Compliance Support Officer

Role Purpose

Provide short-term compliance support to the Licensed Compliance Officer, focusing on regulatory gap analysis, documentation and evidence testing.

• Regulatory gap analysis
• Policy & SOP support
• Evidence testing and documentation
• Readiness for DFSA thematic and emerging regulatory reviews
  
  

Candidate Profile

• 58 years experience in compliance and risk.
• Familiarity with DFSA rulebooks (GEN, COB, PIB awareness level)
• Strong documentation, tracking, and evidence-management skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, process-driven
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED- DFSA experience
  
  

Core Responsibilities

The Compliance Support Officer will assist the LCO in performing general and targeted regulatory gap analyses, with specific attention to new or evolving DFSA requirements.

• Mapping applicable DFSA rulebook requirements to:
• Approved Policies
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Actual Operational Practices across Front office (sales / execution), Operations (settlement, custody interfaces, record keeping), Compliance & governance processes, Technology and data handling practices
• Identifying gaps between:
• DFSA regulatory requirements
• Documented internal controls
• Day-to-day operational execution
  
  

(Including situations where policies exist but are not consistently evidenced in practice.)

• Primary focus areas:
  
  

3.1 Brokerage & Execution Activities

• Order handling and execution workflows
  
  

Clear Delineation Between:

• Execution-only services
• Any advisory or non-advisory elements
• Best execution obligations:
• Execution policies
• Monitoring methodology
• Review frequency
• Evidence of oversight
• Conflicts of interest in execution and order routing
• Fee and commission disclosures
  
  

Gap Focus:

• Policy vs actual execution practice
• Monitoring performed vs monitoring evidenced
• Governance oversight of execution quality
  
  

3.2 Client Suitability, Appropriateness & Classification (Non-AML)

Assess Compliance With DFSA Rules Relating To:

• Client classification (Retail / Professional / Market Counterparty)
• Appropriateness assessments for products and services
• Suitability disclosures (where applicable)
• Product eligibility and client consent
• Ongoing review triggers and documentation
  
  

Gap Focus:

• Completeness of documentation
• Alignment with SOPs
• Evidence of review and escalation
  
  

3.3 Operational Processes & Controls

Evaluate Operational Compliance Across:

• Trade booking and confirmation processes
• Settlement and custody interfaces
• Use of third-party brokers, custodians, and service providers
• Incident handling and escalation
• Record-keeping standards
  
  

Gap Focus:

• Operational practices deviating from SOPs
• Manual controls not sufficiently documented
• Reliance on informal processes without evidence
  
  

3.4 Data Protection, Record Retention & Communications

Review Of DFSA-relevant Obligations Around:

• Approved communication channels
• Client communication controls
• Record retention and retrieval
• Access controls and data handling procedures
• Oversight of outsourced or third-party data processors (TPA-related)
  
  

Gap Focus:

• Communication happening outside approved channels
• Incomplete or inconsistent record retention
• Lack of documented oversight for data handled by third parties
  
  

3.5 New & Enhanced DFSA Regulations

Support the LCO in reviewing Ark Capital's readiness for:

• Newly introduced DFSA rules
• Enhanced guidance or supervisory expectations
• Thematic review focus areas
• Third-Party Arrangements (TPA) and outsourcing obligations
  
  

Gap Focus:

• Policies not updated to reflect new rules
• SOPs not yet aligned
• Oversight evidence missing or incomplete