Compliance Manager & MLRO (UAE)

Compliance Manager & MLRO (UAE) - Airwallex

As Airwallex expands its product suite in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, this role is a critical addition to our global compliance team. We have established our licensed entity in the UAE, operating under a financial services regulator (CBUAE), to offer our full suite of payment and financial products to businesses across the MENA region.

This role will serve a dual function: you will be the designated Compliance Manager & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for Airwallex’s UAE-licensed entity.

Reporting to the Regional Director of Financial Crime Compliance for EMEA, you will be responsible for driving and embedding Airwallex’s compliance programs for both our licensed entities in the UAE. This role partners with internal teams to design, develop, implement and monitor compliance rules and supports our regulatory obligations in the UAE and across the MENA region. This role is based in Dubai.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop the compliance framework for Airwallex’s UAE entities (DFSA/FSRA and CBUAE regulated licenses), building on the Airwallex global compliance framework.

• Serve as the primary compliance contact for Airwallex’s UAE-licensed entity with regulators, including the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and other critical external stakeholders.

• Provide day-to-day management and execution of Airwallex’s AML interactions, examinations, and ad-hoc requests.

• Manage day-to-day BAU tasks including enhanced due diligence (EDD) approvals, name screening alert escalations, and filing Suspicious Transaction Reports as necessary.

• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective and updated anti-money laundering and compliance program covering investor protection, market abuse, and conflicts of interest.

• Provide expert advice to the Commercial and Operations teams on compliance matters related to both payments and investment products.

• Work closely with the Financial Partnership team to handle enquiries from external parties including banking and scheme partners.

• Develop and manage a regular monitoring and reporting process to inform senior management, the audit committee and the board as necessary.

• Design and execute reports to measure the success and performance of Compliance initiatives, operations, and Key Risk Indicators.

• Drive the design and monitoring of internal controls to support Compliance policies and procedures.

• Who you are

• We’re looking for people who meet the minimum qualifications for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have but are not mandatory.

Minimum qualifications:

• A minimum of 6-8 years of financial crime and investment compliance experience in a financial institution regulated by a UAE authority (CBUAE).
• Deep expertise in UAE AML/CTF laws, DIFC/ADGM Rulebook, and local financial services regulations.
• Current resident of the UAE is mandatory.
• Written and verbal fluency in English.
• Ability to multitask effortlessly and handle challenging priorities under deadlines.
• Credible stakeholder engagement and management skills to align with our organisational values and behaviors.
• This role constitutes a Designated Function under the CBUAE Fitness and Propriety Regulation and is subject to the Central Bank approval and ongoing fitness and propriety assessment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous experience as an MLRO or Deputy MLRO.

• Strong understanding of the payments industry.

• Professional proficiency in Arabic is a plus.

• Equal opportunity

• Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.