About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Assistant Manager – Regulatory Compliance & Financial Crime Compliance to support the regulatory compliance and financial crime risk management framework of a regulated financial institution. This role operates within the Second Line of Defence, providing compliance oversight, regulatory guidance, monitoring, and risk management support.
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The position has two equally important areas of focus: Regulatory Compliance (50%) and Financial Crime Compliance (50%), covering Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT), sanctions, and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of UAE financial regulations, sound analytical and investigative capabilities, and the ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical controls and effective compliance processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the implementation and maintenance of the Regulatory Compliance Framework in line with applicable FSRA, ADGM, and UAE regulatory requirements.
- Provide compliance guidance to business, operations, and support functions on regulatory obligations, new products, business initiatives, and outsourcing arrangements.
- Monitor regulatory developments and coordinate impact assessments, policy updates, and implementation of required changes.
- Conduct compliance monitoring reviews, thematic assessments, and control testing in accordance with the Compliance Monitoring Programme.
- Track audit findings, regulatory observations, and remediation actions to ensure timely closure.
- Prepare compliance reports, regulatory submissions, committee materials, and management updates.
- Draft and maintain compliance policies, procedures, governance documents, and control frameworks.
- Support regulatory inspections, information requests, and internal and external audit reviews.
- Review customer onboarding, periodic reviews, and event-driven KYC cases, including customer risk assessments, beneficial ownership structures, and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD).
- Investigate sanctions screening alerts, document findings, escalate potential matches, and support sanctions risk assessments.
- Review transaction monitoring alerts, investigate unusual activity, document conclusions, and escalate suspicious cases to the MLRO.
- Assist with suspicious activity investigations, supporting documentation, internal escalations, and applicable reporting timelines.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide financial crime risk assessments and monitor emerging AML, CFT, sanctions, fraud, and other financial crime risks.
- Maintain and enhance AML/CFT, sanctions, customer due diligence, and transaction monitoring policies and procedures.
- Prepare financial crime management information and analyse trends across KYC reviews, transaction monitoring alerts, sanctions alerts, and suspicious transaction reporting.
- Support compliance awareness initiatives and promote regulatory accountability across the organisation.
What Makes You a Great Fit
- 5+ years of relevant experience in regulatory compliance, financial crime compliance, AML/CFT, risk, or compliance operations within banking, financial services, fintech, or another regulated institution.
- Practical experience across both Regulatory Compliance and Financial Crime Compliance.
- Strong knowledge of FSRA regulations, ADGM requirements, UAE AML/CFT legislation, and sanctions frameworks.
- Understanding of FATF Recommendations and international financial crime compliance standards.
- Experience with KYC, Customer Due Diligence (CDD), EDD, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity investigations.
- Familiarity with regulatory change management, compliance monitoring, control testing, audit coordination, and regulatory reporting.
- Experience supporting corporate, institutional, and high-risk customer relationships.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to interpret regulations and translate requirements into practical policies, procedures, and controls.
- Excellent report-writing, documentation, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to exercise independent judgement, challenge constructively, and escalate issues appropriately.
- Proficiency in compliance monitoring, case management, and financial crime systems.
- A bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related discipline.
- Professional qualifications such as ICA Diploma in Compliance, ICA Diploma in AML, ACAMS, or equivalent certifications are preferred.
Contract and Travel Details
- Salary range: Rs 5000000 - Rs 50000000 (i.e. INR 5-50 LPA)
- Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Job Type: Full-time
- Experience required: 5+ years
