About the Role:
We are a fast-growing wealth-tech company seeking an experienced Compliance Officer/MLRO with proven exposure to DFSA (DIFC) and FSRA (ADGM) rules to lead and enhance our compliance program. In this authorized role, you will serve as the firm's designated Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), acting as the primary authorized representative in interactions with regulators. You will collaborate closely with senior management, product teams, operations, and external advisors to ensure seamless alignment with UAE federal, DIFC/DFSA, and ADGM/FSRA regulatory requirements, drawing on your hands-on experience supporting Category 3C and 4 regulated financial services providers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Implement, and maintain the firm's compliance framework in line with DIFC/DFSA and ADGM/FSRA rules (e.g., GEN, AML, COB, CIR), including risk-based assessments for business units and thematic reviews.
- Serve as the firm's MLRO and primary authorized point of contact for DFSA and FSRA on all compliance, AML, and regulatory matters, including direct liaison with regulators, authorities, and auditors on behalf of the business.
- Monitor regulatory developments across DIFC/DFSA, ADGM/FSRA, and UAE federal landscapes and translate them into internal policies, procedures, and controls.
- Oversee end-to-end AML/CFT and sanctions compliance: KYC/KYB, CDD/EDD, screening, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting in line with DFSA and FSRA AML requirements.
- Draft, review, and update internal policies (compliance manual, AML/CTF policy, conflicts of interest, gifts & entertainment, market conduct, data protection).
- Conduct periodic risk assessments, compliance monitoring and testing, prepare and deliver regular compliance/MLRO reports for senior management, the Board, and regulators.
- Review and approve marketing, product, and retail client-facing materials, as well as virtual asset-related content, to ensure compliance with DFSA/FSRA conduct-of-business and financial promotion requirements.
- Deliver compliance and AML training to employees and maintain records of attestations and breaches.
- Support licensing/approval processes (e.g., DFSA/FSRA approvals for controlled functions, new permissions, variations) and ongoing regulatory filings and returns.
- Investigate potential breaches, incidents, and complaints, recommend remediation, and track implementation, acting as a solution-driven advisor to stakeholders.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business, or related field;
- A relevant compliance / AML certification such as CAMS, ICA Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering, ICA Certificate in Managing Sanctions Risk, or equivalent is required.
- 5+ years experience in compliance within financial services or fintech, with direct hands-on exposure to DIFC/DFSA and ADGM/FSRA-regulated environments, including serving as Compliance Officer/MLRO for Category 3C/4 firms.
- Strong working knowledge of DFSA and FSRA rulebooks (especially AML, GEN, COB) and practical experience implementing them in a licensed firm.
- Solid understanding of AML/CFT, sanctions, KYC/KYB, and retail customer onboarding and monitoring in digital / fintech business models.
- Familiarity with Virtual Assets regulations, including Crypto endorsement requirements under DFSA/FSRA.
- Demonstrated experience as an authorized representative interacting with regulators (DFSA/FSRA), external auditors, and legal counsel.
- Demonstrated experience with retail clients, including onboarding and ongoing due diligence in regulated financial environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interpret complex regulations and explain them to nonlegal stakeholders.
- High integrity, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, product-driven environment.
Nice to Have:
- Experience in payments, digital assets/crypto, wealth-tech, or neobanking.
- Prior involvement in setting up or varying a DFSA license or other financial services licenses in the region.
- Familiarity with compliance / AML tools (screening, transaction monitoring, case management).
- Prior involvement in setting up or varying DFSA/FSRA licenses or other regional financial services approvals.
Languages:
- English
- Arabic is a huge plus
