Reporting to the Lead Transaction Monitoring & Systems , The role supports the development, optimization, and continuous enhancement of Safaricom’s financial crime systems, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Transaction Monitoring, Sanctions Screening, Customer Risk Rating, Fraud Detection, and Case Management platforms. The role is responsible for ensuring these systems operate effectively, leverage high-quality data, and deliver timely, risk-based insights to support the detection, prevention, and reporting of financial crime in line with regulatory requirements and Safaricom policies.The role works closely with Technology, Data Science and product teams with the analyst supporting system configuration, data integrity monitoring, alert analysis, and performance optimization. The role contributes to the implementation and adoption of intelligent financial crime solutions, leveraging automation, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and behavioural monitoring techniques to strengthen detection capabilities, improve alert quality, reduce false positives, and enhance operational efficiency across financial crime processes.
The Financial Crime Systems Engineer also plays a key role in supporting digital transformation and innovation initiatives by identifying opportunities to automate manual activities, streamline investigations, enhance management reporting, and improve decision-making through data-driven insights. The role supports regulatory reviews, audits, model validations, and system enhancement projects while ensuring Safaricom maintains a resilient, scalable, and future-ready financial crime control environment capable of responding to evolving financial crime threats, emerging technologies, and changing regulatory expectations.
ResponsibilitiesFinancial Crime Systems Management
• Support the administration, configuration, maintenance, and optimization of financial crime systems, including AML, Transaction Monitoring, Sanctions Screening, Customer Risk Rating, Fraud Detection, and Case Management platforms.
• Ensure systems operate effectively, efficiently, and in line with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and internal policies.
• Monitor system performance and recommend improvements to enhance effectiveness and operational resilience.
Data Quality and Integrity
• Monitor and validate data feeds, interfaces, and system inputs to ensure completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of financial crime data.
• Investigate and resolve data quality issues impacting financial crime detection and reporting.
• Collaborate with Data, Technology and Cyber teams to strengthen governance, controls, and data management practices for AML systems.
Detection Optimization and Alert Management
• Support the tuning, calibration, and optimization of detection scenarios, rules, thresholds, and risk indicators.
• Perform trend analysis on alerts, cases, and suspicious activity to identify opportunities for improving detection effectiveness.
• Reduce false positives while maintaining regulatory compliance and enhancing risk detection capabilities.
Advanced Analytics, AI, and Automation
• Support the implementation and adoption of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and behavioural monitoring solutions.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve investigation workflows.
• Contribute to initiatives that improve alert prioritization, risk scoring, and operational efficiency.
• Assist with model validations, effectiveness assessments, and control testing exercises.
System development & enhancement
• Participate in system upgrades, implementations, enhancements, testing, and change management activities.
• Assist in gathering business requirements and translating financial crime risk management needs into system solutions.
• Ensure enhancements are documented, tested, and implemented in accordance with governance standards.
Financial Crime Investigations Support
• Provide analytical and technical support to Financial Crime Compliance and Operations teams in the investigation of alerts and cases.
• Develop and maintain system-generated reports, dashboards, and management information to support investigations and decision-making.
• Support the escalation and reporting of significant system-related issues affecting financial crime controls.
• Support regulatory reviews, audits, inspections, and independent assurance activities.
Reporting and Management Information
• Develop and maintain meaningful management reports, dashboards, and key risk indicators (KRIs).
• Produce analysis and insights on system performance, alert trends, detection effectiveness, and emerging risks.
• Support senior management decision-making through accurate and timely reporting.
Stakeholder Collaboration
• Work closely with all teams Sanctions, KYC, Investigations, Compliance, Operations, Data, Technology, Risk, and Business teams to enhance financial crime controls within Agile delivery.
• Provide subject matter expertise on financial crime systems and technologies.
• Facilitate effective communication between business and technical stakeholders during projects and system changes.
Innovation and Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities to enhance financial crime detection capabilities through emerging technologies and industry best practices.
• Support digital transformation initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness, and customer outcomes.
• Continuously review processes and controls to ensure the institution maintains a scalable, resilient, and future-ready financial crime framework.
Risk Management
• Identify, assess, and escalate system-related financial crime risks and control weaknesses.
• Ensure appropriate controls are implemented to mitigate risks associated with system failures, data integrity issues, and model performance.
• Support ongoing monitoring of emerging financial crime typologies, threats, and regulatory developments.
Health and Safety
•Uphold the company code of conduct, policies and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
•All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines and procedures in all actions and decisions
• Relevant degree in Business, Engineering or IT Undergraduate Degree or relevant field along with professional qualifications.
• Competencies in software development/system configuration data extraction technologies and platforms e.g. {C#, Java, Java Script React.
• Understanding of Agile Methodology, Machine learning, Bot development, Penetration Testing, QA, Project Management, Micro services, SANs security compliance, and Technical documentation.
• At least 2 years as a software engineer/developer or data science experience
• Proficiency in data analysis and trend profiling using Power BI, Qlik sense.
If you feel that you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualification and experience, kindly proceed to create/ update your candidate profile on the recruitment portal, fill in your necessary work experiences and then Click on the apply button. Remember to attach your resume.
About UsSafaricom is the leading technology company in East Africa. Our purpose is to transform lives by connecting people to people, people to opportunities and people to information. We keep over 60 million customers connected across Kenya and Ethiopia, and play a critical role in the society, supporting over 1.13 million jobs both directly and indirectly while our total economic value was estimated at KES 1.1 trillion ($ 8.5 billion) for the 12 months through March 2025.
Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and with annual revenues of close to KES 388 billion as at March 2025, Safaricom provides connectivity through wide range of technology. Our 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G network in aggregate covers over 99% of Kenya’s population.
We run the world’s largest mobile payment system and Africa’s largest Fintech, M-PESA, the world’s first mobile money transfer system. By empowering millions of customers to transact, save or borrow money through their mobile phone, M-PESA has driven financial inclusion in Kenya to 84.8% of the adult population in 2024, from a low of 26.7% in 2006, and generated over KES 161 billion in revenue as at FY25.
Our subsidiary, Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia, has deployed world class network and services to contribute to Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
Safaricom is an equal opportunity employer, actively recruiting staff from different backgrounds reflecting the communities that we serve. We are committed to equal gender representation at all levels.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we continue to work towards improving energy and resource efficiency in our network and facilities to reduce carbon emissions and our fuel consumption. We remain committed to becoming a Net Zero carbon-emitting company by 2050.
Skills Required
- Relevant undergraduate degree in Business, Engineering, IT, or a related field, with relevant professional qualifications
- Competence in software development, system configuration, and data extraction technologies
- Experience with C#, Java, JavaScript, or React
- Understanding of Agile methodology, machine learning, bot development, penetration testing, QA, project management, microservices, SANs security compliance, and technical documentation
- At least 2 years of software engineering, software development, or data science experience
- Proficiency in data analysis and trend profiling using Power BI and Qlik Sense
What We Do
Safaricom is the leading provider of converged communication solutions in Kenya. In addition to providing a broad range of first-class products and services for Telephony, Broadband Internet and Financial services, Safaricom seeks to uplift the welfare of Kenyans through value-added services and support for community projects. With over 29 Million subscribers and an estimated market share of 67%, the Company has the widest modern mobile network coverage in Kenya and prides in its experienced shareholders, attractive tariffs, a nationwide network of effective dealers, high caliber staff and management enabling it to maintain its position as the region’s mobile market leader. M-PESA has over 23 million subscribers, supported by a nationwide agent network of over 156,000 outlets. M-PESA is the world's most developed biggest mobile payment system. Facts about Safaricom • Employs over 5,500 staff directly and over 500,000 indirectly • Has approximately 4,945 network sites across the country • 50% of employees and 32% of senior management working at Safaricom are women. • Has the largest call center in Sub-Saharan Africa Our people are our most valuable asset and are key to the achievement of our vision of transforming lives. This is reflected in our commitment to creating a working environment that supports our staff. We offer employees a wellness programme, crèche facilities, access to subsidized gym facilities, leisure amenities, regular social events, competitive salaries and career opportunities. We give back to the society through the Safaricom Foundation. Since inception, the foundation has disbursed 2 billion shillings in different initiatives that provide sustainable community-based solutions, contributing towards Kenya’s development agenda, and the Millennium Development Goals. Safaricom is a key member and supporter of the B Team and the B Team – Africa, alliances of business leaders who are committed to responsible and sustainable business practices.
