Compliance Manager - Deputy MLRO

As the Compliance Manager - Deputy MLRO, you will serve as the operational backbone of Capital Vault UAE’s financial crime and compliance program, owning the day-to-day delivery of AML/CFT controls, compliance policies, and regulatory obligations and acting as the principal cover for the Head of Compliance and MLRO.

You will be responsible for translating the firm’s AML framework into operational rigour, from alert management through to suspicious activity reporting, while also maintaining the firm’s compliance framework, monitoring regulatory updates, and ensuring the firm remains audit-ready and aligned with CMA obligations at all times, which are core pillars of a regulated, client-centric financial business.

You will be responsible for leading the transaction monitoring function end-to-end, including rule design, alert triage, blockchain analytics, and SAR/STR filing, while acting as deputy for the Head Compliance and MLRO across all regulatory, governance and compliance matters.

The position offers broad cross-functional exposure across product, technology, and operations in a fast-scaling virtual assets environment, making it an ideal opportunity for professionals seeking to step into a named MLRO role as the firm grows.

Responsibilities:

• • Transaction Monitoring Ownership:Design, manage, and continuously tune CVUAE’s transaction monitoring programme including rule governance, alert prioritisation, threshold calibration, and blockchain analytics producing regular MI on alert volumes, closure rates, and SAR conversion ratios for the MLRO and board.

    
    

  • Suspicious Activity Reporting: Review and investigate escalated alerts, prepare well-reasoned SAR/STR narratives, and submit filings to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (UAEFIU) in a timely and accurate manner, maintaining a complete internal register of all cases filed.

    
    

  • Customer Risk & Due Diligence: Oversee day-to-day KYC/CDD operations including EDD reviews for high-risk clients such as PEPs, high-volume traders, and clients from higher-risk jurisdictions, providing guidance to onboarding teams on complex or borderline cases.

    
    

  • Sanctions Screening:Manage the firm’s sanctions screening process — reviewing and disposing of name-match alerts, maintaining documented screening decisions, and escalating confirmed matches to the MLRO with clear recommendations.

    
    

  • Deputy MLRO Coverage: Assume full MLRO responsibilities during the Head of Compliance & MLRO’s absence, including SAR authorisation, regulatory engagement with the CMA and the UAEFIU, and board-level reporting, maintaining continuity of financial crime oversight at all times.

    
    

  • Regulatory & Cross-Functional Engagement:Support the preparation of CMA submissions, inspection materials, and supervisory responses; represent the financial crime team in cross-functional forums to embed regulatory and AML requirements into new products, features, and client segments.

    
    

  • Training & AML Culture: Design and deliver role-specific AML/CFT training across the organisation, maintain training completion records, and act as a visible subject-matter expert on virtual assets financial crime typologies and evolving regulatory expectations.

    
    

  • Policy Governance: Draft, maintain, and enforce internal compliance policies aligned with CMA rules, FATF recommendations, and international best practices, ensuring the firm’s policy framework remains current and fit for purpose.

    
    

  • Regulatory Documentation: Maintain all compliance registers, regulatory calendars, and audit preparedness materials to ensure operational transparency and readiness for CMA inspections and supervisory reviews.

    
    

  • Regulatory Change Management: Monitor regulatory developments across UAE and relevant international frameworks, ensuring timely updates to internal policies, processes, and controls as obligations evolve.

    
    

  • Crypto Asset Safeguards: Support the implementation of operational and technical controls to protect client assets, including wallet security protocols and asset segregation requirements.

    
    

Requirements:

• • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Risk Management, Law or a related field; a postgraduate qualification (LLM, MBA, or equivalent) is an advantage.

    
    

  • Professional Certification: Holding CAMS, CFCS, ICA qualifications and CISI qualification as recognised by the CMA is advantageous.

    
    

  • Experience: Minimum 4–5 years of hands-on AML/financial crime and compliance experience within a regulated financial services or virtual asset service provider, including demonstrable ownership of a transaction monitoring programme.

    
    

  • Regulatory Knowledge: Deep familiarity with the UAE CMA regulations and AML/CFT legal framework including Cabinet Decision No. 134 of 2025, AML Law No. 10 of 2025, FATF recommendations, and CMA-specific obligations for virtual asset service providers.

    
    

  • Blockchain & Technology: Practical experience with blockchain analytics tools (Chainalysis, Crystal Intelligence, or equivalent);  

    
    

  • SAR / STR Filing: Proven track record of preparing and submitting suspicious transaction reports to a financial intelligence unit; direct experience with the UAEFIU is strongly preferred.

    
    

  • Language: Professional proficiency in English is required; Arabic language proficiency (written and spoken) is a strong advantage.