MLRO Financial Crime Manager

About the job
This position involves a critical role as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Financial Crime Manager, owning the organization's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) program. The MLRO is responsible for ensuring that an effective risk-based approach is implemented to detect and report suspicious activities. This includes managing investigations, liaising with law enforcement, and continuous enhancement of the AML/CFT program according to UAE regulations and international guidelines.

THE UAE CONTEXT
The company operates as a fast-growing payroll service provider, servicing over 15,000 businesses and more than 2.2 million unbanked employees. The organization collaborates with over 10 banks and 35 financial institutions, offering a unique mobile app for payroll management and value-added services such as money transfers and mobile recharges.

Responsibilities

• MLRO Designation and Program Ownership: Own and enhance the AML/CFT program in alignment with UAE laws and regulations.
• Detection and Investigation: Monitor transactions for signs of money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud; investigate internal suspicious activity reports (SARs/STRs).
• SAR/STR Decision and Filing: Make confidential decisions regarding the submission of SARs/STRs to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
• Post-Filing Actions: Implement actions following SAR/STR filings, including customer risk rating updates and watchlist placements.
• AML/CFT Risk Assessment: Lead organization-wide risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and review risk matters continuously.
• Regulatory and Law Enforcement Liaison: Act as the primary contact with the CBUAE, FIU, and law enforcement, managing responses to requests and providing necessary data.
• Database and Screening Checks: Ensure proper monitoring compliance with sanctions and maintain relevant screening programs.
• Advisory to Head of Compliance: Provide advisory support on financial crime matters.
• Committee Participation: Engage in Fraud, Compliance, and Risk Committees.
• Compliance/MLRO Sign-Off: Review payments requiring compliance approval.
• Policy and Procedure Review: Assess internal AML/CFT rules for compliance and propose updates.
• Independent Assessment: Evaluate the compliance level with internal AML/CFT systems and suggest enhancements.
• Reporting to the Board and CLCO: Prepare reports on AML/CFT program effectiveness for the Board and escalate issues as necessary.
• Training: Oversee training programs on financial crime and compliance for employees.
• Transaction Monitoring and Fraud Prevention: Optimize transaction monitoring frameworks and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance fraud prevention measures.
• Team Management: Lead the FinCrime and Fraud team, driving performance and regulatory compliance reporting.
• Fitness and Propriety: Support procedures ensuring high integrity standards in AML roles.
• Ongoing Awareness: Keep updated on AML/CFT legislation and industry best practices.
• Collaboration: Work closely with Compliance, Risk Management, and legal teams and maintain interagency relationships.

AML/FINANCIAL CRIME TOOLS AND SYSTEMS FAMILIARITY:

• Transaction Monitoring Systems (e.g., NICE Actimize, FICO TONBELLER)
• Sanctions Screening Tools (e.g., World-Check, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance)
• Customer Due Diligence (CDD)/KYC Platforms (e.g., ComplyAdvantage, Trulioo)
• Case Management Systems
• Fraud detection tools relevant to payments environments
• Experience with data analysis tools such as SQL or Tableau is a plus.

YOUR PROFILE

• Minimum 10 years of experience in AML/CFT and financial crime management in financial services or reputable fintech companies.
• Proven expertise in SAR/STR reporting and leading AML/CFT programs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UAE AML/CFT laws, CBUAE regulations, and financial crime typologies.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills with attention to detail.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related fields; a Master’s degree is a plus.
• Relevant certifications such as CAMS or CFE are highly valued.
• Must be eligible for CBUAE approval as MLRO, meeting the Central Bank's fit-and-proper criteria.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to manage stakeholders effectively.
• Fluency in English is required; Arabic is an advantage.

REPORTING STRUCTURE
The selected candidate will report directly to the Board of Directors and the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer (CLCO), ensuring compliance with CBUAE independence requirements for the Compliance function.

COLLABORATION
The role requires collaboration with various internal teams including Legal, Internal Audit, IT, and business units to ensure compliance and risk mitigation throughout the organization.