Compliance Officer & MLRO

Title: Compliance Officer & MLRO

Location: Dubai

About the Client

Our client is a DFSA regulated asset management firm seeking an experienced Compliance Officer & MLRO to lead its compliance and financial crime prevention framework, ensuring full alignment with DFSA rules and international AML/CFT standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the firm's MLRO subject to DFSA individual authorisation, overseeing AML/CFT policies, procedures and the firm's overall compliance framework.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with DFSA rulebooks (including AML, GEN, COB, COLL/CIR and SYSC modules), monitoring regulatory developments and updating internal policies and fund documentation accordingly.
• Design, implement and maintain risk-based AML/KYC procedures for investor onboarding, subscriptions and redemptions, alongside sanctions screening processes.
• Provide compliance input into fund launches, offering documents (PPMs/prospectuses), valuation policies and ongoing fund governance matters.
• Oversee compliance monitoring of delegated and outsourced functions (fund administrators, custodians, external managers), ensuring third-party arrangements meet DFSA requirements.
• Oversee suspicious activity reporting (SARs/STRs) to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and liaise directly with the DFSA on regulatory matters, inspections and filings.
• Conduct compliance monitoring, gap analysis and independent testing; prepare board and senior management reporting on compliance risk and regulatory matters.
• Deliver AML/compliance training across the business and act as a key point of contact for regulatory queries, audits and investor due diligence escalations.
• Support new fund launches, regulatory filings and licensing matters as required.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business or a related discipline; relevant compliance qualifications (ICA, CAMS) preferred.
• 7+ years compliance experience within financial services, ideally within an asset/fund management environment, with substantial hands-on DFSA experience.
• Proven experience as an MLRO or in a senior AML/compliance role, with strong working knowledge of DFSA rulebooks (including COLL/CIR) and UAE AML legislation.
• Experience with fund governance, investor AML/KYC, and oversight of delegated/outsourced service providers.
• Arabic language skills strongly preferred, alongside fluent English.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with regulators, fund boards, senior management and delegates.
• High attention to detail, sound judgement, and the ability to work independently in a regulated environment.