Director of Operations
Director of Operations
About The Job
About the Employer
Our client is a prominent Pan-African Asset Management firm expanding its operations in Rwanda.
As part of its commitment to fostering private sector development, the firm is setting up a local investment fund dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The successful candidate will not only be instrumental in the fund’s success in Rwanda but will also contribute to broader regional initiatives, helping drive impactful and sustainable economic growth across Africa.
About the job
Our client is experiencing significant growth in its Rwanda asset management business and is seeking an individual to fill the newly created role of Director of Operations in Rwanda. This role is a critical hire, as the individual will be responsible for the successful delivery of the non-investment functions: admin, finance, compliance, HR, and IT. The individual will fully integrate the Rwanda operation into the broader group platform while meeting all local financial and regulatory requirements. The Director of Operations will report to the group’s Chief Operating Officer.
The team in Rwanda is small but growing. The immediate objective is to increase the team to 4-5 professionals, with further growth to be driven by asset growth. Within the wider organization, the Rwanda team is part of a global team of nearly 50 committed professionals. The company prides itself on its positive culture, hands-on approach, and being a leader in DE&I—85% of its employees are women & minorities.
Specific Skills
- Minimum 10 years of experience in compliance, legal, operations, and/or finance. A combination of experiences is highly preferred.
- Strong understanding of corporate accounting principles and practices
- Deep knowledge of CMA regulations and implementation
- Native or fluent English required; professional-level French is highly advantageous
- Excellent communication skills, especially across departments and roles
- Experience in fund management is highly preferred
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
- Collaborative
- Self-motivated
- Independent
- Organized
- Resilient
- Unwavering integrity
Responsibilities & Duties
- Compliance
- Act as Compliance Officer for Rwanda compliance requirements
- Provide advisory support on Rwanda compliance topics and liaise with senior management regarding compliance activities
- Monitor and prepare for changes in regulatory obligations made by the CMA
- Ensure continued compliance for Rwanda-domiciled funds, including coordination with fund officers and administrators.
- Maintain and enforce the group’s global suite of compliance policies
- Submit regulatory reports to relevant authorities
- Finance & Administration
- Produce monthly management accounts
- Maintain detailed and accurate records
- Liaise with local tax & audit firms for timely submissions
- Develop a detailed budget to ensure adequate capital and liquidity levels while maintaining strong margins
- Oversee payroll, pension, and benefits schemes
- Human Resources
- Stay up to date with Rwandan labor laws and regulations
- Ensure compliance with local HR requirements
- Develop and maintain the Rwanda Staff Handbook
- Integrate HR policies and procedures into the larger group framework
- IT
- Oversee local hardware systems.
- Liaise with the global MSP to maintain local IT infrastructure
Educational Requirements
- Undergraduate degree required
- Strong academic background with demonstrated progression