Associate Director, CFCC - Governance

Role overview

Strategy and policy

• Support delivery of the MLRO’s CFCC strategy, advise the business, challenge activity outside risk appetite, and promote preventive compliance.
• Maintain FCC policies and standards in line with UAE law, CBUAE and SVF requirements, Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2025 and its Executive Regulations, and applicable Group and SC Ventures standards.
• Oversee operational procedures, policy version control, approvals, and evidence; run the annual Policy Effectiveness Review and track remediation.

Monitoring, testing, and risk

• Own CMAT methodology and maintain the annual plan for MLRO approval; conduct quarterly testing and thematic reviews.
• Challenge first-line quality assurance, arrange retesting, maintain the findings tracker, and retain audit-ready evidence.
• Monitor controls and processes including CDD/EDD, customer risk rating, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and fraud controls.
• Escalate material or overdue issues and regulatory breaches; assess and track remediation and oversee significant financial crime events.

Reporting and regulatory liaison

• Prepare management information on controls, testing, findings, remediation, emerging risks, and commitments for the MLRO, Executive Risk Committee, and Board.
• Support CBUAE and other authority relationships, licensing, regulatory reporting, examinations, inspections, information requests, and remediation commitments.
• Coordinate audits and external consultants, auditors, and assessors; manage information requests, timelines, draft findings, and agreed actions.
• Support horizon scanning, policy rollout, attestations, and training tracking.

Training and awareness

• Design and deliver CFCC training on regulatory developments, policies, and procedures; monitor completion and effectiveness.
• Reinforce prompt escalation of suspected money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation financing, and other financial crime concerns, and awareness of tipping-off restrictions and confidentiality.

Experience and knowledge

• At least six years of hands-on experience in financial crime, compliance, or regulatory risk.
• Experience in policy governance, compliance monitoring and testing, assurance, regulatory engagement, policy drafting, procedure oversight, and senior committee or board reporting.
• Strong knowledge of UAE AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions requirements, CBUAE expectations, and SVF regulations; working knowledge of Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2025 and its Executive Regulations.
• Experience managing regulatory examinations, audits, independent assessments, and external consultants.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, risk management, financial services, and fintech or payments business models, products, systems, and regulation.
• CAMS, ICA, or equivalent professional certification is preferred.

Personal capabilities

• Use sound judgement to interpret complex requirements practically, challenge senior stakeholders, and drive solutions and change.
• Build effective stakeholder relationships, communicate clearly, and write concise, persuasive reports and presentations.
• Be organised, curious, detail-oriented, comfortable with deadlines, and constructive in a fast-paced environment.

Success measures and relationships