Compliance Officer - DIFC

About the firmOur client is an independent, DFSA-regulated boutique asset and wealth manager headquartered in the DIFC since 2015. It serves Professional Clients only: high-net-worth individuals and families from the GCC and Europe.The firm runs discretionary and advisory portfolios across public and private markets, with a value-investing philosophy and in-house research. It also manages funds across equities, fixed income, real estate, commodities and alternatives. It was among the first DIFC asset managers authorised by the DFSA to offer crypto tokens. Client assets sit with top-tier global custodian banks and brokers.The roleYou will own the firm's compliance and AML/CFT framework end to end, holding the DFSA-registered Compliance Officer and MLRO functions. You are the firm's main contact with the DFSA and the person front office turns to for a straight answer.This suits someone who already runs compliance in-house at a DFSA-regulated asset manager, wealth manager or family office. It is not a support role inside a large bank's compliance department: the work is hands-on, and you report to the CEO and present to the Board.Key responsibilitiesRegulatory compliance

• Design and run the annual compliance monitoring programme; report findings and remediation to the CEO and Board.
• Act as the firm's primary contact with the DFSA: notifications, regulatory returns, risk assessments, thematic reviews and supervisory visits.
• Track changes to the DFSA Rulebook and UAE federal regulation and implement them across policies and procedures.
• Review financial promotions, client documents and marketing material before release.
• Assess new products, funds and crypto token offerings for regulatory fit before launch.AML/CFT (MLRO)
• Own the business-wide AML risk assessment and the AML/CFT and sanctions framework.
• Oversee client onboarding: CDD and EDD, PEP screening, source of wealth and source of funds on complex family structures.
• Run transaction and sanctions monitoring; investigate alerts and file suspicious activity reports through goAML.
• Prepare the annual MLRO report and the DFSA AML return.Governance and controls
• Maintain the compliance and AML manuals and the core registers: conflicts, personal account dealing, gifts, complaints, breaches and outsourcing.
• Oversee client classification, suitability and periodic client reviews.
• Manage FATCA/CRS reporting and DIFC data protection obligations.
• Deliver compliance and AML training to all staff, and advise front office day to day.
• Coordinate with custodian banks, external auditors and outsourced service providers on compliance matters.Requirements
• Currently working in-house in compliance at a DFSA-regulated firm in the DIFC, outside banking: asset or wealth management, a family office, a fund manager or a broker.
• 5–8+ years in compliance and AML, with at least 3 years in the DIFC.
• Previously approved by the DFSA as Compliance Officer and/or MLRO, or as Deputy, and able to pass the DFSA fit-and-proper assessment.
• Working knowledge of the DFSA Rulebook (GEN, COB, AML, CIR, PIB), UAE Federal AML/CFT law and targeted financial sanctions.
• Hands-on onboarding experience with HNW individuals, families and multi-layered holding structures.
• Bachelor's degree in law, finance, business or similar.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.
• UAE resident, as required by the DFSA for this function.
• Confident working as the sole compliance voice: able to say no to front office and present clearly to the Board.Preferred
• Fluent Arabic and/or French, to work directly with the firm's GCC and European client base.
• Experience with European regulatory regimes (FCA, FINMA, CSSF, AMF or MiFID II).
• Compliance experience covering crypto tokens or digital assets under the DFSA regime.
• Exposure to fund structures and collective investment rules.
• ICA Diploma, CISI, CAMS or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Direct involvement in a DFSA risk assessment, thematic review or inspection.