Role purpose
The Head of Risk and Compliance will provide independent, practical leadership on regulatory readiness, enterprise risk, conduct, financial crime prevention, data governance, safeguarding and internal control. The role will advise executive leadership and governing bodies, maintain appropriate challenge, and ensure that ELOVIA does not undertake regulated activity before all required permissions and controls are in place.
Key responsibilities
- Design and maintain the group risk-management framework, risk appetite, registers, controls and reporting.
- Lead regulatory-readiness planning for ELOVIA Credit and coordinate legal, licensing and compliance advisers.
- Develop proportionate policies covering conduct, complaints, affordability, vulnerability, safeguarding, AML, sanctions, fraud, conflicts, data protection and third-party risk.
- Provide independent review and challenge on products, programmes, partnerships and material decisions.
- Establish compliance monitoring, control testing, incident escalation and remediation processes.
- Prepare clear risk and compliance reporting for executive leadership and the appropriate boards or trustees.
- Oversee due diligence on critical partners, suppliers and institutional relationships.
- Build risk awareness through training, guidance and accountable ownership across departments.
Experience and capabilities
- Substantial senior experience in risk, compliance, governance or regulatory affairs within financial services, fintech, development finance, banking or another regulated environment.
- Strong knowledge of Nigerian regulatory expectations; the ability to work with international institutional standards is highly valued.
- Evidence of building or strengthening risk frameworks, policies, monitoring and board reporting.
- Sound judgement, independence, discretion and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
- Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience; recognised compliance, risk, audit, legal or financial-crime qualification is advantageous.
- Excellent written communication and the ability to translate regulation into workable operating controls.
Desirable experience
- Experience supporting a regulated entity through licensing or pre-launch readiness.
- Knowledge of responsible lending, consumer protection, women’s financial inclusion or development programmes.
- Experience with technology, data governance and operational resilience.
Expected outcomes
- A board-ready enterprise risk and compliance framework.
- Documented regulatory-readiness roadmap and evidence base.
- Effective monitoring, reporting, escalation and remediation disciplines.
- A strong culture of responsible growth and customer protection.
Terms of appointment
This is a senior leadership appointment. Salary, benefits and the overall remuneration package are negotiable and will reflect the scope of the role, relevant experience and the final terms agreed with the successful candidate. The appointment is subject to references, relevant background checks, conflicts-of-interest disclosure and formal approval.
Equitable recruitment process
ELOVIA assesses applicants against consistent, role-related criteria. Shortlisting is evidence-led; interviews are structured; reasonable adjustments are available; selection decisions are documented; candidate information is treated confidentially; and appointments are made without unlawful discrimination.