Legal and Compliance Manager

Key facts

About the role

Highlights

• Key Responsibilities
• A. Legal Advisory and Corporate Legal Affairs
• Advise the CEO, executive management, and departments on legal matters, commercial transactions, contracts, and business risks.
• Interpret applicable laws, regulations, directives, and legal requirements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, service agreements, partnership agreements, and other legal documents.
• Ensure business transactions are supported by proper legal documentation.
• Identify legal risks and recommend measures to protect the company’s interests.
• Coordinate with external legal counsel on disputes, litigation, and complex legal matters.
• Advise management on legislative changes and their operational implications.
• B. Regulatory Compliance and Licensing
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive compliance management framework.
• Monitor regulatory requirements issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia and other relevant authorities.
• Ensure compliance with licensing conditions and regulatory obligations.
• Coordinate regulatory applications, renewals, notifications, correspondence, and reporting.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting mobile money, digital payments, and financial technology.
• Maintain a regulatory obligations register and track compliance deadlines.
• Assess regulatory implications of new products, services, partnerships, and business initiatives.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections, examinations, and information requests.
• C. Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT)
• Develop and implement AML/CFT policies and procedures.
• Support customer due diligence, customer identification, and Know Your Customer (KYC) controls.
• Ensure appropriate transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction escalation and reporting procedures.
• Identify and address financial crime risks in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Monitor sanctions screening and other applicable financial crime prevention requirements.
• Conduct compliance risk assessments and recommend mitigation measures.
• Organize compliance training for employees.
• Coordinate with the designated AML/CFT officer to ensure clear responsibilities and effective oversight.
• D. Data Protection and Information Governance
• Monitor compliance with applicable data protection, privacy, and information security requirements in Ethiopia.
• Advise on the collection, processing, storage, sharing, use, and retention of personal and financial information.
• Review privacy notices, consent mechanisms, data-sharing agreements, and related contracts.
• Work with technology and information security teams to assess digital platform and customer data risks.
• Develop procedures for data breaches, privacy complaints, and information access requests.
• Ensure third-party contracts address confidentiality, data protection, and information security.
• E. Corporate Governance and Company Secretarial Support
• Develop and maintain corporate governance policies and procedures.
• Maintain corporate records, statutory documents, board resolutions, and governance documents.
• Coordinate board and management committee meetings and documentation, where assigned.
• Monitor corporate filing and statutory reporting obligations.
• Advise on conflicts of interest, ethical conduct, delegated authority, and governance requirements.
• Support implementation of the Code of Conduct and related internal policies.
• F. Compliance Risk Management and Internal Controls
• Identify, assess, document, and monitor legal and regulatory compliance risks.
• Maintain a compliance risk register and establish monitoring and escalation procedures.
• Conduct periodic compliance reviews and business process assessments.
• Collaborate with Finance, Operations, Technology, and other departments to address compliance gaps.
• Recommend corrective actions and monitor their implementation.
• Establish procedures for reporting and escalating compliance concerns.
• Support internal audits and follow up on compliance-related findings.
• Prepare periodic reports on compliance risks, incidents, regulatory developments, and corrective actions.
• G. Policy Development and Implementation
• Develop, review, and update legal, compliance, and governance policies.
• Ensure policies reflect applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
• Establish procedures for policy approval, communication, implementation, and review.
• Identify legal and regulatory gaps in business processes and contracts.
• Provide practical guidance to departments on compliance requirements.
• H. Contracts and Third-Party Risk Management
• Review contracts with banks, payment service providers, technology vendors, agents, merchants, and business partners.
• Assess legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks associated with third-party relationships.
• Ensure contracts include appropriate confidentiality, data protection, liability, dispute resolution, and compliance provisions.
• Conduct due diligence on business partners and service providers.
• Monitor contractual obligations and help resolve legal issues arising from commercial relationships.
• I. Regulatory Reporting and Stakeholder Relations
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of regulatory reports with responsible departments.
• Maintain professional relationships with regulators, government authorities, external legal counsel, and other stakeholders.
• Respond to regulatory inquiries and coordinate requested documentation.
• Ensure regulatory correspondence and submissions are accurate and submitted on time.
• Inform management about regulatory changes and emerging compliance risks.
• J. Leadership and Team Management
• Lead and supervise the Legal and Compliance Department.
• Establish departmental objectives, work plans, and performance indicators.
• Assign responsibilities and ensure accountability for legal and compliance activities.
• Coach, mentor, and support the professional development of team members.
• Promote integrity, transparency, ethical conduct, and regulatory compliance throughout the organization.
• Report significant legal matters, compliance breaches, and regulatory risks to the CEO and relevant governance bodies.

Required qualifications

• Required Qualifications and Experience
• Educational Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized institution.
• A master’s degree in Law, Business Law, Financial Regulation, Compliance, or a related field is an advantage.
• Professional certifications in compliance, AML/CFT, risk management, or corporate governance are desirable.
• Must meet applicable professional licensing and legal practice requirements.
• Experience in financial technology (FinTech) is highly recommended.
• Professional Experience
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in legal affairs, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in a leadership, supervisory, or management role.
• Proven experience drafting and reviewing commercial contracts and advising management on legal matters.
• Experience developing or implementing compliance policies, procedures, and risk management frameworks.
• Familiarity with Ethiopian commercial, corporate, and employment laws, data protection requirements, and applicable financial sector regulations.
• Experience working with regulators, external auditors, legal counsel, or government authorities.
• Experience in FinTech, banking, mobile money, digital payments, telecommunications, or another regulated industry is highly desirable.
• Basic knowledge of labor legislation
• Familiarity with Ethiopian commercial law, labor law, and regulatory frameworks
• Demonstrated experience in contract negotiation, litigation, and regulatory compliance
• Compliance Knowledge

How to apply