About the Role
The KYC Onboarding Associate (Funds) is a vital first line role within the organization, responsible for supporting onboarding for clients introduced by the UAE entity to the Group UK entity, with a particular focus on funds and onboarding UAE clients. This position demands a high level of diligence, analytical skills, and prior KYC/KYB onboarding experience with funds. The ideal candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, and committed to upholding the highest standards of compliance and risk management.
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Key Responsibilities
- Collect and review KYC/KYB documents for UAE-incorporated clients onboarded by the UK group entity, particularly focusing on funds, and hand over to UK Onboarding for approval and account opening.
- Conduct end-to-end onboarding of DIFC clients, with a particular focus on funds.
- Act as a liaison between the client, the DIFC Sales team, and UK Onboarding until the account is live.
- Conduct thorough and accurate client due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD) checks in compliance with AML/KYC regulations, utilizing relevant screening tools.
- Identify and verify ultimate beneficial owners and controllers across fund structures, including general partners, management companies, investment managers, and fund administrators.
- Ensure all onboarding processes adhere to regulatory and compliance standards.
- Review and verify documentation to ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
- Identify and escalate high-risk cases, potential risks, or red flags to the CO/MLRO.
- Serve as the first point of contact for KYC-related queries, providing timely and professional responses to clients.
- Communicate effectively to obtain required documentation and clarify requirements with clients.
- Maintain accurate records of onboarding activities within internal systems.
- Support the CO/MLRO with audits, reporting, and process improvement initiatives.
- Identify opportunities for improving processes and propose innovative solutions to enhance efficiency.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Proven experience in KYC/KYB onboarding within financial services or a similar regulated industry.
- Experience onboarding funds and fund-related structures (e.g., GPs, management companies, SPVs) at a DFSA or FSRA-regulated firm, such as a fund administrator, bank, custodian, or fund manager, is essential.
- Working knowledge of the DFSA AML Module and UAE AML/CFT framework; awareness of UK requirements (MLRs 2017, JMLSG guidance) is advantageous.
- A recognized AML/compliance qualification (e.g., ICA certificate) is beneficial, or a willingness to work towards one.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment.
- Analytical and process-oriented mindset, focused on continuous improvement.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including collaboration across UK and UAE teams.
- Dedication to continuous learning and adaptability to changing regulatory landscapes.
- A team player with a winning mentality and a solid work ethic committed to continuous improvement and high performance.
- Adaptable, tenacious and flexible, capable of performing under pressure.
- A collaborative approach to working with others, committed to an inclusive environment.
- Willingness to travel to the Dubai office as required.
Benefits
We believe great people do their best work when they feel supported, rewarded, and empowered to grow. Hence, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, finances, and life outside of work.
- Enrolment into DEWS
- Private healthcare
- 25 days’ annual leave, plus an extra day off for your birthday!
- Eligible employees can participate in our Work from Abroad scheme for up to 2 weeks per year
- Annual Leave Loyalty Scheme where holiday entitlement increases by 1 day per year after 3 full years of service
- Training sponsorship
- Annual flight expense scheme
- Enhanced maternity & paternity pay after one year of service
Diversity & Inclusion
We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success. We are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background, identity or experiences. By embracing diverse perspectives and promoting equity, we aim to create an environment where all employees can perform and reach their full potential.
