Compliance Officer And MLRO

We have an opportunity for a Compliance Officer & MLRO to join our growing team in Dubai.

Who We Are

Nedbank Private Wealth is a multi-award-winning private bank and wealth manager headquartered in the Isle of Man, with branches in London, Jersey and a representative office in the UAE. The company provides a full international wealth management offering through its wealth planning, investment management, and banking services, to both business and private clients worldwide.

All our people are expected to consistently demonstrate our 6Cs, Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage, Client Impact, Can Do Attitude and Completeness.

Job Purpose

As the appointed Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer, the role holder is responsible for discharging those statutory and regulatory functions in accordance with the DFSA Rulebook, UAE AML legislation and internal governance requirements including oversight of suspicious activity reporting, engagement with law enforcement and regulatory authorities, maintenance of SAR records and registers, periodic reporting to governance forums and ensuring compliance with applicable AML/CFT/CPF obligations.

In addition to their Compliance and MLRO responsibilities, the role holder acts as the local second-line risk representative for the DIFC entity, providing independent oversight and challenge across the branch's risk profile and ensuring material risks are appropriately identified, assessed, escalated and managed.

The role provides independent oversight and challenge to the business and senior management, advising senior management on regulatory developments, compliance risks and financial crime matters and broader enterprise risk matters. The role holder is responsible for maintaining a strong culture of regulatory compliance, effective risk management, ethical conduct and sound governance across the DIFC entity.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Act as the designated Compliance Officer and MLRO for the DIFC entity and fulfil all responsibilities associated with those appointments.
• Act as the primary point of contact for the DFSA and coordinate responses to regulatory enquiries, inspections, reviews and information requests.
• Develop, maintain and oversee the compliance monitoring programme, ensuring effective identification, assessment and management of regulatory risks.
• Establish and maintain an effective anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, sanctions and financial crime prevention framework.
• Maintain appropriate financial crime governance records, including suspicious activity reporting registers, regulatory disclosures, sanctions escalations, regulatory communications and management information.
• Advise management and employees on DFSA rules, regulatory obligations and compliance requirements applicable to the business.
• Monitor regulatory developments within the DIFC, UAE and international financial services environment and assess potential impacts on the business.
• Provide oversight and challenge in relation to higher-risk clients, politically exposed persons, complex structures, source of wealth, source of funds, sanctions exposure and enhanced due diligence arrangements
• Oversee client onboarding, customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence and ongoing monitoring processes to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Prepare, attend and present compliance and financial crime reports to local governance committees and wider Group risk committees, financial crime forums and senior management committees as required
• Conduct periodic compliance and AML risk assessments and ensure appropriate mitigation plans are implemented.
• Oversee compliance training programmes to ensure employees understand their regulatory and financial crime obligations.
• Support the implementation of new products, services, jurisdictions and strategic initiatives through robust compliance risk assessments.
• Provide compliance advice regarding new products, marketing materials, client propositions, strategic initiatives, outsourcing arrangements and business change activity.
• Provide compliance oversight of risks arising from digital transformation initiatives, artificial intelligence, data governance arrangements and emerging technologies.
• Maintain compliance policies, procedures and controls, ensuring they remain aligned to DFSA requirements and group standards.
• Ensure the timely submission of DFSA returns, notifications, breach notifications, licensed function declarations and regulatory attestations
• Manage compliance incidents, breaches and investigations, ensuring appropriate escalation, remediation and reporting.
• Act as the local Second Line of Defence representative for risk management matters, ensuring the Dubai branch operates within the NPWL Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework and approved risk appetite.
• Co-ordinate the identification, assessment, monitoring and reporting of material risks affecting the DIFC branch, including operational, conduct, regulatory, financial crime, technology and third-party risks.
• Foster a culture of integrity, accountability and effective risk management throughout the Dubai operation.
• Flexibility by supporting broader administrative and operational needs as required.

Regulatory Responsibilities

• The role holder must understand and comply with their regulatory obligations, ensure their actions and advice meet regulatory and conduct standards, and provide effective oversight of conduct risk, customer outcomes and regulatory risk appetite.
• To obtain and maintain DFSA approved person status.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with the DFSA Rulebook and all applicable DIFC regulatory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of UAE federal AML, sanctions and financial crime legislation and assess implications for the DIFC entity.
• Support cross-border wealth management activities by providing guidance on regulatory requirements applicable to international clients and jurisdictions.
• Liaise with NPWI Group Compliance and Financial Crime and Risk teams to ensure alignment between local regulatory requirements and NPWI global standards.
• Provide compliance oversight of outsourced arrangements, third-party relationships and service providers impacting the DIFC operation.
• Support regulatory approvals, licence variations and business expansion initiatives within the DIFC framework.

Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in compliance, financial crime, AML and regulatory risk management within banking, wealth management or financial services.
• Strong working knowledge of DFSA regulations, DIFC regulatory requirements and international AML/CFT standards - Essential.
• Experience acting as, or supporting, an MLRO, Compliance Officer or senior compliance function within a regulated financial institution.
• Experience operating within internationally regulated financial centres - Essential.
• Strong understanding of cross-border wealth management, international client onboarding, source of wealth assessments and jurisdictional financial crime risks - Essential.
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with regulators, auditors, senior management and governance committees.
• Strong knowledge of private banking, wealth management and investment services regulatory requirements.
• Experience conducting compliance monitoring reviews, risk assessments and control testing.
• Strong understanding of sanctions compliance, customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence requirements.
• Ability to provide pragmatic, risk-based advice while maintaining regulatory independence and integrity.
• Excellent investigation, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge where appropriate.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and promote a strong risk and compliance culture.
• High levels of personal integrity, judgement and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Professional compliance or financial crime qualification (e.g. ICA Diploma, ICA Advanced Certificate, ACAMS, CISI Compliance qualification or equivalent).
• Evidence of continuing professional development in compliance, AML and regulatory matters.
• Must satisfy DFSA Fit and Proper requirements and any applicable regulatory approval criteria.
• Relevant AML, financial crime or compliance certifications desirable.

To Apply

We encourage you to apply well in advance of the deadline and if you are successful, we will meet with you as soon as possible.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Nedbank Private Wealth is an inclusive employer where everyone can thrive. We are proud of the value we place on individuality, and we want you to bring your full self to work and maximise your potential. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to support you.