Senior Compliance Assurance Specialist

The Role

The Senior Compliance Assurance Specialist, within the Risk & Compliance Department and reporting to the Director of Risk & Compliance / MLRO, is responsible for executing the Compliance Assurance Program and providing independent second-line oversight over the effectiveness of the Company's Compliance, AML/CFT, Sanctions, Fraud Prevention, Consumer Protection, and Market Conduct frameworks.

The role conducts compliance monitoring, thematic reviews, quality assurance testing, and regulatory assessments to evaluate adherence to applicable regulations, internal policies, and industry best practices. It identifies control weaknesses, assesses regulatory and conduct risks, recommends remediation, validates closure of findings, and supports continuous enhancement of the Compliance framework.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Execute the annual Compliance Assurance and Compliance Monitoring Plan.
• Conduct independent compliance reviews, control testing, thematic reviews, deep-dive assessments, and quality assurance activities across business units.
• Evaluate policies, procedures, systems, processes, and controls against applicable regulatory requirements.
• Assess compliance with AML/CFT, Sanctions, Fraud Prevention, Consumer Protection, and Market Conduct obligations.
• Document findings, observations, root causes, risk assessments, control gaps, and recommendations.
• Prepare clear assurance reports for Management, Executive Management, and relevant Governance Committees.
• Track remediation actions and independently validate closure of findings.
• Conduct customer outcome and fair-treatment assessments covering customer journeys, products, communications, disclosures, complaints, vulnerable customers, and conduct risk.
• Monitor implementation of Consumer Protection and Market Conduct requirements, identify gaps, and prepare related management reporting.
• Conduct financial-crime assurance reviews covering AML/CFT, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, CDD, EDD, and suspicious activity reporting.
• Assess adherence to UAE AML requirements, internal policies, and regulatory expectations, and evaluate the effectiveness of financial-crime controls.
• Validate remediation arising from compliance reviews, audits, regulatory examinations, and other assurance activities.
• Support regulatory submissions, management information reporting, inspections, examinations, and regulatory information requests.
• Maintain compliance monitoring methodologies, testing programs, assurance documentation, dashboards, and management information reports.
• Maintain complete records of assurance activities, findings, risk assessments, remediation actions, and closure validation.
• Provide insights and recommendations to strengthen compliance controls and frameworks.
• Liaise with Operations, Product, Technology, Risk, Fraud, Legal, and other business functions during reviews and investigations.
• Promote a strong compliance and ethical culture and provide compliance guidance and awareness sessions when required.
• Monitor regulatory trends and assess their impact on the business and Compliance framework.
• Deliver assurance reviews within agreed timelines and support continuous improvement of compliance processes and controls.
• Promote fair customer outcomes and adherence to Consumer Protection requirements.
• Identify and appropriately escalate regulatory, conduct, compliance, and financial-crime risks.
• Communicate findings and recommendations effectively to senior stakeholders.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and support to junior team members where applicable.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, documentation, quality, professional judgment, and attention to detail.
• Support delivery of key performance measures covering:
  • Completion of the annual Compliance Assurance Plan.
  • Timely completion of monitoring reviews.
  • Quality and effectiveness of assurance reports.
  • Remediation closure rates.
  • Regulatory compliance adherence.
  • Consumer Protection and Market Conduct outcomes.
  • Support of regulatory examinations and audits.
  • Management and stakeholder satisfaction.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Law, Compliance, Risk Management, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• CAMS certification is mandatory.
• ICA Advanced Certificate, CFE, CRCM, or similar compliance or risk certifications are preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in Compliance, Financial Crime Compliance, Compliance Monitoring, Compliance Assurance, Internal Audit, Risk Management, or Regulatory Compliance.
• Experience within FinTech, Digital Banking, Payment Services, Exchange Houses, or regulated financial institutions is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • Compliance Assurance and Monitoring Programs.
  • Regulatory compliance testing.
  • AML/CFT and sanctions reviews.
  • Consumer Protection and Market Conduct oversight.
  • Regulatory reporting.
  • Root-cause analysis and remediation management.
  • Audit and assurance activities.
• Strong knowledge of UAE regulatory requirements, including CBUAE regulations and guidance.
• Strong understanding of AML/CFT, sanctions, fraud prevention, and financial-crime compliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of Consumer Protection and Market Conduct requirements.
• Experience with compliance monitoring methodologies and assurance testing.
• Strong analytical, investigative, problem-solving, stakeholder-management, and communication skills.
• Excellent report-writing and presentation capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and reporting tools.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Ability to communicate and influence senior stakeholders and support junior team members where applicable.
• Required competency levels:
  • Strategic Thinking – Level 4
  • Achieving Results – Level 5
  • Leading Change – Level 3
  • Customer Focus – Level 2
  • Team Leadership – Level 3
  • Risk Awareness – Level 5
  • Communication & Influencing – Level 4
  • Attention to Detail – Level 5