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates must be currently residing in Rwanda and able to collaborate with both local and remote teams.

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