Compliance Senior Manager - Digital Assets

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the designated Virtual Asset Compliance Officer (VACO) as required by Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), holding ultimate responsibility for the integrity and effectiveness of the compliance framework.

• Own the relationship with VARA, serving as the point of contact for all licensing, reporting, examinations, and strategic engagement.

• Build and maintain a robust, scalable compliance program tailored to the VARA framework.

• Oversee the maintenance of our VARA license, monitor, interpret, and advise the business on all regulatory developments from VARA and other relevant UAE authorities.

2. Governance & Advisory

• Localise and implement Wise s global compliance policies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and compliant with VARA rules.

• Develop and deliver targeted training to the Board and senior management on the VARA framework and the specific risks associated with virtual assets.

• Report directly to the Board and senior leadership on the health of the compliance program, providing clear insights into emerging risks and the effectiveness of controls.

• Act as the key strategic advisor to the business, providing clear and practical compliance guidance on new product development and market expansion.

3. Financial Crime Compliance

• Design and manage the financial crime risk management framework, addressing risks specific to virtual assets such as blockchain analytics, the "Travel Rule", and counter-party VASP due diligence.

• Own the Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR/STR) process, managing interactions with the UAE s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

• Establish risk-based procedures for customer due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD), and act as the point of escalation for high-risk customer approvals.

• Regularly assess the money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions risks associated with our virtual asset products and services.

• Implement systems and key risk indicators (KRIs) to track and monitor our regulatory and financial crime risks effectively.