Associate Director, CFCC - Governance

About the Role

The Associate Director, CFCC Governance will lead the company's financial crime compliance governance framework while providing effective second-line oversight, monitoring, testing, reporting, and regulatory engagement. This role functions within Conduct, Financial Crime & Compliance (CFCC) and reports directly to the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO). The position is based in the UAE and aims to ensure financial crime risk is effectively governed, monitored, tested, and reported through a combination of policy enhancements, independent challenge, compliance monitoring, testing, and regulatory liaison.

Role Overview

The responsibilities of the Associate Director include:

• Driving continuous improvement of financial crime compliance policies and standards.
• Ensuring accurate documentation that complies with UAE law, CBUAE requirements, SVF regulations, and other applicable standards.
• Overseeing compliance monitoring and testing processes to identify and resolve any regulatory concerns.
• Supporting regulatory engagement and maintaining strong relationships with external authorities.

What You’ll Do

Strategy and Business Advisory

• Deliver the CFCC vision, strategy, and plan aligning with the company's strategic direction.
• Act as a trusted adviser on financial crime laws, regulations, and standards to facilitate proactive compliance.
• Challenge activities falling outside risk appetite and support remediation initiatives.

Policy, Standards, and Procedures

• Continuously improve the FCC policy and standards framework.
• Draft, review, and maintain compliance documents aligning with regulatory changes.
• Oversee accuracy and consistency of FCC Operations procedures and manage policy version control.

Compliance Monitoring and Testing

• Own the Annual Compliance Monitoring and Testing Plan for the MLRO.
• Conduct quarterly testing cycles and maintain CMAT Findings Tracker ensuring timely closure of issues.

Risk Management and Remediation

• Monitor controls and processes related to financial crime, customer due diligence, sanctions screening, and transaction monitoring.
• Escalate significant issues and track remediation processes to prevent recurrence.

Governance, MI, and Reporting

• Prepare and report FCC management information to the MLRO, Executive Risk Committee, and Board on performance and emerging risks.
• Support horizon scanning alongside CFCC teams to address regulatory changes and enforcement trends.

Regulatory and External Liaison

• Manage relationships with regulatory authorities and support licensing and compliance examinations.
• Act as a contact for external audits and ensure FCC communications are coordinated and recorded.

Training and Awareness

• Design and deliver CFCC training sessions and monitor their effectiveness to uphold financial crime obligations.

Success Measures

• Timely reviews and approvals of FCC policies and procedures.
• Maintenance of an up-to-date obligations register and completion of CMAT cycles.
• Accurate and timely delivery of Management Information to key stakeholders.

What You’ll Need

• Minimum six years of experience in financial crime compliance or regulatory risk.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UAE AML, CFT, CPF, and sanctions requirements.
• Experience with policy governance and compliance testing along with direct regulatory engagement.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance and risk management in the financial services sector.
• Relevant professional certification (e.g., CAMS, ICA) is preferred.

Who You Are

• You exhibit high ethical standards and sound judgment.
• You confidently engage with senior stakeholders and focus on delivering solutions.
• You have excellent communication skills and a knack for improving processes and workflows.
• You are detail-oriented, organized, and thrive in fast-paced environments.

Working Relationships

• Reports to: MLRO
• Key Internal Partners: FCC Operations, Product, Technology, Risk, Legal, Finance, Operations, and senior management.
• Key Governance Forums: Executive Risk Committee, Board, CFCC Forum, and related CFCC forums.
• Key External Stakeholders: CBUAE and other regulatory authorities, auditors, and consultants.

Regulatory and Operating Context The role operates within the framework of the company's CFCC and adheres to applicable UAE financial crime laws, the expectations of CBUAE, and internal governance standards.