AML/CTF Officer

Function: Compliance And Financial Crime Compliance

Role Purpose

A. Transaction Monitoring Alert Review

• Conduct first-level review of transaction monitoring alerts generated by the Bank's transaction monitoring system.
• Analyse customer activity against customer profile, expected account activity, source of funds, customer risk rating and known business/personal background.
• Identify red flags including unusual transaction patterns, rapid movement of funds, third-party payments, structuring, activity inconsistent with profile, high-risk jurisdiction exposure, and unexplained payment behaviour.
• Request additional information from relevant internal teams where required to complete alert review.
• Escalate potentially suspicious activity promptly to the Deputy MLRO/MLRO in accordance with internal procedures.
• Support preparation of internal suspicious activity reports, investigation summaries and supporting documentation.
• Maintain alert review records in accordance with internal standards and regulatory record-keeping requirements.
• Undertake, under the direction of the Deputy MLRO, the half yearly review of the effectiveness of the Bank's Transaction Monitoring System.

B. Customer Onboarding and CDD Support

• Support the Business and Onboarding teams with AML/KYC requirements for new customer applications.
• Review customer identification information, KYC documents and onboarding data for completeness and consistency.
• Support customer risk assessment, including customer type, geography, product usage, expected account activity, source of funds/source of wealth and PEP/sanctions/adverse media considerations.
• Identify and escalate onboarding concerns, missing information, inconsistent customer explanations or enhanced due diligence triggers.
• Assist with enhanced due diligence reviews for higher-risk customers, including PEPs, high-risk jurisdictions, complex ownership structures and unusual source of wealth/source of funds profiles.
• Liaise with Relationship Managers/Business teams to obtain additional customer information where required.
• Support periodic and event-driven customer reviews.
• Undertake the half yearly review of the effectiveness of the Bank's E-KYC Onboarding System.
• C.
• Screening, Sanctions, PEP and Adverse Media Support
• Review sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening alerts relating to customers, beneficial owners, connected parties and transaction counterparties.
• Distinguish likely false positives from potential true or unresolved matches.
• Escalate potential sanctions, PEP or material adverse media issues promptly.
• Support documentation of screening decisions and rationale.
• Monitor and apply internal procedures relating to restricted/high-risk jurisdictions.

D. Suspicious Activity Escalation Support

• Identify activity that may give rise to knowledge, suspicion or reasonable grounds for suspicion of money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing or sanctions evasion.
• Prepare internal escalation reports for Deputy MLRO/MLRO review.
• Support the MLRO/Deputy MLRO with information gathering for potential SAR/STR decisions.
• Maintain confidentiality and avoid tipping-off risks.
• Assist with post-escalation actions, including account monitoring, information preservation and internal follow-up.

E. Management Information, Controls and Reporting

• Support preparation of AML/CTF MI for the Deputy MLRO and Head of AML/CTF.
• Track alert volumes, ageing, closure rates, escalation rates, false-positive trends and thematic issues.
• Identify recurring data quality, system, process or training issues arising from alerts and onboarding reviews.
• Support transaction monitoring tuning, typology review and scenario effectiveness assessment.
• Assist in preparing materials for internal committees, regulatory reviews, audits and inspections.

F. Policies, Procedures and Training

• Follow the Bank's AML/CTF, sanctions, transaction monitoring, onboarding and suspicious activity reporting procedures.
• Support updates to AML procedures, checklists and operating guides where required.
• Participate in AML/CTF training and typology awareness sessions.
• Support targeted training for Business and Operations teams based on common onboarding or alert issues.

G. AML And CTF Monitoring and Testing

• Contribute to the development of the Bank's AML/CTF Annual Monitoring and Testing Programme.
• Assist the DMLRO in implementing the AML Monitoring Programme.
• Produce the first draft of AML Monitoring and Testing reports.
• Support targeted training for Business and Operations teams based on common onboarding or alert issues.

Essential Experience

• 3-5 years' AML/compliance experience in retail and HNWI banking, fintech, payments, brokerage, or wealth management.
• Experience reviewing transaction monitoring alerts and documenting investigation outcomes.
• Practical knowledge of customer onboarding, CDD, EDD, PEPs, beneficial ownership, and source of funds/source of wealth.
• Exposure to sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening tools.
• Ability to produce clear, concise and audit-ready case notes.
• Comfortable dealing with Business, Operations and Compliance teams.
• Basic understanding of UAE/ADGM AML expectations, or ability to learn quickly.

Minimum

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 3-5 years' AML, compliance, financial crime or KYC experience.
• Strong written English and case documentation skills.

Preferred

• ICA Certificate/Diploma in AML, ACAMS, International Compliance Association qualification, or willingness to commence a recognised AML qualification within 6-12 months.
• Familiarity with UAE AML framework, FATF standards, sanctions screening and risk-based CDD.