Head of Compliance, Nigeria and West Africa at Standard Chartered Bank

Company: Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Job Title: Head of Compliance, Nigeria and West Africa
Requisition Number: 977
Employment Type: Permanent
Global Grade: Band 5
Work Type: Office Working
Industry: Banking, Financial Services, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance
Application Deadline: 6 Dec 2026
Posted Date: 24 May 2026

Job Overview

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria is recruiting for the position of Head of Compliance, Nigeria and West Africa. This senior-level leadership opportunity is ideal for highly experienced professionals in banking compliance, financial crime prevention, AML compliance, risk management, banking operations, regulatory affairs, credit risk analysis, internal controls, governance, and corporate compliance management.

The successful candidate will serve as the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) for Nigeria & West Africa, leading the Compliance, Financial Crime and Risk (CFCR) function while ensuring the bank operates within regulatory frameworks and maintains the highest standards of ethical conduct.

This role is particularly suitable for candidates seeking banking executive jobs in Nigeria, compliance director jobs, AML risk management careers, financial crime compliance jobs, regulatory affairs positions, banking governance jobs, chief compliance officer opportunities, and senior banking leadership roles.

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Head of Compliance, Nigeria and West Africa Jobs in Lagos

As the Head of Compliance for Nigeria & West Africa, you will oversee the implementation of compliance policies, financial crime risk management frameworks, governance systems, anti-money laundering programs, regulatory engagement, conduct compliance, sanctions monitoring, and enterprise risk management initiatives.

You will act as the primary escalation point for all Compliance, Financial Crime and Regulatory (CFCR) matters while working closely with senior management, business leaders, regulators, and global stakeholders.

Key Job Responsibilities

Compliance & Financial Crime Leadership

• Lead the Compliance, Financial Crime and Risk (CFCR) function across Nigeria and West Africa.
• Oversee implementation of compliance policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure the bank complies with regulatory standards, anti-money laundering laws, sanctions regulations, anti-bribery measures, fraud prevention, and financial crime frameworks.
• Protect the bank’s reputation through effective compliance risk management.

Regulatory Risk Management

• Identify and assess regulatory compliance risks and implement mitigation measures.
• Act as the principal escalation point for serious regulatory breaches and risk tolerance issues.
• Ensure compliance with local banking laws, financial regulations, internal control standards, and enterprise risk frameworks.
• Manage relationships with financial regulators and external stakeholders.

Financial Crime Compliance

The role covers oversight of:

• Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
• Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF)
• Sanctions Compliance
• Anti-Bribery & Corruption
• Fraud Risk Management
• Asset Freeze Compliance
• Financial Crime Monitoring & Surveillance

Candidates with expertise in KYC compliance, transaction monitoring, compliance investigations, banking surveillance systems, internal audit coordination, regulatory reporting, and compliance advisory will have an advantage.

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Strategic Leadership

• Drive the vision and implementation of the CFCR strategy aligned with business growth goals.
• Support the CEO and senior leadership team in maintaining strong compliance culture.
• Provide strategic advice on emerging compliance and regulatory risks.
• Ensure policies and procedures are effectively communicated across teams.

Governance & Compliance Oversight

• Lead governance activities related to compliance programs.
• Oversee implementation of compliance monitoring and assurance activities.
• Escalate major compliance concerns to executive leadership.
• Roll out lessons learned from audits and compliance investigations.

Risk Management Responsibilities

• Act as Risk Owner for regulatory compliance processes in Nigeria & West Africa.
• Monitor horizon risks that may affect banking operations.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies for financial crime and compliance issues.
• Maintain oversight of remediation plans and control effectiveness.

Team Leadership & Talent Management

• Lead and mentor the regional compliance team.
• Support succession planning and workforce capability development.
• Conduct performance reviews and ongoing training.
• Ensure critical compliance roles are staffed with qualified professionals.

Education Requirements

Applicants should possess:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in:
  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Banking & Finance
  • Economics
  • Business Administration
  • Law
  • Risk Management
  • Compliance
  • Or related disciplines

Professional certifications in Compliance, Risk Management, AML, Financial Crime Prevention, Governance, Audit, or Regulatory Compliance are highly desirable.

Membership of recognized International Compliance Associations will be an added advantage.

Experience Requirements

To qualify for this role, candidates should have:

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in risk management, compliance, control functions, financial crime, audit, or banking operations within the financial services sector.
• Strong understanding of the regulatory environment in Nigeria and West Africa.
• Proven experience in:
  • Banking operations
  • Accounting
  • Credit analysis and appraisal
  • Risk management
  • Compliance leadership
  • Regulatory engagement

Applicants with prior experience in commercial banking, investment banking, corporate banking, governance, internal controls, AML programs, enterprise risk, and compliance advisory are strongly encouraged to apply.

Required Skills & Competencies

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Leadership and stakeholder management expertise
• Regulatory compliance knowledge
• Financial crime risk assessment capabilities
• Compliance monitoring and investigations experience
• Project management skills
• Change management expertise
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ethical leadership and integrity
• Multi-cultural awareness and relationship management

Technical Skills & Expertise

• Compliance Policies & Standards
• Compliance Advisory
• Compliance Risk Assessment
• Regulatory Liaison
• Investigations
• Surveillance & Monitoring
• Screening & Transaction Monitoring
• Project Management
• Governance Frameworks

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Salary & Benefits

Salary: Competitive Salary Package (Based on Experience and Internal Pay Structure)

Benefits may include:

• Retirement savings support
• Medical and life insurance
• Flexible voluntary benefits
• Mental and physical wellbeing programs
• Paid annual leave and public holidays
• Maternity and parental leave
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Learning and professional development programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• Volunteering leave opportunities
• Career progression within a global banking institution

Training & Career Development

Standard Chartered Bank offers continuous professional development through:

• Compliance and AML training
• Risk management development programs
• Leadership training
• Regulatory and governance workshops
• Digital and virtual learning platforms
• Professional certification support
• Executive mentoring opportunities

This opportunity is ideal for professionals pursuing careers in banking leadership, chief compliance officer roles, financial crime prevention, anti-money laundering, enterprise risk management, governance, regulatory affairs, and senior financial services management.

Why Join Standard Chartered Bank?

By joining Standard Chartered Bank, you will:

• Work with a globally respected international bank
• Gain regional leadership exposure across West Africa
• Influence banking compliance and governance strategy
• Work in an inclusive and values-driven culture
• Access world-class learning and career growth opportunities

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications through the official Standard Chartered Bank recruitment platform before the deadline.

Application Deadline: 6 Dec 2026

Apply early for this outstanding opportunity to lead compliance, financial crime prevention, and regulatory governance at one of the world’s leading international banks.