Summary and Overview

• Senior Governance Risk and Compliance Advisor
• Dubai
• Permanent 
• Full time 
• Competitive Salary & Benefits

As a senior member of the team you will lead, guide, direct and develop junior members of the team. 

You will also assist and support Business Development, winning business, developing opportunities, providing technical expertise, answering questions received regarding prospective Client Proposals. Assist / advise these prospective Clients on their set up within the DIFC, ADGM, UAE, Qatar and KSA.

You will also analyse any new compliance regulations for the DIFC, ADGM, UAE, Qatar and KSA financial industry and ensure the team understand and communicate them to our Clients.

Your New Role

This list of duties is not exhaustive and may change from time to time according to business needs:

• Responsible for drafting an Annual Compliance Plan that addresses the key objectives to mitigating compliance and other regulatory risk
• Responsible for compliance matters in relation to our Client’s services per applicable regulatory rules
• Responsible for the implementation of anti-money laundering policies, procedures, systems and controls and day-to-day oversight of its compliance with the rules in AML and any relevant anti money laundering legislation applicable
• Responsible for the following matters per applicable legislation, regulation, rules and guidance:
  • The day-to-day operations for compliance with its AML policies, procedures,  systems and controls
  • Act as the point of contact to receive notifications from our Client’s employees
  • Take appropriate action following the receipt of a notification from our Client’s employees
  • In accordance with applicable laws, complete suspicious activity reports
  • Act as the point of contact for our Client’s for competent authorities and the applicable regulator regarding money laundering issues
  • Respond promptly to any request for information made by competent authorities
  • Receive and act upon any relevant findings, recommendations, guidance, directives, resolutions, sanctions, notices or other conclusions described in regulatory AML rules
  • Establish and maintain an appropriate money laundering training programme and adequate awareness arrangements under applicable rules and regulations

MLRO / Compliance Officer:

• Oversee the establishment of business in the from a Regulatory Compliance perspective
• Create a Compliance culture in Client’s companies
• Provide advice and guidance to the client on Compliance related issues
• Draft & implement relevant local Compliance & AML policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of regulatory rule breaches
• Monitor and surveillance through a risk based monitoring programme
• Provision of training to relevant client employees
• Foster good relationships with the all relevant regulators; and
• Provide independently of local senior management, a reporting mechanism for all Client employees.
• Assist Clients with obtaining the necessary Regulatory Financial Services permissions
• Act as a project management of the licence application process and advisory services to throughout the process including assistance with completion of the Regulatory Business Plan and all relevant application forms, liaising with the regulator with regards to the licence application
• Provide Compliance, Risk, Governance and Data Protection training for Clients
• Provide Compliance, Risk, and Governance advice to Clients
• Conduct Compliance, governance, Data Protections and Risk reviews / audits for Clients against the regulatory requirements

Risk Officer:

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for firms under DFSA/FSRA supervision, identifying operational, credit, market, liquidity, and compliance risks
• Develop & implement risk management strategies for the client and provide regular oversight
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive risk assessment framework to monitor the risk exposures of firms regulated by the DFSA/FSRA
• Conduct periodic stress tests and scenario analyses to evaluate potential vulnerabilities in firms' risk profiles
• Prepare and provide period reports on the risk exposures, controls and mitigants
• Maintain risk management framework including risk register and risk mitigation program

License Applications

• Project manage and deliver the entire regulatory license applications for clients to include introductory meetings with the regulator, pulling together the regulatory business plan, policies, procedures, process flows and guiding the client on what is needed in terms of financials, third party suppliers, auditors, IT, and key functions
• Act as the subject matter expert and provide the client with excellent support to drive the application and achieve licensing within the agreed time frames, making sure to record time spent and keeping the client informed on any additional costs

Project Work

• Project manage and deliver advisory projects on governance, risk, compliance and data protection, to include conducting reviews, preparing gap analysis and remediation plans; auditing existing processes and providing advice on improvements and enhancements and generally providing remediatory action plans 

What will you need to succeed in this role?

As to be expected, we are searching for someone who can bring a range of skills and experiences to enhance the team. As such, there are a few essential skills we are looking for

• A good understanding of the DFSA, FSRA, Central Bank, QFCRA, SAMA or another major international regulator’s regulations and regulatory framework
• Compliance experience (minimum 10 years) from a well-regulated jurisdiction, e.g. UK, EU, US, Singapore
• A professional certification in Compliance or Anti Money Laundering, such as ACAMS or ICA
• Management experience
• Arabic language skills (desirable)
• In country, on the ground experience in one of the Middle East jurisdictions (desirable)
• Existing network to leverage (desirable)
• Previous Board experience (desirable)

Personal attributes which would be seen in the ideal applicant include;

• High personal accountability
  
• Strong interpersonal skills
  
• Pragmatic approach to problem solving
  
• Detail and accuracy orientated
  
• Motivated self-starter
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  
• 
  

Equiom Group

For more than 45 years we have supported high net worth individuals and international corporations to nurture and fulfil their ambitions. We are a global professional services provider, working with private clients, corporate clients and funds to navigate the twists and turns to achieve their ambitions.

We are proactive and passionate. We provide exceptional service to develop deep and meaningful client relationships, providing an unrivalled breadth of bespoke end-to-end wealth protection and business support services.

We are a business which has expanded, allowing us to adapt quickly to change and invest in key areas to support our growth journey. We are looking for brilliant people to join our team to grow and develop with us.

What should you do now?

If you are interested in this role, please apply now. If you have read the above and are unsure about whether this is for you; maybe you can do most of the responsibilities, or you have some of the key skills, please get in touch for a confidential conversation about the role and we can discuss further.

Equal Opportunities

Equiom Group is committed to Diversity and Inclusion across our Global business. We welcome applicants from all interested parties, and any reference to qualifications or certifications should be read to be interchangeable with local or international qualifications and certifications. All applications will be reviewed solely on their merits. All recruitment and selection will be conducted in accordance with prevailing Employment and Equality legislation.