Sanction Officer

hala; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HALA is seeking a dedicated Sanctions Officer to conduct screening and investigations, ensuring timely regulatory compliance and robust controls across transactions and customer onboarding.

The role involves analyzing alerts, escalating confirmed matches, and maintaining meticulous documentation while adhering to internal policies and evolving sanctions lists. You will collaborate with the sanctions team to minimize false positives and support authorities when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in law, finance, business administration.
• 2–4 years of AML/CTF and sanctions experience.
• Fluent in English and Arabic.
• Solid knowledge of compliance and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct sanctions name screening for new and existing customers, transactions, employees and third parties.
• Analyze alerts from screening systems and assess the level of match.
• Conduct necessary investigations for potential matches and gather supporting evidence before escalating to the Sanctions Manager.
• Execute instructions to stop or suspend transactions when required.
• Update screening records and ensure complete and accurate documentation.
• Implement freezing or temporary blocking of transactions or accounts upon confirmed matches, in accordance with approved policies and procedures.
• Update and review approved sanctions lists within the system and ensure that regulatory updates are reflected in a timely manner.

Skills

English proficiency

Arabic proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who Are We

HALA is a leading fintech player in the MENAP region that aims to redefine financial services and build the future bank of SMEs. HALA aims at empowering SMEs to start, run, and grow their businesses by providing them with cutting-edge financial and technological tools.

HALA currently holds multiple entities in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt (including HALA Payments and HALA Logistics) and offers solutions that enable merchants to digitize their payments as well as manage their sales and operations.

Founded in 2017, HALA is currently licensed by the Saudi Arabian Central Bank.

Job Summary

At Hala, the main responsibility of the Sanctions Officer is to conduct sanctions screening and investigations to identify potential sanctions matches, ensure timely regulatory compliance, support transaction monitoring and account controls, and maintain accurate documentation in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct sanctions name screening for new customers, existing customers, transactions, employees, and third parties.
• Analyze alerts generated by screening systems and assess the level of match (False Match / True Match).
• Conduct necessary investigations for potential matches and gather supporting evidence and information before escalating to the Sanctions Manager.
• Execute instructions to stop or suspend transactions when required.
• Update screening records and ensure complete and accurate documentation.
• Implement freezing or temporary blocking of transactions or accounts upon confirmed matches, in accordance with approved policies and procedures.
• Update and review approved sanctions lists within the system and ensure that any regulatory updates are reflected in a timely manner.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of information related to sanctions cases.
• Support the execution of requests from competent authorities related to specific sanctions cases, in accordance with approved authorities.
• Contribute to the reduction of false positives by providing practical feedback to enhance screening criteria and parameters.
• Conduct periodic rescreening of existing customers upon updates to sanctions lists or changes in customer data.
• Support sanctions screening system effectiveness testing by reviewing samples and validating match results.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent fields of studies

The education levels can be replaced by years of experience

Experience

• 2-4 years of experience in AML/CTF and sanctions

Skills

• Computer Skills: Advanced in Microsoft Office Tools
• Languages: Fluent in English and Arabic
• Solid knowledge of compliance and regulations

Core Competencies

• Self-Actualization & Fulfilment: Proficiency Level - INTERMEDIATE
• Team Synergy & Development: Proficiency Level - INTERMEDIATE
• Entrepreneurial Mindset & Drive: Proficiency Level - INTERMEDIATE
• Business Acumen & Diligence: Proficiency Level - INTERMEDIATE

What We Offer You

• We believe you will love working at HALA!
• We have an inclusive and diverse culture that encourages innovation and flexibility in remote, in-office, and hybrid work setups.
• We offer highly competitive compensation packages, including the potential for shares.
• We prioritize personal development and offer regular training and an annual learning stipend to tackle new challenges and grow your career in a hyper-growth environment.
• Join a talented team of over 30 nationalities working in 7 countries and gain valuable experience in an exciting industry.
• We offer autonomy, mentoring, and challenging goals that create incredible opportunities for both you and the company.
• You will be given a lot of responsibility and trust. We believe that the best results come when the people responsible for a function are given the freedom to do what they think is best.

If you think you have what it takes to join a remarkable team