Head of Compliance

We're building the compliance and AML function from the ground up for a growing payments company in the UAE. This is a hands-on, build-and-own role for someone who has taken a regulated financial services entity through a licensing process before and wants to own the function end-to-end — not just support it.

You'll take over the compliance/AML workstreams currently bridged by external counsel and the CRO, and drive them through to filing and In-Principle Approval (IPA), then build out the institutional framework that will run the business day to day.

What you'll own:

Licensing Project

• Full ownership of the compliance/AML workstreams within the regulatory licensing dossier
• Partner directly with the CRO and external counsel through to filing and IPA
• Review and draft policies, regulatory correspondence and Fit & Proper (F&P) documentation
• Formal handover take-over with signed-off handover memo

AML/CFT & Sanctions Programme

• Stand up the full AML/CFT and sanctions framework
• Design policy, KYC/CDD/EDD processes, screening and transaction monitoring
• Build SAR/STR processes and FIU/goAML readiness

Compliance Management Framework

• Build the function from zero: Compliance Charter, compliance risk assessment, obligations register, regulatory calendar, breach management process

Compliance Policy & Procedure Stack

• Draft the full institutional policy suite: Compliance Manual, Consumer Protection, Conflicts of Interest, Whistleblowing, Code of Conduct, Outsourcing, Gifts & Hospitality

Business Support & Product Compliance

• Day-to-day advisory on new products and merchant onboarding sign-off
• Marketing review, partner and BIN due diligence
• Embed compliance-by-design into product and commercial workflows

Compliance Monitoring & Testing

• Design and run a risk-based monitoring and testing plan
• Control testing and Board reporting pack with KRIs
• Build the regulatory reporting framework

Regulatory & FIU Engagement

• Primary interface with regulators and FIU
• Own notification protocols, query handling, IPA conditions tracking and inspection readiness

Training & Function Build-out

• Roll out company-wide AML/compliance training and first-line training
• Deliver Board-level AML/compliance awareness sessions
• Define and execute the compliance team build-out plan as the business scales

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience taking a UAE payments, fintech, or financial services entity through CBUAE licensing (RPSCS/SVF or similar categories)
• Strong working knowledge of UAE AML/CFT regulation, FIU/goAML reporting, and CBUAE supervisory expectations
• Comfortable operating as a function of one initially — equally at ease drafting a policy manual and presenting a KRI pack to the Board
• Prior experience partnering with a CRO and external counsel through a live licensing process is a strong plus
• Independent, low-ego operator who can take over an in-flight workstream cleanly and keep momentum through to IPA

As part of our recruitment process, we process candidate personal data for recruitment and selection purposes. This may include recording or transcription of interviews, AI-assisted summarisation of interview notes, and storage of candidate information in our applicant tracking system. These tools support our recruitment team and do not make final hiring decisions without human review. We retain candidate information only for as long as necessary for the relevant recruitment process, unless you separately agree that we may keep your details for future opportunities.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in accordance with this notice.