Compliance Officer / MLRO – Senegal

About the role

dLocal, a financial infrastructure provider for global commerce in emerging markets, is looking for a Compliance Officer based in Senegal. The role covers banking relationships, local regulatory compliance and internal reporting, and acts as the primary compliance contact for all matters within the WAEMU/BCEAO zone.

Key responsibilities

• KYC onboarding: oversee and manage KYC onboarding for new customers and updates for existing ones, ensuring compliance with local and international requirements including BCEAO and CENTIF directives.
• Transaction monitoring: implement and improve systems to detect and report suspicious activity, and run periodic reviews of their effectiveness.
• AML/CFT compliance: act as the main point of contact for AML/CFT matters, develop and enforce AML/CFT policies, and stay up to date with WAEMU directives, BCEAO instructions and FATF recommendations.
• Regulatory compliance: interpret regulatory changes, build relationships with regulators such as BCEAO, the Ministry of Finance, CENTIF and ARTP, and report to them.
• Remittance compliance: set up procedures for domestic and cross-border remittances, including West Africa-Europe and intra-ECOWAS corridors, and diaspora and family flows.
• Risk assessments: regularly assess compliance risks and work with other departments on mitigation.
• Reporting: report AML/CFT findings and suspicious activity reports to CENTIF and regulatory filings to BCEAO.
• Training and awareness: train staff on compliance policies and foster a culture of compliance.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Law, Finance, Economics or a related field; a Senegalese or WAEMU-region degree is an advantage.
• Certification is mandatory: CAMS, ACAMS, ICA or an equivalent recognised in Francophone Africa.
• 4-6 years of compliance experience in banking, fintech or financial services, ideally with WAEMU/ECOWAS exposure.
• Experience in payments, remittances and mobile financial services, and in building compliance automations.
• Fluency in French is required; English is a significant advantage; Wolof or another local language is appreciated.

Required skills

• In-depth knowledge of KYC, transaction monitoring and AML/CFT regulations in Senegal and the WAEMU zone.
• Familiarity with payment services regulation, including BCEAO rules on electronic money institutions.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work in a multicultural, remote-first environment.

What we offer

• Flexible schedules focused on impact and productivity, with optional in-person connection in collaboration hubs.
• Work from anywhere, up to 3 months per year while travelling.
• Referral bonus program.