Group Head of Compliance - FX/ CFDs

Tanqeeb; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Tanqeeb in Dubai seeks a hands-on Group-level compliance leader to own and implement compliance frameworks across FX and financial services entities, ensuring alignment with regulators. The role includes leading the development of a crypto exchange brand under VARA in Dubai and taking on regulator appointments where required.

You will build governance, controls and KPI reporting for the Group, while collaborating with local teams and advisers to address regulatory challenges and ensure ongoing

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Group-wide compliance framework.
• Assess existing compliance structures across Group entities and identify gaps and areas for improvement.
• Build policies, procedures, manuals, controls and governance from the ground up.
• Establish a consistent Group compliance methodology and adapt for jurisdictions.
• Develop compliance governance, reporting and escalation mechanisms for senior management.
• Establish KPIs and management information for the Group.
• Lead compliance oversight across the Group's regulated businesses and jurisdictions.
• Develop and maintain frameworks aligned with FCA, FSCA, SCA, ADGM, Belize and Swiss frameworks.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess impact on Group entities.
• Ensure regulatory obligations, reporting and controls are implemented.
• Work with local teams, external advisers and consultants.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, remediation programmes.
• Develop and oversee AML/CFT and financial crime controls.
• Establish risk-based KYC/KYB, CDD and EDD frameworks.
• Develop sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and SAR processes.
• Conduct and oversee AML risk assessments.
• Ensure controls embedded in operations.
• Review and strengthen financial crime controls in line with expectations.
• Establish a risk-based compliance monitoring programme.
• Conduct reviews, assessments and gap analyses.
• Identify risks and remediation plans.
• Monitor corrective actions and ownership.
• Provide independent challenge to business decisions.
• Establish compliance reporting to MD and senior management.

Job description

This is a hands-on, build-from-scratch Group-level compliance leadership role reporting directly to the Managing Director of the client firm. The successful candidate will take ownership of developing and implementing compliance frameworks across the Group's FX and financial services businesses, ensuring that each entity operates within the requirements of its relevant regulatory jurisdiction.

A key component of the position will be leading the development and implementation of the compliance framework for one of the Group’s upcoming crypto exchange brands, which is seeking to operate under VARA in Dubai.

The successful candidate will also be required to take on the relevant formal regulatory appointment(s), including Compliance Officer, MLRO and/or other Responsible Individual functions as required under the applicable VARA licence, and will be named on the relevant licence.

This is an ideal opportunity for a compliance professional who enjoys building frameworks, establishing controls, solving regulatory challenges and taking direct ownership, rather than simply maintaining an established compliance environment.

1. Group Compliance Framework

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Group-wide compliance framework.
• Assess existing compliance structures across Group entities and identify regulatory gaps, weaknesses and areas for improvement.
• Build policies, procedures, manuals, controls and governance structures from the ground up.
• Establish a consistent Group compliance methodology while adapting frameworks to the specific requirements of individual jurisdictions.
• Develop compliance governance, reporting and escalation mechanisms for senior management.
• Establish appropriate compliance KPIs and management information for the Group.

2. Multi-Jurisdictional Regulatory Compliance

• Lead compliance oversight across the Group's regulated businesses and jurisdictions.
• Develop and maintain frameworks aligned with the requirements of regulators including FCA, FSCA, SCA, ADGM, Belize and Swiss regulatory frameworks, as applicable.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on Group entities.
• Ensure regulatory obligations, reporting requirements and compliance controls are appropriately implemented.
• Work closely with local compliance teams, external advisers and regulatory consultants where required.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, remediation programmes and ongoing regulatory engagements.

3. AML / Financial Crime

• Develop and oversee the Group's AML/CFT and financial crime compliance framework.
• Establish risk-based KYC/KYB, CDD and EDD frameworks.
• Develop appropriate sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and suspicious activity reporting processes.
• Conduct and oversee AML and financial crime risk assessments.
• Ensure appropriate controls are embedded within business operations.
• Continuously review and strengthen the Group's financial crime controls in line with regulatory expectations.

4. Compliance Monitoring & Risk Management

• Establish a risk-based compliance monitoring programme across Group entities.
• Conduct compliance reviews, thematic assessments and regulatory gap analyses.
• Identify compliance risks and develop practical remediation plans.
• Monitor implementation of corrective actions and ensure appropriate ownership.
• Provide independent challenge to business decisions where material regulatory or compliance risks are identified.
• Establish appropriate compliance reporting to the Managing Director and senior management