Original listing text, shown exactly as published by the company.
About the Opportunity
BTSE is seeking an experienced Head of Compliance / Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) to establish and lead the compliance function for its Dubai operations. This senior position will oversee the firm’s compliance with VARA, UAE Federal AML/CTF laws, and group-wide governance standards, ensuring BTSE maintains the highest levels of integrity, transparency, and regulatory compliance across all activities. The Head of Compliance /MLRO will serve as the main liaison with regulators, lead AML/CTF and compliance strategy, and collaborate closely with the Group Chief Compliance Officer and senior management team to support the company’s expansion in the MENA region.
Responsibilities
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Regulatory Leadership & Oversight
- Act as BTSE Dubai’s principal contact for VARA, Central Bank of the UAE, FIU, and other relevant authorities.
- Lead and manage all regulatory filings, notifications, inspections, and correspondence.
- Ensure timely implementation of new or updated regulations, circulars, and guidance issued by VARA or other supervisory bodies.
- Represent the firm in regulatory meetings and audits, ensuring all inquiries are addressed promptly and accurately.
AML / CTF & Financial Crime Compliance
- Serve as the designated MLRO for the Dubai entity.
- Oversee customer due diligence (CDD/KYC), transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, investigations, and suspicious transaction reporting in line with Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018 and Cabinet Decision No. (10) of 2019.
- Maintain and update the AML/CTF framework, including policies, procedures, and risk assessments tailored to the virtual asset sector.
- Ensure all employees receive adequate AML/CTF and compliance training, including onboarding and annual refreshers.
- Conduct periodic internal compliance reviews and testing to assess control effectiveness and recommend improvements.
Governance, Policy & Advisory
- Develop and maintain BTSE Dubai’s compliance policy framework, ensuring alignment with BTSE Group standards.
- Provide strategic compliance and regulatory advice to management and product teams on new initiatives, business models, and partnerships.
- Participate in risk committees, ensuring that compliance risks are properly identified, documented, and mitigated.
- Oversee the data protection and regulatory reporting functions in collaboration with legal and risk counterparts.
Monitoring & Reporting
- Maintain detailed records of compliance monitoring activities, breaches, and remedial actions.
- Prepare periodic compliance and AML reports for the Board and the Group Chief Compliance Officer.
- Establish and track Key Compliance Indicators (KCIs) to measure program effectiveness.
- Lead the annual review of the entity’s Risk Assessment and Compliance Monitoring Plan.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Minimum 7–10 years of compliance and AML/CTF experience within financial services, fintech, or virtual asset/crypto industries.
- Deep understanding of UAE regulatory landscape (VARA, CBUAE, DFSA, FSRA) and related AML/CTF obligations.
- Proven experience dealing directly with regulators and leading compliance programs in the UAE.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements.
- Native-level Arabic proficiency, with strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- UAE citizenship is required for this role, along with legal authorization to work locally.
Nice to haves
- Professional certifications such as CAMS, ICA, CCAS, or equivalent.
- Experience with blockchain analytics tools (Chainalysis, TRM Labs, Elliptic, etc.).
- Previous involvement in license applications or regulatory inspections under VARA, ADGM or similar regimes.
- Familiarity with market surveillance tools (e.g., Solidus Labs, NASDAQ SMARTS).
