Head of Compliance

capital.com; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the financial services sector seeks a Head of Compliance & MLRO to oversee compliance strategies and regulatory affairs. This vital role requires expertise in financial compliance with a focus on anti-money laundering, ensuring operations meet UAE regulations. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in compliance roles, a solid educational background in law or finance, and excellent management skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in compliance/risk management.
• Strong knowledge of UAE SCA regulations.
• Proven leadership in AML roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage compliance programs.
• Ensure adherence to SCA regulations.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies and manage inspections.

Skills

Compliance Leadership

Regulatory Knowledge

Communication

Analytical Skills

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, or Business Administration

Master's degree (e.g., MBA, LLM)

Tools

AML compliance software

KYC/KYB platforms

Job description

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)(Law), Bachelor of Commerce(Commerce), Master of Laws (LLM)(Law), MBA/PG Diploma in Business Mgmt

Nationality

Any Nationality

Vacancy

1 Vacancy

Job Description

The Head of Compliance & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) is a dual leadership role responsible for steering the compliance and anti-financial crime strategy of Capital Vault UAE. This position is critical to ensuring the firm's operations fully comply with the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) regulations and the broader UAE legal framework

The role combines overall compliance oversight (covering areas such as licensing, data protection, client fund protection, and complaints handling) with the dedicated responsibilities of an MLRO to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. This position reports directly to the Board of Directors and functionally to the Head of Compliance for the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, reflecting its high-level accountability and strategic importance.

Responsibilities

Compliance Leadership & Regulatory Oversight:

Compliance Program Management: Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive compliance program covering all aspects of the business, ensuring adherence to SCA regulations and applicable UAE laws and guidelines.

Regulatory Compliance & Licensing: Ensure the company's operations remain in full compliance with the terms of its SCA license, including timely fulfillment of licensing obligations, renewals, and any required regulatory filings or approvals for new products or services.

Policy Development: Draft, update, and enforce internal compliance policies and procedures in line with current UAE legislation and international best practices.

Data Protection: Oversee data protection and privacy compliance, implementing measures to safeguard customer information in accordance with UAE data protection laws and relevant international standards.

Client Asset Protection: Implement and monitor controls to protect client funds and crypto assets (e.g., segregation of client accounts, secure custody arrangements), ensuring robust safeguards in line with regulatory requirements.

Complaints Handling: Establish and supervise an effective customer complaints handling framework, ensuring timely investigation and resolution of client complaints and compliance with SCA's customer protection guidelines.

Regulatory Liaison: Act as the primary liaison with the SCA and other relevant regulators, managing all regulatory communications, inspections, and inquiries. Ensure that any regulatory requests or findings are addressed promptly and thoroughly.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration or a related field (required).

Experience: Extensive experience in compliance, risk management, or financial crime prevention within the financial services/crypto sector (minimum of 5 years), including several years in a senior compliance or AML leadership role.

Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of the UAE regulatory environment, including SCA rules/regulations for crypto asset businesses and the relevant AML/CFT laws and guidelines.

Industry Expertise: Strong understanding of cryptocurrency exchange and custody operations (or comparable fintech/financial services experience), with the ability to address the unique compliance challenges of digital assets.

Leadership & Communication: Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with Board members, regulators, and staff at all levels. Proven track record of liaising with regulatory authorities and successfully managing regulatory inspections or audits.

Analytical & Ethical Skills: High level of integrity, analytical thinking, and attention to detail in interpreting regulations and monitoring compliance. Capable of making risk-based decisions and providing sound compliance advice to executive management.

Business level proficiency in English or above (equivalent to B2 or above in CEFR).

Preferred qualifications:

Certifications: Professional certifications such as ACAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), ACFCS (Certified Financial Crime Specialist), or an ICA Diploma in Compliance/AML (or equivalent) are highly preferred.

Advanced Education: Master's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., MBA, JD/LLM, or MSc in Finance) is an advantage.

Regional Experience: Previous experience in compliance/AML roles within the UAE or broader Middle East region - with direct interaction with the SCA or other UAE regulators - is a strong plus.

Language Skills: Additional fluency in Arabic is advantageous.

Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with compliance and AML software tools (e.g., transaction monitoring systems, KYC/KYB platforms, sanctions screening solutions, blockchain analytic tools) and comfort with analyzing data for compliance monitoring.

Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to adapt to fast-changing regulatory requirements and industry developments, especially in the crypto assets sector. A proactive approach to staying up-to-date with global compliance trends and regulatory expectations.

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