Head of Compliance & MLRO

Abu Dhabi | AED 65,000–80,000 per month, plus benefits

An established international banking group is seeking a senior compliance leader to oversee a broad regulatory compliance and financial crime remit in Abu Dhabi. The role supports an ADGM branch preparing to expand its regulated banking activities through a proposed licence variation. The successful candidate will help ensure the branch’s governance, controls and compliance framework are ready for its evolving business model.

The role

Reporting to senior management, you will lead the branch’s Compliance function and serve as MLRO. This is a broad banking compliance position—not a role focused solely on asset management. You will advise the business on regulatory obligations, provide independent challenge, and maintain effective oversight of financial crime, sanctions and regulatory risks.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing compliance with applicable FSRA requirements, including conduct, AML and prudential obligations, and supporting timely, accurate regulatory reporting.
• Advising on deposits, lending, private banking, wealth and asset management, new products, client activity and booking arrangements.
• Maintaining a risk-based compliance monitoring programme, escalating material findings and tracking remediation.
• Leading AML/CFT, sanctions and client-risk oversight, including the MLRO responsibilities.
• Engaging with regulators on supervisory requests, examinations, thematic reviews and remediation.
• Advising senior management and governance committees on compliance risks, breaches and regulatory change.
• Overseeing compliance activities supported by Group functions, ensuring appropriate branch-level governance and control.

About you

You will bring around 10 or more years’ compliance experience in a regulated bank, including at least five years in a senior or Head of Compliance role. Experience in a Category 1 or equivalent deposit-taking and lending environment is highly desirable. Relevant experience may come from the FSRA, DFSA, CBUAE, FCA/PRA or a comparable regulator.

You should have broad experience across financial crime compliance, sanctions, banking services, advisory and regulatory compliance, ideally within a bank that also has an asset management business. Experience with cross-border or offshore booking models, Group outsourcing, deposits, corporate or private-banking lending, regulatory reporting, compliance monitoring, regulator inspections and Board or committee reporting will be valuable.

Candidates should be eligible for FSRA approval as Compliance Officer and able to explain a regulated branch’s compliance framework and reliance on Group services. Previous approval for a current compliance role is an advantage. Recognised compliance or AML qualifications, such as ICA, CAMS or CISI, are preferred but not essential.

Benefits may include schooling, airfare and relocation support.

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