Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) Onboarding Analyst

About the Role
As part of our continued growth in the UAE, we are seeking an experienced Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) Onboarding Analyst to join our Compliance and Financial Crime team in the DIFC. The successful candidate will conduct detailed due diligence and risk assessments on prospective clients, focusing on complex corporate structures, beneficial ownership, source of wealth, source of funds, and higher-risk industries and jurisdictions.
This role requires a strong understanding of AML/CTF requirements and regulatory expectations under the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and/or UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Reporting to the Head of Compliance / Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), the candidate will ensure onboarding decisions are appropriately risk-assessed, evidence-based, and documented in line with regulatory requirements and the firm's risk appetite.

Key Responsibilities
Enhanced Due Diligence & Onboarding

• Conduct CDD and EDD reviews on corporate and individual clients, focusing on complex and higher-risk relationships.
• Analyse corporate structures, including multi-layered ownership arrangements, offshore entities, and holding companies.
• Identify and verify ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), directors, controllers, and other relevant connected parties.
• Assess source of wealth (SoW), source of funds (SoF), business activities, financial information, and anticipated account usage.
• Conduct PEP and adverse media screening, investigate potential matches, and document findings.
• Perform independent research using corporate registries, company filings, financial statements, and open-source intelligence.
• Identify inconsistencies, information gaps, and financial crime red flags, requesting further evidence where necessary.
• Prepare clear EDD reports documenting findings, risk indicators, mitigating factors, and onboarding recommendations.
• Escalate higher-risk cases and recommendations to the MLRO or relevant approver in accordance with internal procedures.

High-Risk Client Assessments

• Assess clients operating in higher-risk sectors, including gaming and gambling, CFDs, cryptoassets, virtual assets, and international trading.
• Assess exposure to high-risk jurisdictions, including geographic links arising from ownership, operations, counterparties, and anticipated transaction flows.
• Evaluate business models, revenue sources, counterparties, payment corridors, and expected transaction volumes.
• Identify potential money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, corruption, and other financial crime risks.
• Determine whether identified risks are adequately mitigated and consistent with the firm's risk appetite.

Regulatory Compliance & Ongoing Due Diligence

• Apply relevant DFSA and/or FCA regulatory requirements, AML/CTF legislation, and risk-based due diligence principles.
• Ensure onboarding assessments, risk ratings, and approval decisions are adequately documented and supported by evidence.
• Conduct periodic and event-driven reviews, assessing material changes in ownership, business activities, and client risk profiles.
• Maintain accurate client records, screening results, research, and supporting documentation.
• Support compliance monitoring, internal audits, regulatory reviews, and improvements to onboarding procedures.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 4 years' experience in AML, financial crime, EDD, KYC, or compliance, with practical experience in complex or higher-risk client onboarding.
• Strong experience reviewing corporate structures, verifying beneficial ownership, and assessing source of wealth and source of funds.
• Good understanding of AML/CTF risks, PEPs, adverse media, and customer risk assessment methodologies.
• Working knowledge of DFSA and/or FCA regulatory requirements and the ability to apply regulatory expectations to onboarding decisions.
• Strong investigative, analytical, and report-writing skills, with the ability to challenge incomplete or inconsistent information.
• Experience using corporate registries, open-source intelligence, and external research tools.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple cases effectively.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in payments, fintech, foreign exchange, banking, or another regulated financial services environment.
• Exposure to both DFSA and FCA regulatory frameworks.
• Experience assessing complex international ownership structures, offshore entities, and higher-risk jurisdictions.
• Experience reviewing clients in higher-risk sectors, including gaming, gambling, CFDs, and cryptoassets.
• Familiarity with screening platforms such as Comply Advantage, LexisNexis, or Risk Narrative.
• ICA, ACAMS, or an equivalent financial crime qualification.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to join a growing international payments and foreign exchange business.
• Exposure to complex international client structures and financial crime risks.
• Direct engagement with senior Compliance and MLRO stakeholders.
• Professional development, competitive remuneration, and career progression opportunities.