With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
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Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Compliance Director to lead the Bank and it’s subsidiaries’ regulatory compliance, financial crime compliance and conduct governance agenda within a dynamic and highly regulated commercial banking environment.Reporting to the Managing Director with functional accountability to the Board Compliance Committee, the successful candidate will provide independent oversight and strategic leadership of the Bank’s Compliance Function, ensuring adherence to applicable banking regulations, prudential standards, AML/CFT obligations and governance requirements in Botswana.
The role requires a commercially astute executive capable of balancing regulatory expectations with business strategy, digital transformation, customer experience and operational resilience.
Job Description
Regulatory Compliance & Governance
- Lead and maintain an enterprise-wide regulatory compliance framework aligned to Botswana banking regulations and international best practice.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulatory requirements, prudential requirements, directives and regulatory standards.
- Provide strategic compliance advisory support to Executive Management, Board Committees and business units.
- Drive a strong culture of ethical conduct, accountability and regulatory compliance across the Bank.
- Maintain effective governance structures, policies and compliance standards.
AML/CFT/CPF & Financial Crime Compliance
- Lead the Bank’s Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) programme.
- Oversee KYC, customer due diligence, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and suspicious activity reporting processes.
- Lead financial crime investigations, regulatory escalations and remediation activities.
- Monitor emerging financial crime threats and recommend appropriate control enhancements.
- Compliance Risk Management
- Develop and execute a risk-based compliance monitoring and assurance programme.
- Ensure effective implementation of the Compliance Risk Management (CRMP).
- Conduct compliance risk assessments across business operations, products and channels.
- Identify, assess and escalate material compliance and conduct risks.
- Monitor regulatory breaches, incidents and corrective action plans.
- Ensure compliance risks are integrated into enterprise risk management processes.
Regulatory Engagement
- Serve as the primary liaison with regulators, supervisory authorities and relevant industry bodies.
- Coordinate regulatory inspections, reviews and supervisory engagements.
- Manage regulatory reporting obligations and ensure timely submissions.
- Maintain constructive and transparent relationships with regulatory stakeholders.
Strategic Advisory & Transformation
- Provide compliance oversight on strategic initiatives and new product development.
- Support implementation of regulatory change management initiatives.
- Advise on implications of evolving local and international regulatory developments.
- Collaborate with business and control functions to enable sustainable growth within risk appetite.
Conduct Risk & Consumer Protection
- Oversee management of conduct risk, regulatory complaints and customer protection obligations.
- Promote fair customer outcomes and responsible banking practices.
- Strengthen compliance culture and ethical standards across the organisation.
Leadership & Capability Development
- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing Compliance team.
- Build organisational compliance capability through awareness and training programmes.
- Foster strong collaboration across Business functions.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Finance, Risk Management, Accounting, Economics or related field.
- Postgraduate qualification in Compliance, Risk Management, Business Administration or related discipline will be an added advantage.
- Professional certifications such as CAMS, CFE or recognised Compliance qualifications preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience within banking compliance, financial crime compliance, risk management or regulatory supervision.
- At least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a commercial banking environment.
- Strong knowledge of Botswana banking laws, AML/CFT frameworks and prudential standards.
- Demonstrated experience engaging regulators and Board Committees.
- Experience within a tier 1 or complex financial institution will be highly advantageous.
Education
Bachelor's Degree: Law (Required)Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Law, Finance, Risk Management, Accounting, Economics or related field
- Postgraduate qualification in Compliance, Risk Management, Business Administration or related discipline
- Professional certifications such as CAMS, CFE or recognised Compliance qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years' experience within banking compliance
- At least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a commercial banking environment
Absa Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Absa Group and has not been reviewed or approved by Absa Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical aid, group life, disability, and funeral cover are described as comprehensive, with features such as terminal‑illness advances and beneficiary grocery benefits. Wellness and assistance offerings support overall financial and personal wellbeing.
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Retirement Support — A pension fund and group retirement arrangements are positioned as core benefits within fixed remuneration. Retirement coverage is embedded alongside other protections as part of standard employment.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Employee share‑ownership (eKhaya) and equity‑linked awards broaden wealth‑sharing, with dividends or cash‑equivalent participation in some markets. This provides longer‑term value beyond base pay.
Absa Group Insights
What We Do
Absa Group Limited (Absa) has forged a new way of getting things done, driven by bravery and passion, with the readiness to realise growth on the African continent and beyond. We’re a truly African brand, inspired by the people we serve in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. We also have representative offices in China, Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.
