Compliance Officer & MLRO, Onafriq
+ Performance bonuses
Pan-African digital payments solutions
Be an early applicant
Pan-African digital payments solutions
201-500 employees
Be an early applicant
+ Performance bonuses
201-500 employees
Company mission
MFS Africa is on a mission to make borders matter less through innovative digital payment solutions.
Role
Who you are
- We are looking for candidates with a solid foundation in compliance and financial crime, who are ready to take on MLRO responsibilities with appropriate senior support
- 3–5 years of experience in a compliance, financial crime, or AML role within a regulated financial institution
- Experience working within an FCA-regulated firm — ideally an EMI, payment institution, or fintech
- Experience as a Deputy MLRO, or a strong readiness to step into an MLRO role for the first time
- Working knowledge of the FCA Handbook, Money Laundering Regulations, Payment Services Regulations, and Electronic Money Regulations
- Familiarity with SAR submissions, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and customer due diligence
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Good analytical skills and attention to detail
- A pragmatic, risk-based approach to compliance
- Experience working in or with emerging markets, including Africa, is an advantage but not required
- A reliable and diligent professional who takes ownership of their responsibilities
- A confident communicator who can engage clearly with colleagues, management, and regulators
- Comfortable working under supervision and escalating issues appropriately
- Organised and able to manage multiple work streams to a high standard
- Collaborative and able to work closely with a wider GRC team
- Adaptable and comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced fintech environment
What the job involves
- We are looking for a Compliance Officer & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) to join the Group's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) division
- This is an in-country delivery role, working day-to-day under the supervision and guidance of the Group Director of Compliance & Group MLRO
- You will hold SMF16 (Compliance Oversight) and SMF17 (MLRO) responsibilities for Onafriq UK Limited, the Group's principal UK operating subsidiary
- Your focus will be on fulfilling regulatory obligations, maintaining robust compliance processes, and supporting the Group Director in managing the FCA relationship — rather than setting group-wide strategy
- This is an excellent opportunity for a compliance professional who is ready to step into their first or early MLRO appointment in a regulated payment institution, with the benefit of senior oversight and a collaborative GRC team around them
- Regulatory Compliance:
- Support the maintenance and operation of the firm's compliance framework in line with FCA requirements
- Ensure day-to-day adherence to the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, Payment Services Regulations 2017, and FCA Handbook (SYSC, PRIN, DISP, Consumer Duty)
- Monitor regulatory developments and flag relevant changes to the Group Director of Compliance
- Assist with regulatory reporting and timely submissions to the FCA under the direction of the Group Director
- Provide first-line compliance guidance to business teams on regulatory matters
- Financial Crime & AML (MLRO Responsibilities):
- Act as the firm's in-country MLRO under the oversight of the Group Director of Compliance & Group MLRO
- Manage Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and submissions to the UK National Crime Agency (NCA)
- Maintain the firm's AML/CTF framework in accordance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, POCA 2002, and the Terrorism Act 2000
- Oversee transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and customer due diligence processes
- Conduct financial crime risk assessments and escalate material issues appropriately
- Policies, Controls & Monitoring:
- Maintain and update compliance policies and procedures, including AML/CTF policies, the Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP), and conduct risk policies
- Carry out periodic compliance monitoring and testing activities
- Support internal investigations relating to compliance breaches
- Prepare compliance and financial crime reports for the local Board and Group BARC, with Group Director sign-off
- FCA Engagement:
- Act as a point of contact for day-to-day FCA interactions, escalating material matters to the Group Director
- Support supervisory reviews, information requests, and regulatory inspections
- Assist with the implementation of regulatory change
- Governance & Training:
- Maintain SMCR responsibilities and up-to-date documentation
- Ensure staff receive appropriate compliance and AML training
- Promote a strong culture of compliance and ethical conduct across the UK business
Application process
- The successful candidate will be subject to FCA approval as an SMF holder
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Onafriq, formerly MFS Africa is Africa’s largest digital payment hub, operating out of a number of locations across the continent as well as in the UK and the US. The company leverages its wide network of financial partners (including Vodafone) and tech solutions to enable cross-border cashless payments for companies and financial service providers.
Though founded back in 2009, onafriq has been going through an unrelenting expansion since 2016 – a growth spurt characterised not only by hundreds of millions in funding, but multiple acquisitions of complementary fintechs across Africa, as well as US mobile payment software company Global Technology Partners.
The company is showing no signs of slowing down however. Its intent on further growing its footprint across the continent, and is even eyeing up an expansion into Asia, where the nascent Fintech market is also thriving.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- Ranked by Fast Company as Second Most Innovative Company in Africa
- Attractive package including flexible benefits and competitive remuneration
- Diverse, inclusive, gender-balanced company culture representing >28 nationalities and speaking >20 languages
- Massive growth potential
- We operate a flexible remote working and unlimited leave policy
Company HQ
Sandhurst, Sandton, GP
Leadership
Dare Okoudjou
(CEO)Former PwC Senior Consultant. Before founding MFS Africa they worked for South African multinational mobile telecoms company MTN as Head of Mobile Money, International Department.
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