Compliance Officer

About the Role

The Compliance Officer (CO) / Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) is responsible for ensuring the firm’s adherence to all applicable VARA regulatory obligations, particularly in relation to Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF), and the broader compliance framework under VARA’s Virtual Asset regulatory regime.

This dual-role officer plays a central part in building and maintaining a robust compliance culture, managing internal controls, and serving as the primary point of contact with the VARA on all compliance and AML/CTF matters.

Compliance Duties

• Develop, maintain, and oversee the firm’s compliance framework in line with VARA regulations and the firm’s Virtual Asset permissions.
• Ensure all policies, procedures, and internal controls are current, effective, and aligned with VARA expectations.
• Conduct internal compliance monitoring, gap assessments, and periodic reviews.
• Prepare and submit all regulatory filings, notifications, and reports within applicable VARA timelines.
• Liaise with VARA on all supervisory, audit, and inspection matters.
• Advise senior management and staff on regulatory developments, licensing obligations, and conduct of business rules.
• Deliver compliance training across the business to maintain awareness and adherence to relevant rules and standards.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (Law, Finance, Business, or related field preferred).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in compliance and/or AML roles within financial services, ideally including digital asset or fintech environments.
• Strong knowledge of VARA regulatory frameworks, UAE Federal regulations, and AML/CTF obligations applicable to Virtual Asset firms.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with regulators and handling regulatory inspections or audits.
• Experience with AML systems, transaction monitoring tools, and regulatory reporting processes.
• Professional certifications such as CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), ICA, or equivalent AML/compliance qualifications are strongly preferred.

Key Skills

• Deep understanding of financial crime compliance and regulatory risk management.
• In-depth knowledge of virtual assets and associated risks, including evolving typologies and blockchain-based transaction monitoring challenges.
• Strong knowledge of KYC/CDD/EDD processes and virtual asset transaction monitoring.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to clearly articulate regulatory matters to internal stakeholders and external regulators.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail and problem-solving ability.
• Leadership qualities with the ability to instill a culture of compliance across the firm.