Head Of AML UAE, (UAE Nationals Preferred)

Citibank (Switzerland) AG; Dubai; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

Citibank (Switzerland) AG is seeking an AML Compliance Officer to lead multiple teams across locations, ensuring robust controls against money laundering. The role requires deep FinCrime knowledge, regulatory familiarity, and strategic oversight of AML program implementation.

You will mentor staff, coordinate with regulators and internal audit, and drive timely remediation of identified issues while maintaining high standards of governance and reporting.

Qualifications

• 15+ years FinCrime experience, UAE and/or Middle East region preferred.
• AML certification.
• Previous work in a financial institution with AML focus.
• Self-motivated and detail oriented.
• Proactive leadership and motivational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced presentation skills able to articulate complex problems clearly.
• Extensive knowledge of AML regulations, risks and controls.
• Experience designing and implementing AML programs.
• Ability to perform root cause analysis and drive to resolution with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, deliver, and maintain AML compliance policies and practices; establish mechanisms to identify key money-laundering risks and monitor mitigation within a robust control framework.
• Ensure reviews are conducted consistently across entities to validate effective controls.
• Develop and improve Governance and Escalation framework for timely senior management updates on emerging issues.
• Establish a formal feedback channel with Businesses, Internal Audit and Compliance Assurance to ensure root cause analysis is performed and communicated.
• Review and track significant issues identified through root cause analysis to senior management for resolution.
• Consolidate feedback across channels to enable policy/standards and Learning & Development enhancements.
• Monitor Manager Control Assessments (MCAs) and adjust as needed.
• Coordinate AML-related examinations, audits, and reviews with regulators, Citi Internal Audit and Compliance Assurance; ensure consistency in responses across regions.
• Provide training to Business lines and AML staff; assist in training design/delivery as required.
• Lead and manage a diverse team across multiple locations; develop staff to ensure consistent execution.
• Assess risk in business decisions with emphasis on firm reputation, safeguarding assets, and compliance with laws; escalate and manage control issues transparently.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Laws and Regulations

Program Management

Risk Identification and Assessment

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's/University degree, Master's preferred

Job description

The AML Compliance Officer (AMLCO) manages multiple teams through other managers. In-depth understanding of how own sub-function contributes to achieving the objectives of the function. A good understanding of the industry, direct competitors' products and services, is also necessary in order to contribute to the commercial objectives of the business. Requires thorough understanding of strategic direction of the function within the relevant part of the business, combined with a solid conceptual/practical grounding in both the function and/or area of expertise and related subject areas. Excellent communication skills required in order to negotiate internally, often at a senior level. Some external communication/negotiation may be necessary. Responsible for executing functional strategy in area managed. Determines approach to implementing functional strategy. Accountable for end results, budgeting, planning, policy formulation and contribution to future strategy of the area(s). Impact reflects size of team managed, strategic influence on the business and interaction with other functions or businesses. Full management responsibility for multiple teams, including management of people, budget and planning, to include duties such as performance evaluation, compensation, hiring, disciplinary actions and terminations and budget approval. Shall be doing involved or responsible for diverse (cross-discipline) activities. Additional duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, deliver, and maintain best-in-class AML Compliance policies and practices; provide a mechanism for identifying key money laundering risks and how the mitigation of those risks would be monitored and measured through a robust control framework.
• Confirm that reviews are conducted consistently across each entity on a regular basis to validate that the controls identified are operating effectively.
• Develop and improve upon the Governance and Escalation framework to inform senior management in a timely manner of emerging issues for promptly action and correction.
• Establish a formal Feedback Channel with the Businesses, Internal Audit and Compliance Assurance to validate that root cause analysis is performed proactively and communicated to relevant stakeholders through the established channel.
• In addition, review, consolidate, address, and track to resolution significant issues identified through root cause analysis to senior management.
• Furthermore, validate that the feedback / root causes from various channels is consolidated and shared within Compliance to allow for enhancements to Policy/Standards and Learning & Development, as necessary.
• Continually review and monitor the results from Manager Control Assessments (MCAs) to determine if changes are required.
• Liaise with regulators externally and Citi Internal Audit and Compliance Assurance staff, as appropriate, including coordinating AML-related examinations, audit and reviews, document production, and issue responses - to confirm that there is consistency in responses and issues are communicated across regions, such that actions and conclusions are shared.
• Provide adequate training is provided to the Business lines and other AML Compliance employees, and, as needed, participate in the design and delivery of training as required, to inform employees of the objectives of the program.
• Lead and manage a diverse team of staff across multiple locations; invest in the development of all team members to facilitate consistent execution.
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.

Qualifications

• 15+ years FinCrime experience, preferably UAE and/or Middle East region.
• AML certification.
• Prior work experience in a financial institution with job specific work experience in AML.
• Self-motivated and detail oriented.
• Proactive leadership and motivational skills.
• Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex problems and solutions through concise and clear messaging.
• Significant knowledge and expertise of AML regulations, risks and appropriate controls.
• Experience in the design and implementation of AML programs.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex issues through root cause analysis and other analytical techniques; structure potential solutions; drive to resolution with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to influence and lead people across cultures at a senior level using sound judgment and successful execution, understanding how to operate effectively across diverse businesses.
• Experience with and previous exposure to internal or external control functions and regulators (incl. the US); particularly banking and AML regulators.
• Level of comfort with creative tension across different lines of defense while maintaining professionalism and a shared goal of increased quality levels across the program.
• Proven ability to effectively assessing and managing competing priorities.
• Experience managing diverse teams, and comfort navigating complex, highly-matrixed organizations.
• Knowledge of the laws applicable to money laundering, including the Bank Secrecy Act, The USA PATRIOT Act, US Treasury AML guidelines, OFAC requirements, and Suspicious Activity Reporting requirements.

Education

Bachelor's/University degree, Master's degree preferred

Job Family Group

Compliance

Job Family

AML Core

Time Type

Full time

Most Relevant Skills

• Analytical Thinking, Business Acumen, Credible Challenge, Digital Skills (Including AI), Laws and Regulations, Process Execution, Program Management, Referral and Escalation, Risk Controls and Monitors, Risk Identification and Assessment.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi's EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.