Chief Administrative Officer

About the Role

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will oversee critical support functions including the Financial Control Department, Secretarial work, Property & Contract Services (PCS), Information & Compliance Office (ICO), and Legal operations. This role serves as a strategic executive leader responsible for orchestrating and integrating all critical support functions that form the operational backbone of the organization. This role enables the Managing Director to focus on strategic platform development, organizational efficiency initiatives, and staff mentorship while ensuring operational excellence across support departments.

Missions

Operational Leadership (40%)

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day oversight of Finance, Secretarial, PCS, ICO, and Legal departments.
• Ensure seamless coordination between support functions and operational platforms.
• Drive operational efficiency improvements and implement best practices across departments.
• Establish and monitor KPIs for each department to ensure service level excellence.
• Manage departmental budgets and resource allocation.

Compliance & Risk Management (25%)

• Oversee regulatory compliance across all support functions.
• Ensure adherence to corporate governance standards and statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with ICO on data protection, privacy, and information security matters.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the organization.
• Maintain risk registers and implement mitigation strategies.

Process Efficiency, Simplification & Controls (20%)

• Design and implement internal controls across Finance, PCS, and Legal operations.
• Standardize processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and reduce errors.
• Lead automation and digitization initiatives.
• Ensure robust audit trails and documentation standards.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activities.

Strategic Support & Collaboration (15%)

• Partner with MD on new platform setup requirements from an operational perspective.
• Provide operational insights to inform strategic decision-making.
• Support cross-functional projects requiring multi-departmental coordination.
• Act as an escalation point for complex operational or compliance issues.
• Represent the organization in relevant external forums and with regulatory bodies.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10-15 years relevant experience in banking set up in Finance and Administration functions.
• At least 5 years in mid-level / senior management with multi-departmental oversight.
• Proven track record managing support functions in complex organizations.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and corporate governance frameworks.
• Background in process improvement and change management.

Required Soft Skills

• Knowledge of financial management, accounting principles, and controls.
• Knowledge of corporate secretarial requirements and company law.
• Familiarity with procurement, contract management, and vendor relations.
• Understanding of data protection regulations (GDPR/equivalent).
• Proficiency in ERP systems, compliance software, and MS Office Suite.

Key skills/competency

• Chief Administrative Officer
• Financial Control
• Regulatory Compliance
• Corporate Governance
• Process Improvement
• Risk Management
• Budget Management
• Strategic Leadership
• Operations Management
• Change Management