Head of Compliance Technology Platforms

ADIB Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Abu Dhabi seeks a Head of Compliance Technology Platforms to lead AML system operations. This senior leadership role involves managing a team to ensure compliance systems are resilient and effective. The ideal candidate has 7–10 years of banking IT or financial crime compliance experience, particularly in AML systems, and is proficient in SAS AML and SQL. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, along with knowledge of UAE regulatory standards. This position offers a dynamic environment focused on technology evolution and regulatory adherence.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in banking IT or financial crime compliance.
• Significant experience specifically in AML systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the compliance technology platforms team for AML systems.
• Ensure resilience and performance of compliance systems.
• Drive continuous improvement in AML capabilities.

Skills

Leadership

Data Analysis

Understanding of AML regulations

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or Computer Science

Tools

SAS AML

SQL

AWS/Azure

Job description

Head of Compliance Technology Platforms

Location: Abu Dhabi

Role Purpose: This is a senior hands‑on leadership role responsible for ensuring the resilience, performance, and evolution of ADIB’s compliance systems. The role holder leads a team of domain experts to deliver stable day‑to‑day technical support for the bank’s compliance operations, drives continuous improvement and executes critical regulatory and strategic change. The role encompasses end‑to‑end technology ownership of the Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) technology ecosystem and will be accountable for ensuring the platform is resilient, secure, scalable and fit for purpose to detect and prevent financial crime. The role is a blend of technical expertise in data and systems with a deep understanding of UAE and international AML/CFT regulations.

Key Accountabilities of the role

Strategic Leadership

• Will be a key senior leader within the Compliance Platform and the extended leadership team of Core Platforms and Data Architecture.
• Will shape and own ADIB’s AML system technology strategy in line with the bank’s overall Technology Strategy.
• Bring emerging technology practices to ADIB’s AML system team to drive AI in increasing detection sophistication and reduce manual alert effort.
• Will deliver the strategic transformation of AML capabilities from OMNI to SAS and maximize the new systems capabilities.

Service and Resilience

• Responsible for maintaining system performance (AML system) against agreed SLAs and customer expectations (24×7 365).
• Manage end‑to‑end AML service support across batch and online digital journeys.
• Lead the management, configuration and optimization of AML monitoring systems (SAS) to effectively identify unusual transaction patterns and potential financial crime.
• Own incident management: respond to major incidents, lead root‑cause analysis and implement permanent fixes. Run post‑incident reviews and resilience testing.
• Bring industry insights into service management and improve ADIB’s AML system service availability KPIs.

Change and Delivery

• Own and prioritize the BAU business change request backlog across the AML system team in line with the bank’s strategy.
• Deliver critical regulatory and strategic projects under tight deadlines.
• Oversee all solution designs ensuring compliance with target architecture security standards and best practices.
• Manage change across the full SDLC lifecycle (requirements design testing deployment post‑go‑live).
• Ensure all changes are delivered to a high quality with robust testing and controls.
• Drive efficiency through change tooling (test automation, CICD etc.) to increase our speed to market.

Customer Experience & Digital Enablement

• Collaborate with compliance and IT teams to tune and optimise AML solutions reducing false positives while ensuring effective detection of suspicious activities.
• Partner with the business on current customer or operational pain points and implement solutions that can digitalise these pain points reducing customer friction and operational workloads.
• Proactively seek AI opportunities to advance ADIB’s AML system technology service.

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Responsible for AML system adherence to technology governance frameworks ensuring adherence to internal controls audit standards and regulatory obligations.
• Ensure all open actions, risks and central bank enquiries are dealt with and closed on time.
• Support the execution of financial crime risk assessments, assess system controls, evaluate process deficiencies and recommend corrective actions to mitigate identified risks.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and develop a team of 24 subject matter experts.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and technical excellence.
• Build internal capability to reduce vendor dependency.
• Drive the team to high performance through coaching and ambitious targets.

Stakeholder Management

• Responsible for managing internal relationships with AML system stakeholders across the bank.
• Run monthly planning sessions with key senior stakeholders to prioritise AML system team backlog.
• Manage external relationships relating to AML system.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Develop a set of KPIs that will be used to manage and drive team performance across service availability, team cadence, vendor quality.
• Through these KPIs and relevant data observe focus on flow and drive continuous improvement.

Technology and Enterprise Applications Senior Leader

• As a senior leader in Technology the role holder will be required to contribute to Enterprise Application platform and wider Technology initiatives.
• Learn and share best practice and efficiencies across Enterprise Applications.

Vendor and System Oversight

• Responsible for managing relationships with AML system vendor.
• Conducting regular vendor performance review sessions with vendors across service availability & SLAs, defects, project deliverables, strategy opportunities.

Specialist Skills / Technical Knowledge Required for this role

• Experience: 7–10 years of experience in banking IT or financial crime compliance with significant experience specifically in AML system.
• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in AML software (SAS AML), data analysis tools, SQL and potentially cloud environments (AWS/Azure).
• Regulatory Knowledge: In‑depth knowledge of local UAE AML/CFT laws, CBUAE regulations and international standards (e.g. FATF, OFAC).
• Certifications: Professional certifications such as CAMS (Certified Anti‑Money Laundering Specialist) or ICA (International Compliance Association) are highly preferred.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical, problem‑solving, leadership and communication skills to effectively bridge the gap between technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Computer Science or a related field.