Manager - Transaction Monitoring

JOB PURPOSE

• The Manager - Transaction Monitoring is responsible for assessing and strengthening the effectiveness of the Bank's risk-based AML/CFT/CPF transaction monitoring coverage, detection scenarios and alert handling standards.
• The role analyses monitoring performance, coordinates scenario tuning and validation, reviews data completeness, oversees alert investigation quality and supports timely escalation of suspicious activity to the MLRO

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assess risk-based monitoring coverage across customer segments, channels, products and geographies.
• Maintain the scenario inventory and analyse alerts, false positives and investigation outcomes.
• Coordinate scenario tuning, testing and validation activities.
• Monitor investigation quality, SLA adherence, ageing, overdue cases and backlogs, and challenge First Line deficiencies.
• Provide technical support on complex cases and ensure timely internal escalation to the MLRO.
• Review completeness of data feeds, reconciliations, interface exceptions and system changes, and support UAT and migration.
• Prepare MI on detection effectiveness, scenario changes, alert trends and remediation.
• Supervise specialists and promote consistent technical standards.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Maintain a coverage assessment mapping scenarios to products, channels, customer segments, geographies and typologies.
• Maintain an accurate scenario inventory, including scenario logic, parameters, owners and change history.
• Perform alert productivity analysis, including false positive rates and alert-to-case and case-to-STR conversion.
• Coordinate below-the-line and above-the-line testing, threshold tuning and periodic scenario validation with supporting documentation.
• Perform quality assurance reviews of alert investigations and report quality themes.
• Monitor SLA adherence, alert ageing and backlogs and escalate material deficiencies.
• Provide technical guidance on complex cases and ensure suspicious activity is escalated to the MLRO without delay.
• Maintain confidentiality of suspicious activity information and protect against tipping off.
• Review data feed completeness, reconciliations and interface exceptions and track resolution with Technology and Data teams.
• Support UAT, parallel runs and migration activities for monitoring system changes.
• Prepare monitoring MI, dashboards and committee inputs on detection effectiveness and remediation progress.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits and independent reviews of transaction monitoring.
• Supervise and coach specialists and maintain quality standards for team outputs.

Qualifications

CORE COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of AML/CFT/CPF laws, CBK Prudential Guidelines and FATF Standards.
• Expertise in transaction monitoring systems, detection scenarios, tuning and alert management.
• Strong understanding of financial crime typologies across mobile, agency, cash, trade and cross-border channels.
• Strong data analysis capability; working knowledge of SQL or similar tools will be an added advantage.
• Strong analytical and investigative capabilities.
• Clear MI preparation and report writing skills.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and constructive challenge capability.
• Supervisory, coaching and team development skills.
• High integrity, discretion, independence and sound judgement.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 7 years' experience in AML/CFT/CPF, Transaction Monitoring, Financial Crime Investigations, Risk or Internal Audit within the financial services sector.
• At least 3 years' experience in a supervisory or senior specialist role.
• Demonstrated experience in scenario tuning, alert quality assurance and monitoring MI.
• Experience supporting monitoring system implementation, UAT or data remediation.
• Prior experience in a Tier 1 bank and familiarity with CBK and FRC supervisory expectations will be an added advantage.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Banking, Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, Data Science or a related field.
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline will be an added advantage.
• Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA Diploma in AML, CFE, CPA(K) or equivalent financial crime qualifications.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous professional development in AML/CFT/CPF and financial crime analytics.