Head of Compliance & MLRO
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Essential requirements: To be considered for this role, you must bring direct crypto exchange experience, strong exposure to the UAE regulatory environment, and ideally be VARA approved or have worked closely with VARA in a regulated capacity.
Key Skills for This Role
Full Job Posting
Overview
Essential requirements:
To be considered for this role, you must bring
direct crypto exchange experience
, strong exposure to the
UAE regulatory environment
, and ideally be
VARA approved
or have worked closely with VARA in a regulated capacity.
This is a critical hire for a business that needs someone credible, hands-on, and able to operate with confidence in a fast-scaling virtual assets environment.
Culturally, we are looking for someone who has worked
both internationally and on the ground in the UAE
, and who thrives in
startup or scale-up environments
.
This role will suit a
0–1 builder
— someone who knows how to put structure, governance, and control into a business that is still evolving, without slowing it down.
Our client is a
global crypto exchange
continuing to strengthen its presence in Dubai.
This is a high-impact leadership role for a senior compliance professional who wants to build, shape, and lead.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a
Head Of Compliance & Mlro
to lead compliance, financial crime, and regulatory oversight for the Dubai entity.
This is a
compliance-first leadership role
, suited to someone who can build and embed a strong governance and controls environment from the ground up.
You will work closely with senior leadership, including the
Group Cro
, to implement both group-wide and UAE-specific compliance frameworks, while acting as the key point of contact with
Vara
.
This role combines
hands-on execution
with
strategic regulatory leadership
, making it ideal for someone who can operate at both the detail level and the senior stakeholder level.
Compliance & Governance
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of the UAE compliance framework across AML/CTF, sanctions, and regulatory obligations
- Build and strengthen policies, procedures, internal controls, and governance frameworks
- Ensure alignment between local UAE requirements and broader group governance standards
- Partner with Internal Audit and wider control functions on testing, remediation, and ongoing control effectiveness
- Support broader regional compliance collaboration where needed
Aml And Financial Crime
- Oversee the full AML/CTF framework including KYC, CDD, EDD, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, investigations, and suspicious activity escalation
- Act as MLRO and approve STR/SAR filings as required
- Maintain and enhance customer risk rating and financial crime risk frameworks
Risk Management
- Lead compliance and enterprise risk assessments, identifying and mitigating key regulatory and operational risks
- Advise business, product, and leadership teams on compliance implications of new initiatives and ongoing activities
- Ensure risks are appropriately tracked, managed, and reported to senior management and Board level
Virtual Assets And Vara Oversight
- Oversee Travel Rule compliance and VASP counterparty due diligence
- Monitor on-chain activity and wallet risk through blockchain analytics tools
- Ensure adherence to VARA-specific requirements, including consumer protection, market conduct, reporting, and Responsible Individual obligations
- Act as the primary point of contact for VARA across licensing, inspections, submissions, notifications, and ongoing engagement
Policy, Controls & Culture
- Develop and maintain compliance manuals, policies, and procedures
- Drive a strong compliance culture through training, education, and practical guidance to the business
- Help create a robust yet commercially effective control environment within a scaling business
Candidate Profile
- We are keen to speak with professionals who bring:
- Proven experience within a
- crypto exchange
- or regulated
- digital assets
- business
- Strong understanding of the
- UAE regulatory landscape
- , ideally with direct
Vara
- exposure
- Prior experience as a
Head of Compliance, Compliance Officer, MLRO
- , or a strong deputy stepping into a broader leadership role
- Experience operating in a
- startup, build-phase, or scaling environment
- The ability to work both
- strategically and hands-on
- Credibility with regulators and confidence engaging with senior internal stakeholders
- International experience alongside a strong understanding of local UAE market dynamics
- AML/CFT certifications such as
Cams
or
Ica
are advantageous
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