Head of Compliance - Commodities/Trading

OmanYP; Dubai, Dubai International Financial Centre; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

OmanYP in the UAE seeks a senior Compliance Lead to shape and advance the organisation's governance in a high-risk trading environment. You will lead the AML, KYC, CDD/EDD, and sanctions program across multiple UAE entities, ensuring robust controls and governance.

You will advise senior leadership, manage relationships with regulators, banks, external advisors, and drive investigations into financial crime with clear risk-mitigation recommendations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading AML, financial crime, or risk functions in precious metals or financial services.
• Deep knowledge of UAE AML/CFT regulations and governance best practices.
• Experience with regulators, banks, auditors, and external advisors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the compliance programme across UAE entities.
• Oversee AML, KYC, CDD, EDD, sanctions, monitoring, and BO assessments for high-risk counterparties.
• Evaluate source of funds/source of wealth and supply chain risks across international operations.
• Build and enhance compliance policies, procedures, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Advise senior leadership while managing relationships with regulators, banks, auditors, and external advisors.
• Lead investigations into financial crime, sanctions concerns, responsible sourcing issues, and compliance breaches, providing risk mitigation recommendations.

Skills

AML leadership

Regulatory governance

KYC/CDD/EDD

Sanctions screening

Transaction monitoring

Stakeholder management

Job description

Our client is a fast-growing international precious metals and mining business with operations spanning the Middle East, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The organisation operates in a complex, high-risk trading environment and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, responsible sourcing, and governance.

• Lead and develop the organisation's compliance programme across multiple UAE entities, ensuring robust governance and risk management.
• Oversee AML, KYC, CDD, EDD, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and beneficial ownership assessments for high-risk counterparties.
• Evaluate source of funds, source of wealth, supply chain integrity, and responsible sourcing risks across international precious metals operations.
• Build, implement, and continuously enhance compliance policies, procedures, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Act as a key advisor to senior leadership while managing relationships with regulators, banks, auditors, and external advisors.
• Lead internal investigations into potential financial crime, sanctions concerns, responsible sourcing issues, and compliance breaches, providing clear recommendations to senior management on risk acceptance and mitigation.

• Proven experience leading AML, financial crime, compliance, or risk functions within precious metals, commodities trading, banking, or financial services.
• Strong expertise in AML, KYC, CDD, EDD, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and beneficial ownership investigations.
• Deep understanding of UAE AML/CFT regulations and governance best practices.
• Experience engaging with regulators, auditors, banks, and external stakeholders while managing compliance risk independently.
• Knowledge of OECD Due Diligence Guidance, LBMA Responsible Sourcing Standards, commodities trading, mining, or precious metals supply chains would be highly advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge stakeholders, make independent risk-based decisions, and operate confidently in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment with limited compliance infrastructure.