Head of Compliance & MLRO

Amber Group; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Amber International Holding Limited (Amber Premium) seeks a senior leader to head Compliance and act as MLRO for its VARA-licensed UAE entity. You will own the regulatory and financial crime frameworks, ensuring alignment with UAE AML/CFT laws and international standards.

The role requires liaison with VARA and authorities, development of policies, training programs, and governance structures to support sustainable business growth in a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years in compliance and financial crime in financial services, fintech, or virtual assets.
• Proven experience as Compliance Officer and/or MLRO in a regulated environment.
• Strong familiarity with VARA, UAE AML/CFT regulations, and FATF standards.
• Demonstrated experience managing regulatory engagement, audits, and inspections.

Responsibilities

• Act as the designated Compliance Officer under VARA.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with VARA rulebooks and licensing conditions.
• Develop, implement and maintain compliance policies, procedures and controls.
• Oversee regulatory reporting, submissions and notifications to VARA.
• Act as the main contact for regulatory inspections, audits and supervisory engagement.
• Act as the appointed MLRO under UAE AML/CFT regulations.
• Establish and oversee AML/CFT framework including CDD/KYC, monitoring, sanctions.
• Review and file SARs with UAE authorities; manage financial crime risks.
• Design and execute a compliance monitoring and testing program.
• Provide regular reporting to senior management and the Board.

Skills

VARA knowledge

AML/CFT expertise

MLRO experience

Regulatory reporting

Governance

Stakeholder mgmt

Job description

Amber International Holding Limited (Nasdaq: AMBR)is a leading Web3 financial solutions and infrastructure provider, operating under the brand nameAmber Premium.

We are seeking a senior and experienced professional to serve as both theHead of Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)for ourVARA-licensed entityin the UAE.

This is a controlled function under VARA, responsible for leading the firm’s compliance and financial crime frameworks. The role will ensure full adherence to VARA regulations, UAE AML/CFT laws, and international standards, while enabling sustainable business growth.

The successful candidate will be the primary liaison with VARA and relevant authorities, and will be accountable for maintaining a robust, end-to-end compliance and financial crime control environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Regulatory & Compliance Oversight (Compliance Officer Function)

• Act as thedesignated Compliance Officerunder VARA.
• Ensure ongoing compliance withVARA rulebooks, guidance, and licensing conditions.
• Develop, implement, and maintain the firm’scompliance policies, procedures, and controls.

Oversee allregulatory reporting, submissions, and notificationsto VARA.

• Act as the main point of contact forregulatory inspections, audits, and supervisory engagement.

2. Financial Crime Compliance (MLRO Function)

• Act as theappointed MLROunder UAE AML/CFT regulations.
• Establish and oversee the firm’sAML/CFT framework, including: Customer due diligence (CDD/KYC), Transaction monitoring and surveillance, Sanctions and screening controls
• Review, elevate, and fileSuspicious Activity Reports (SARs)with relevant UAE authorities.
• Maintain oversight of financial crime risks includingmoney laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions, and fraud.
• Identify, assess, and mitigatecompliance and financial crime risks.
• Design and execute acompliance monitoring and testing program.
• Provideregular reporting to senior management and the Boardon compliance and AML matters.

4. Governance & Advisory

• Advise senior management and business teams onregulatory implications of new products, services, and partnerships.
• Ensure robustgovernance structures, including escalation protocols and committee reporting.
• Support ongoingregulatory licensing, approvals, and inspections.

5. Training & Culture

• Develop and delivercompliance and AML training programs.
• Promote a strongcompliance and financial crime awareness cultureacross the organization.

Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of relevant experiencein compliance and financial crime within financial services, fintech, or virtual assets.
• Proven experience serving asCompliance Officer and/or MLROin a regulated environment.
• Strong familiarity withVARA, UAE AML/CFT regulations, and FATF standards.
• Demonstrated experience managingregulatory engagement, audits, and inspections.

Regulatory Fit

• Must meetVARA "fit and proper" criteria.
• Eligible to be formally appointed as both:Compliance Officer, andMLROunder the VARA licensed entity.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to operate independently in acontrolled function role.
• Sound judgment, high integrity, and strong risk awareness.
• Ability to balanceregulatory compliance with business objectives.

Location Requirement

• Must beresident in the UAE to meet regulatory requirements and perform controlled function responsibilities.