Risk and Compliance Officer

Risk & Compliance Officer

1.Role Overview

The Risk & Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring that the institution operates within established regulatory requirements, internal policies, and risk management frameworks. The role focuses on identifying, monitoring, and mitigating risks related to lending operations, portfolio quality, and operational processes while promoting strong internal controls and compliance across the organization.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and monitor credit, operational, liquidity, and fraud risks within the institution.
• Conduct regular risk assessments of the loan portfolio including monitoring of PAR30, PAR60, and PAR90 indicators.
• Develop and maintain a risk register and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Monitor compliance with risk appetite limits and escalate breaches to senior management.

Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and lending guidelines.
• Monitor adherence to Bank of Zambia regulations, anti-money laundering (AML) policies, and credit bureau usage requirements.
• Review loan approvals to ensure compliance with credit policy and maker-checker principles.
• Conduct periodic compliance reviews across departments.

Credit & Portfolio Monitoring

• Analyze loan portfolio performance and identify emerging credit risks.
• Review loan files to ensure proper documentation and adherence to underwriting standards.
• Monitor loan restructuring, write-offs, and recovery activities.

Internal Controls

• Develop and strengthen internal control procedures to reduce operational risks.
• Investigate suspected fraud, irregularities, and policy breaches.
• Ensure reconciliation processes are performed, and outstanding items are resolved timely.

Reporting

• Prepare and present risk and compliance reports to management and the board.
• Track and report key risk indicators (KRIs) and compliance metrics.
• Provide recommendations to improve risk management practices.

Training & Awareness

• Provide staff training on risk management, compliance requirements, and internal policies.
• Promote a culture of ethical conduct and regulatory compliance across the institution.

3. Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Banking, Economics, Risk Management, or Business Administration.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Compliance Professional (CCP), ACCA, or CIMA are an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in risk management, compliance, or internal audit within a financial institution, microfinance institution, or banking environment.
• Experience in credit risk analysis and loan portfolio monitoring.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of credit risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of microfinance operations and lending products such as personal loans, group loans, and SME financing.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and investigative ability.
• Ability to prepare and present risk reports to senior management.
• Good knowledge of financial systems, Excel, and risk monitoring tools.

Personal Attributes

• High integrity and ethical standards.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and maintain confidentiality.