Head of Compliance / MLRO (SVF)

capital.com; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Capital.com is searching for a Head of Compliance & MLRO to join their growing UAE team. This strategic role is vital for ensuring regulatory integrity and managing financial crime compliance as they expand their product offerings. You’ll lead a dedicated team in establishing robust compliance frameworks while collaborating closely with internal and external stakeholders, fostering a strong culture of compliance. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in the UAE regulatory environment and a proven track record in compliance leadership.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Annual Performance Bonus

Generous Time Off

Employee Referral Program

Comprehensive Health & Pension Benefits

Workation Wonderland

Volunteer Days

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-12 years of compliance, AML/CFT, or regulatory affairs experience.
• Deep understanding of UAE regulatory landscape and AML compliance.
• Experience in leading compliance frameworks for financial institutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of compliance framework tailored to CBUAE SVF requirements.
• Oversee compliance with AML/CFT, consumer protection, and data privacy standards.
• Act as primary regulatory liaison with the CBUAE for ongoing supervision.

Skills

Analytical skills

Policy drafting

Risk assessment

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, or Economics

CAMS, ICA Diploma in AML/Compliance, CFE

Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA, LLM)

Tools

RegTech systems

Job description

Capital.com is seeking a dynamic, experienced compliance professional to serve as Head of Compliance & MLRO for its new UAE-based regulated entity. As Capital.com expands its product suite into digital wallets, prepaid cards, and peer-to-peer payments under the CBUAE’s Stored Value Facilities (SVF) framework, this dual-role function is central to ensuring regulatory integrity, operational resilience, and sustainable growth.

The CCO/MLRO will act as the named individual responsible for all compliance and financial crime obligations under CBUAE regulation, overseeing the compliance framework across AML/CFT, consumer protection, safeguarding, conduct risk, and data privacy.

Regulatory Compliance & Licensing

• Lead the design and implementation of a compliance framework tailored to CBUAE SVF requirements, RPSCS overlaps, and relevant UAE laws.
• Serve as the primary regulatory liaison with the CBUAE, supporting license application, ongoing supervision, and inspections.
• Ensure compliance with consumer protection, e-money safeguarding, outsourcing, data privacy, and cybersecurity standards applicable to SVF entities.
• Review marketing and financial promotions to ensure AML compliance.
• Act as the lead contact for internal and external audits relating to AML/CTF and Compliance matters.
• Perform periodic gap analysis and evaluation of systems and controls.
• Coordinate responses to audit findings and track the implementation of remediation plans.
• Collaborate with tech teams to calibrate and improve AML monitoring tools, sanctions screening systems, and case management platforms.
• Stay abreast of technological solutions (e.g., blockchain analytics, transaction monitoring systems, eKYC platforms) and recommend enhancements.
• Investigate client complaints with potential regulatory, reputational, or AML implications.
• Maintain and regularly update all compliance registers.
• Maintain a comprehensive compliance calendar tracking all reporting obligations, license requirements, audit timelines, and key regulatory deadlines.
• Ensure all regulatory reports, returns, and notifications are prepared, reviewed, and submitted on time (e.g., STRs, AML returns).
• Lead the preparation and ongoing maintenance of the Business-Wide Risk Assessment (BWRA), identifying and assessing inherent and residual risks related to money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes across the business.
• Oversee the execution of periodic Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSA) across compliance and business units to evaluate the design and effectiveness of internal controls.

AML/CFT & Financial Crime:

• Lead the design, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing enhancement of the organisation’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Compliance framework.
• Establish and maintain clear standards for customer identification and verification processes in line with AML requirements and onboarding procedures.
  
• Perform Transaction Monitoring and oversee the end-to-end Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) lifecycle, including internal reviews and external regulatory submissions.
  
• Ensuring sanctions screening, PEP monitoring, and transaction surveillance are robust and fit for purpose.
  
• Provide guidance and training to internal teams to ensure awareness and adherence to AML obligations and company policies designed to detect financial crime.
  
• Act as the primary point of contact for law enforcement inquiries and ensure prompt, appropriate responses to information requests.
  
• Maintain relationships with domestic regulatory bodies and manage reporting obligations to the local Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
  
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal compliance and risk teams to propose actionable steps that address emerging regulatory risks and ensure ongoing compliance.
  
• Support product development and business initiatives by advising on regulatory implications and ensuring new services meet AML and compliance requirements.
  
• Define and enforce standards for Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Know Your Customer (KYC), and Ongoing Monitoring.
  
• Oversee periodic reviews of client risk ratings
  Promote a strong compliance culture across the organization by ensuring all employees understand their obligations.
  Prepare and present periodic AML/CTF and financial crime reports to the Board of Directors and senior management, including updates on STRs, risk trends, and program effectiveness.
  
• Maintain records of compliance meetings, decisions, and actions taken.
  
• Advise product, sales, and operations teams on AML/CTF considerations when launching new products, services, or markets.
• Deliver annual AML reports to the board and coordinate independent audits where required.

Governance & Risk Oversight

• Serve as a member of the senior management team, actively contributing to product risk assessment, outsourcing governance, and new service launches (e.g., cross-border transfers, joint accounts).
• Chair or participate in Risk & Compliance Committees, maintaining independence from revenue-generating functions.
• Monitor regulatory change and update policies accordingly.

Operational Compliance Integration

• Assist internal teams -including Product, Technology, Operations, Customer Support, and Finance -in embedding compliance requirements into business processes, system designs, and customer journeys.
• Review and advise on new features, customer flows, and vendor integrations from a compliance and conduct-risk perspective.
  
• Ensure implementation of appropriate controls across onboarding, transaction processing, record-keeping, and customer communication.
  
• Support the design and ongoing calibration of automated monitoring, screening, and fraud detection tools.
  
• Provide compliance input during product development and change management cycles to ensure alignment with regulatory expectations.

Training & Culture

• Deliver mandatory AML/compliance training to all UAE employees and maintain training logs.
• Foster a culture of compliance and ethical conduct, aligned with Capital.com’s global standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum); preferred fields include Law, Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, or Economics.
  
• Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA Diploma in AML/Compliance, CFE, or equivalent are strongly preferred.
  
• Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA, LLM) are a plus.
• 8–12 years of relevant experience in compliance, AML/CFT, or regulatory affairs, ideally within: Fintech (neo-banking, e-wallets, stored value providers) orPayment institutions regulated under CBUAE, DFSA, ADGM, or equivalent international frameworks.
• Prior designation as CCO, MLRO, or Compliance Officer with a UAE-regulated financial institution (ideally named to the regulator).
• Demonstrable track record of leading compliance frameworks through initial licence applications and regulatory inspections and building or scaling compliance functions in start-up or high-growth environments.
• Engaging constructively with regulators, auditors, and board-level stakeholders.
• Business level proficiency in English or above (equivalent to B2 or above inCEFR).

Skills &Competencies

• Deep understanding of UAE regulatory landscape, including:CBUAE SVF and RPSCS Regulations,UAE AML/CFT Rulebook, FATF Recommendations, and FIU reporting protocols, Consumer protection, data privacy, outsourcing governance, and conduct risk.
• Strong analytical, risk assessment, and policy drafting skills.
• Experience with RegTech systems for onboarding, screening, and transaction monitoring (e.g., ComplyAdvantage, NameScan, Actimize).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to train teams, handle cross-border stakeholders, and influence executive decisions.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, cross-functional teams with high accountability.

Other Requirements

• Must be physically based in the UAE and available to liaise with CBUAE when required.
• Able to serve as the named MLRO and CCO, subject to regulatory approval.
• High ethical standards and commitment to fostering a culture of compliance and transparency.

What you will get in return:

• Competitive Salary:We believe great work deserves great pay! Your skills and talents will be rewarded with a salary that makes you feel valued and motivated.
• Work-Life Harmony:Join a company that genuinely cares about you—because your life outside of work matters just as much as your time on the clock.
• Annual Performance Bonus:Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed! Celebrate your achievements with a well-deserved annual bonus tied to your performance.
• Generous Time Off:Need a breather? Our annual leave policy lets you recharge and enjoy life outside of work without a worry.
• Employee Referral Program:Love working here? Share the love! Bring your talented friends on board and get rewarded for growing our awesome team.
• Comprehensive Health & Pension Benefits:From medical insurance to pension plans, we’ve got your back. Plus, location-specific benefits andperks!
• Workation Wonderland:Live your digital nomad dreams with 30 extra days to work remotely from anywhere in the world (some restrictions apply). Adventure awaits!
• Volunteer Days:Make a difference! Take two additional paid days each year to support causes you care about and give back to the community.

Be a key player at the forefront of the digital assets movement, propelling your career to new heights!Join a dynamic and rapidly expanding company that values and rewards talent, initiative, and creativity.Work alongside one of the most brilliant teams in the industry.