Head of Compliance - Commodities/Trading

Yello; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

Yello is recruiting a senior Head of Compliance to design and lead the organisation's AML, KYC, CDD/EDD and sanctions program across UAE entities. You will oversee transaction monitoring, source of funds assessments, and governance frameworks within a high-risk precious metals trading environment.

In this role you will engage regulators, banks, and auditors, build policies, and mentor the compliance team while shaping risk-based decision making for senior management.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

AML

KYC

CDD/EDD

Sanctions screening

Transaction monitoring

Beneficial ownership

Investigations

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.