About This Role

You will be Carbon's most senior legal and regulatory voice: the person the CEO calls before a big decision, the person the CBN knows by name, and the person product teams want in the room early rather than dread seeing late.
You will lead legal, compliance and regulatory affairs across the bank, turn complex regulation into clear commercial paths, and build a function that protects Carbon while helping it move fast.
You say "yes, and here's how" far more often than "no", and when the answer really is no, you arrive with an alternative.

Responsibilities

Strategic legal counsel:

Advise the CEO, ExCo and Board on strategy, new products, partnerships, capital and M&A.
Provide legal and regulatory support to other Carbon group companies, including cross-border matters, intra-group arrangements and group entity governance
Structure novel deals and products so they are compliant, commercial and defensible.

Compliance leadership:

Own the AML/CFT/CPF, KYC, sanctions, consumer protection and data protection frameworks.
Keep compliance risk-based, data-driven and embedded in product and engineering workflows. Regulatory engagement:
Be Carbon's lead relationship-holder with the CBN, NFIU, FCCPC, NDPC, and other regulators.
Lead examinations, approvals, licence matters and sensitive correspondence with credibility and calm.
Anticipate regulatory change and shape our response before it lands, not after.

Corporate governance:

Ensure Board and committee governance meets CBN and FRC corporate governance requirements and best practice.
Act as Company Secretary on Board papers, resolutions and regulatory filings. Disputes & enforcement:
Manage litigation, arbitration, law enforcement requests and regulatory investigations.
Direct and get value from external counsel, locally and internationally.

Contracting & Contract Management:

Draft, negotiate and sign off commercial agreements with third parties including partners, vendors, investors and service providers, quickly and on terms that protect Carbon.
Run a central contract repository with clear ownership, renewal and obligation monitoring.
Standardise templates and workflows so routine contracts close in days, not weeks

Team & culture:

Lead, grow and mentor a high-performing legal and compliance team.
Build templates, playbooks and tooling (including AI) that make turnaround fast and consistent.

Requirements

LL.B and B.L; called to the Nigerian Bar with a minimum of 10 years' post-call experience.
Substantial experience in financial services, with meaningful exposure to fintech, digital lending, payments or digital banking.
A track record of direct, senior-level engagement with the CBN and other financial regulators.
Deep knowledge of CBN regulations, BOFIA 2020, the MLPPA 2022, the NDPA 2023, the FCCPA and consumer lending rules.
Experience leading a legal and/or compliance team.
Fit and proper, and able to meet any CBN approval requirements for the role

Nice to Have:

Previous General Counsel, Head of Legal or Chief Compliance Officer role in a bank, MFB, PSB or licensed fintech. CAMS, or equivalent compliance certification.
Experience with capital raises, M&A or cross-border transactions.
A master's degree (LL.M)
Comfort with technology and curiosity about AI, data and automation in legal and compliance work.

General Counsel (legal, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs) At Carbon Nigeria

Key skills