Group Head of Compliance

Finance House; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in the UAE is seeking a Group Head of Compliance to oversee compliance across various units and ensure adherence to regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in compliance and regulatory affairs, demonstrating leadership and expertise in AML and financial crime prevention. This position demands a strategic thinker to foster a culture of compliance within the organization.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in compliance, regulatory affairs, or financial crime.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing compliance frameworks.
• Expertise in compliance system implementation and automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Group’s Corporate Compliance Program and strategy.
• Ensure adherence to CBUAE, SCA, DFSA, and FSRA regulations.
• Act as Group Money Laundering Reporting Officer.

Skills

Compliance leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

AML / CTF expertise

Ethical conduct promotion

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, or Finance

Master’s degree

CAMS certification

CISI Level 3 Compliance certification

Tools

Compliance management systems

AML monitoring tools

Regulatory reporting tools

Job description

Overview

Talent Acquisition Leader | Workforce Strategy | Employer Branding | HR Transformation | Banking & FinTech Hiring Expert

Summary

The Group Head of Compliance leads the Group’s Corporate Compliance Program, serving as an independent and objective function that ensures full adherence to regulatory requirements and Finance House Group’s Standards of Conduct. The role provides strategic direction, oversight, and leadership for compliance across all business units, ensuring alignment with the regulatory frameworks of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), and Abu Dhabi Global Market – Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).

This role acts as FHG’s central compliance authority, safeguarding the organization against regulatory, financial crime, reputational, and conduct risks, while promoting a strong compliance and ethics culture at all levels.

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Define, lead, and execute the Group-wide Compliance strategy in line with applicable CBUAE, SCA, DFSA, and FSRA regulations.
• Serve as the principal advisor to the Board and Executive Management on all compliance, governance, and regulatory matters.
• Oversee compliance reporting to the Board, Risk Committees, and regulators.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure Group-wide adherence to all relevant laws, regulations, and directives issued by UAE and international regulatory authorities.
• Act as liaison with regulators (CBUAE, SCA, DFSA, FSRA) and maintain strong relationships to manage regulatory expectations.
• Anticipate and respond to regulatory changes, ensuring timely updates to internal policies and procedures.
• Serve as Group Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), overseeing AML / CTF frameworks, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity reporting.
• Ensure robust systems and controls are in place to prevent money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud, and other financial crimes.

Compliance Framework & Risk Management

• Design, implement, and maintain a comprehensive compliance risk management framework across the Group.
• Conduct compliance risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
• Oversee compliance monitoring, surveillance, and testing programs.

Compliance Systems & Technology

• Lead the implementation, integration, and enhancement of compliance systems (e.g., AML monitoring, sanctions screening, KYC / CDD platforms, regulatory reporting tools, and RegTech solutions).
• Ensure compliance systems are optimized to support regulatory reporting, oversight, and monitoring requirements across business lines.
• Drive automation and digital adoption within compliance functions to improve efficiency and control effectiveness.

Ethics, Conduct & Culture

• Act as Group Ethics Officer, embedding a culture of integrity, ethical conduct, and accountability.
• Manage the Group’s whistleblowing framework and Compliance Hotline.
• Provide oversight on conflicts of interest, market conduct, and customer protection standards.
• Develop and deliver enterprise-wide compliance training programs, tailored to business units and regulatory requirements.
• Promote compliance awareness and strengthen the “tone from the top.”

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Legal, Risk, Internal Audit, Human Capital, IT, and business units to ensure compliance is integrated into all processes, products, and platforms.
• Support digital and product innovation by ensuring new initiatives are regulatory compliant.
• Benchmark compliance practices against international best standards.
• Continuously enhance policies, systems, controls, and reporting mechanisms to maintain regulatory and business relevance.

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive compliance, regulatory affairs, and financial crime experience within banking, financial services, or regulatory bodies.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing compliance frameworks across CBUAE, SCA, DFSA , and FSRA regulated entities.
• Proven expertise in compliance system implementation, integration, and automation (AML monitoring, sanctions screening, KYC / CDD, and RegTech adoption).
• Strong track record in AML / CTF, sanctions compliance, governance, and risk management.
• Solid experience in stakeholder engagement with regulators, boards, and executive committees.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, or Finance (Master’s preferred).
• CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) and CISI Level 3 Compliance certification.
• Additional certifications in compliance systems or financial crime prevention are advantageous.

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Quality Assurance, Research, and Strategy / Planning
• Industries: Investment Banking, Financial Services, and Banking