Senior AML Manager - Transaction Monitoring

About the role

Equity Bank Kenya is hiring a Senior AML Manager for its Transaction Monitoring function. The role strengthens the bank's risk-based AML/CFT/CPF transaction monitoring framework, detection capabilities and alert oversight across all customer segments, products and channels. It provides second-line governance over monitoring coverage, scenario design and calibration, alert quality and data integrity, supports escalation of suspicious activity to the MLRO, and protects the confidentiality and independence of suspicious transaction reporting.

Key responsibilities

• Lead risk-based AML/CFT/CPF transaction monitoring governance and coverage across retail, corporate, cash, payments, mobile, agency, trade and cross-border channels.
• Oversee the inventory, design, calibration, validation and effectiveness of detection scenarios, thresholds and customer segmentation, and assess missed detections, false positives and detection gaps.
• Oversee alert prioritisation, investigation quality, ageing, backlogs and escalation, and support complex case reviews and escalation to the MLRO.
• Oversee data completeness, system interfaces, migrations, UAT, parallel runs and post-go-live effectiveness of monitoring solutions.
• Report monitoring coverage, alert KPIs, material deficiencies and remediation to Management and Board forums, and prepare MI on monitoring coverage, alert KPIs, scenario changes and remediation.
• Maintain a documented monitoring framework aligned to POCAMLA, CBK Prudential Guidelines, FATF Standards and the bank's risk assessment, and map coverage to products, channels, segments and geographies.
• Oversee the scenario lifecycle, including design, approval, below-the-line testing, tuning and periodic validation, and incorporate emerging typologies such as mobile money, agency, trade-based and proliferation financing risks.
• Analyse alert-to-case and case-to-STR conversion, false positive rates and missed detections; set and monitor investigation quality, SLA adherence, ageing and backlog management.
• Support regulatory inspections, independent reviews and audits, and drive remediation of monitoring-related findings.
• Lead, mentor and develop the Transaction Monitoring team, including performance management, capability building and succession planning.

Required profile

• Minimum 10 years' experience in AML/CFT/CPF, Financial Crime Compliance, Transaction Monitoring, Investigations or Internal Audit within financial services.
• At least 5 years' experience in a management role.
• Demonstrated experience in scenario design, tuning, alert management and system implementation, and in supporting suspicious activity investigations and regulatory inspections.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Banking, Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, Data Science or a related field; Master's degree and professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA Diploma in AML, CFE, CPA(K), ACCA or equivalent are an added advantage.
• Prior experience in a Tier 1 bank and familiarity with CBK and FRC supervisory expectations is an added advantage.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of AML/CFT/CPF laws, regulations, CBK Prudential Guidelines and FATF Standards.
• Expertise in transaction monitoring systems, detection scenarios, threshold tuning and model validation.
• Strong data analysis capability, including understanding of data lineage, source systems and data quality.
• Excellent report writing, Board reporting and executive communication skills, and strong stakeholder engagement and leadership abilities.