Payments Investigations Team Leader

Equity Bank is seeking a seasoned and strategic Payments Investigations Team Leader (Senior Manager – Forensic Investigations) to lead the Bank's forensic investigations function with a sharp focus on payment systems fraud and digital banking threats. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving investigative excellence, protecting the Bank's financial integrity, and strengthening its fraud control environment across all payment channels.

The successful candidate will oversee end-to-end investigations into complex fraud schemes — from card and mobile banking fraud to SWIFT transaction irregularities and ATM compromises — while coordinating with internal teams, regulators, law enforcement, and international payment schemes to ensure swift, professional, and legally defensible outcomes.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of investigations relating to payment systems fraud, electronic banking fraud, card fraud, SWIFT transactions, mobile banking fraud, digital channel fraud, ATM fraud, cheque fraud, and unauthorized fund transfers.
• Direct and supervise investigations into suspicious payment transactions, system compromises, phishing incidents, social engineering schemes, and payment processing irregularities.
• Review and analyze transaction logs, system audit trails, settlement records, switch reports, card management data, and digital evidence to determine the nature and extent of fraudulent activity.
• Coordinate investigations with local and international payment schemes, correspondent banks, regulators, telecommunications providers, and law enforcement agencies.
• Ensure timely escalation and resolution of payment-related fraud incidents to minimize financial losses and reputational risk to the Bank.
• Identify vulnerabilities in payment systems, channels, and processes, and recommend targeted fraud prevention and control enhancement measures.
• Oversee the preservation and forensic analysis of digital evidence to support disciplinary proceedings and criminal prosecution.
• Prepare investigation reports, fraud trend analyses, management briefings, and regulatory submissions relating to payment fraud incidents.
• Support implementation of fraud monitoring tools, transaction surveillance systems, and payment security initiatives.
• Design and deliver fraud awareness and investigative training programs for staff in payments operations, digital banking, and electronic channels.
• Assign and manage investigations across team members, ensuring adherence to established procedures and timely, professional outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to lead forensic investigations into payment fraud, electronic banking fraud, or financial crime at a senior level within a bank or financial institution.
• Proven track record of analyzing complex transaction data, audit trails, and digital evidence to reconstruct fraud schemes and quantify losses.
• Ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder investigations involving regulators, law enforcement, telecoms, and international payment networks.
• Experience preparing high-quality investigation reports, fraud trend analyses, and regulatory disclosures that withstand legal scrutiny.
• Competence in applying forensic investigation methodologies, chain-of-custody protocols, and digital evidence handling standards.
• Demonstrated skill in managing, mentoring, and performance-managing an investigations team in a fast-paced banking environment.
• Ability to identify systemic control gaps and translate findings into actionable fraud prevention recommendations.
• Strong working knowledge of card schemes, mobile money platforms, SWIFT, ATM networks, and internet banking security vulnerabilities.
• Hold or be actively pursuing a professional certification: CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner), CPA, ACAMS, or equivalent.
• Bachelor's Degree in Criminology, Commerce, Banking and Finance, Law, Accounting, or a related discipline.

Equity Bank offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with the seniority of this role. Based on market benchmarks for senior banking and forensic leadership positions in Kenya, the estimated monthly gross salary range is KES 250,000 – KES 450,000, subject to qualifications and experience. The Bank also provides a comprehensive benefits package in line with its employee value proposition.

Ideal candidates are seasoned fraud investigators or forensic professionals with at least 7–10 years of experience in banking or financial services, with a strong command of payment systems fraud and digital channel threats. You are a natural leader who can balance strategic oversight with hands-on investigative work, communicate credibly with regulators and senior management, and build a high-performing investigations team.

Do not apply if you have fewer than 5 years of relevant experience in financial crime investigations, have no exposure to banking payment systems or digital banking environments, or are seeking a purely administrative or compliance role with no investigative component.

• Visit the Equity Bank careers portal at equitygroupholdings.com/careers or the official Equity Bank job listings page.
• Locate the Payments Investigations Team Leader / Senior Manager – Forensic Investigations vacancy.
• Submit your updated CV, cover letter, and copies of relevant academic and professional certificates via the online application system.
• Ensure your cover letter highlights your specific experience in payment fraud investigations and team leadership.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment.