A leading organization in Nigeria is seeking an experienced Chief Risk Officer (CRO) to provide enterprise-wide leadership in risk management, compliance, internal audit, and business continuity.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the organization operates in a fully compliant, resilient, and risk-managed environment, with strict adherence to legal, regulatory, quality, safety, and environmental standards.
This role reports directly to executive leadership and works closely with the Board Audit & Risk Committee.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Risk Management
- Design, implement, and maintain an enterprise-wide risk management framework, including risk registers, policies, controls, and performance metrics.
- Identify and assess operational, financial, regulatory, and strategic risks, and recommend mitigation strategies aligned with the organization’s risk appetite.
- Ensure effective risk governance, including structured reporting to executive management and the Board.
- Maintain total losses from adverse events or non-compliance below ₦1,000,000 annually.
Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
- Ensure 100% compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, quality, safety, and environmental standards.
- Oversee compliance with healthcare, medical device, ISO, and industry-specific regulations.
- Act as the primary point of accountability for regulatory audits, inspections, and engagements.
- Prepare and submit accurate monthly risk and compliance reports to management and the Board.
Internal Audit & Controls
- Develop and execute an annual risk-based internal audit plan, ensuring full implementation of approved audits.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, financial systems, operational processes, and governance frameworks.
- Track audit findings, ensure timely remediation, and validate closure of corrective actions.
- Provide independent assurance on the strength of internal controls and risk management systems.
Business Continuity & Resilience
- Establish and maintain a Business Continuity Management (BCM) framework.
- Ensure at least 80% of critical business functions have approved, tested, and regularly updated continuity and disaster recovery plans.
- Lead crisis management planning, simulations, and post-incident reviews to improve organizational resilience.
Sustainability, Efficiency & Vendor Management
- Implement a minimum of five (5) approved sustainability initiatives aligned with ESG priorities.
- Drive operational efficiency initiatives to achieve at least 10% reduction in facilities and operational costs.
- Monitor and enforce a minimum of 90% SLA compliance across all strategic vendors and partners.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, Law, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Master’s degree (MBA, MSc, or equivalent) is highly desirable.
- Professional certifications such as ACA, ACCA, CIA, CISA, CRISC, FRM, or ISO Lead Auditor are strongly preferred.
Experience & Skills
- 10–15 years of experience in risk management, compliance, internal audit, or governance.
- Minimum of 5 years in a senior or executive leadership role, preferably in regulated industries (healthcare, medical devices, manufacturing, or financial services).
- Proven experience implementing enterprise risk management (ERM) and internal audit frameworks.
- Strong background in regulatory engagement, audit management, and board-level reporting.
- Excellent analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
- High ethical standards, independence, and objectivity.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including Board interaction.
- Ability to balance risk control with business growth and operational efficiency.
Why This Role Matters
This is a strategic executive role for professionals who want to shape corporate governance, strengthen compliance, and build resilient systems in a regulated environment while supporting sustainable business growth.
