Compliance Officer (Arabic speaker)

Talent Higher; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Higher is seeking an Assistant Manager to support the day-to-day delivery of an AML/CFT compliance framework within a Free Zone environment in the UAE.

You will assist the Head of Compliance with client due diligence, sanctions screening, risk assessments, SARs/STRs, regulatory liaison, and ongoing monitoring across the client portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree mandatory.
• 3–5+ years AML/CFT compliance experience.
• Strong understanding of UAE AML laws, regulations and risk management.
• CAMS, ICA, ACFCS or equivalent certification preferred.
• Fluent English; Arabic a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review client applications (KYC/EDD) and risk ratings.
• Conduct and resolve screening alerts (PEP, sanctions, adverse media).
• Escalate high-risk cases to senior management.
• Reassess risk ratings after trigger events; apply enhanced due diligence.
• Report suspicious activity (STRs/SARs) through UAE FIU goAML.
• Serve as operational liaison to UAE authorities; respond to regulatory requests.
• Deliver quarterly AML/CFT awareness training to staff.
• Prepare compliance reports for senior management.
• Stay updated on UAE AML/CFT regulations and circulars.

Skills

AML/CFT compliance

KYC / CDD

Regulatory reporting

Training delivery

GoAML awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

goAML

Job description

We are recruiting an Assistant Manager to support the day-to-day delivery of an AML/CFT compliance framework within a Free Zone environment.

The role will support the Head of Compliance in ensuring robust client due diligence, sanctions and PEP screening, risk assessments, suspicious activity reporting, regulatory liaison, and ongoing monitoring across the client portfolio.

Key responsibilities include:

• Review medium-high, high-risk, and override-risk client applications, including KYC, EDD, beneficial ownership, and risk ratings.
• Conduct and resolve ongoing PEP, sanctions, adverse media, stakeholder, and company-name screening alerts.
• Escalate high-risk clients, potential sanctions matches, material risk triggers, and rejected applications to senior management.
• Reassess client risk ratings following trigger events and apply enhanced due diligence where required.
• Identify, assess, and report suspicious activity, including filing STRs/SARs through UAE FIU goAML.
• Act as an operational point of contact for UAE competent authorities and respond to regulatory requests and directives.
• Deliver quarterly AML/CFT awareness training to employees.
• Prepare compliance reports on high-risk clients and overall compliance performance for senior management.
• Stay updated on UAE AML/CFT regulations, typologies, authority circulars, and regulatory developments.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree is mandatory.
• Exposure to business setup/company formation industry.
• 3-5+ years of relevant AML/CFT compliance experience.
• Strong understanding of UAE AML laws, regulations, risk management, client due diligence, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity reporting.
• CAMS, ICA, ACFCS, or an equivalent certification is preferred.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, attention to detail, and independent judgement.
• Fluent English communication skills; Arabic would be an advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.