Head of Regulatory and Public Policy

About this role

• We are looking for a Head of Regulatory and Public Policy to join our Growth and New Markets (GNM) team. The successful individual will be responsible for identifying, managing and tracking all regulatory risk and mitigation thereof across all our markets.

You will

• Identify, track and manage regulatory issues and policy across all our markets of operation - currently includes Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Cameroon and Benin.
• Advise on and shape global regulatory strategy, and working closely with the GNM leadership team to align on business strategy
• Be responsible for regulator engagement (working closely with the General Manager / In-Market Operations, local country management and strategic delivery teams) and project management of new license processes.
• Monitor developing economic, political and social issues that may have material regulatory risk on the business
• Scope new territories and products for understanding of legal framework (legal, regulatory, capital restrictions, shareholding restrictions, AML and KYC requirements, credit reporting, consumer protection, data privacy, and cross-border data flow requirements and challenges).
• Prepare board papers, strategies, plans and proposals for Exco review, Board and operating companies.
• Oversee regulatory runway of pending legislation and assisting to implement action items to ensure compliance with legislation once enacted, working closely with the Head of Compliance.
• Oversee in-house regulatory requirements & manage all regulatory queries and interpret and advise thereon.
• Oversee and coordinate outside regulatory counsel where their services were retained.
• Advise on regulatory issues arising from our partner and key stakeholder relationships.

You will need

• Law degree, or a Masters in Economics, Political science and / or International Relations
• At least 10 years’ post-qualification experience, ideally from within a top tier law firm or strong in-house environment or 10 years experience as a regulatory professional or public policy professional in regulated sector.
• Expert knowledge of and immediate experience in operating in an African cross-border financial services (payments or lending) and / or telecoms legal and regulatory environment
• Solid Understanding of licensing, competition law, data privacy, AML/KYC, credit reporting, regulatory tax and/or outsourcing frameworks and governance
• Significant experience engaging directly with regulators and managing new license processes
• Track record of interpreting and navigating regulations and defining strategy in evolving legislative environments

Capabilities

• Capable of working effectively and independently in a fast-paced team environment.
• Commercial and professional: able to balance commercial and regulatory interests of the company while applying sound judgment.
• Ability to perform most of the work, drafting and research in-house, and retaining outside counsel only where specific risks or skills are solved for.
• Resourceful & execution focused, ability to work independently and to tackle multifaceted and complex cross-border legal projects. Not driven by hierarchy, happy to roll up their sleeves and participate and lead from the front.
• Attention to detail, adaptable approach, able to manage pressure in a high performance, constantly evolving and often ambiguous regulatory environment.
• Communicates clearly and concisely with ability to simplify complexity and focus on the important commercial issues.
• Strong cultural awareness and experience in working across diverse environments.

Bonus if you have

• Experience in micro credit and mobile money.
• Relationships with regulators in Ghana (BOG, GIPC), Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and experience in French speaking African territories (such as Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire).

We ask a lot of each other at JUMO, but we give a lot too.

You will love

• Collaborating with smart, engaging people in an inspiring work environment
• Working for impact
• Growing and learning continuously, with loads of encouragement and support
• Boldly taking risks as we navigate new challenges
• Flexible work practices enabling your best delivery
• Being autonomous and empowered to lead