Head of Compliance | MLRO

About the role

This role involves acting as the primary regulatory contact for Btse's Dubai entity, engaging with authorities like VARA and the Central Bank of the UAE. The Head of Compliance will manage all regulatory filings, inspections, and correspondence, ensuring the timely implementation of new regulations. Success in this position means effectively representing the firm in regulatory discussions and ensuring all inquiries are addressed accurately.

A key part of this leadership position is overseeing all aspects of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) for the Dubai operations. This includes managing customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and sanctions screening, as well as maintaining and updating the AML/CTF framework. The Head of Compliance will also be responsible for ensuring all employees receive adequate compliance training and conducting internal reviews to assess control effectiveness.

The role also focuses on governance and policy development, requiring the Head of Compliance to establish and maintain the compliance policy framework in Dubai, aligning it with global company standards. This person will provide strategic regulatory advice to management and product teams, participate in risk committees, and oversee data protection functions. Success will be measured by the ability to identify, document, and mitigate compliance risks effectively.

The annual salary for this position ranges from $150,000 to $250,000 USD.

Skills that matter here

• AML/CTF: This role requires leading and maintaining the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework for the Dubai entity.
• KYC: The Head of Compliance will oversee customer due diligence processes to ensure regulatory adherence.
• Regulatory compliance: This position involves ensuring the Dubai operations adhere to all relevant UAE financial regulations and acting as the primary contact for regulatory bodies.
• Risk assessments: The role includes maintaining and updating risk assessments tailored to the virtual asset sector and leading annual reviews of the entity's risk assessment.
• Transaction monitoring: Responsibility includes overseeing transaction monitoring activities to identify and report suspicious transactions.
• Compliance policy development: This role is tasked with developing and maintaining the compliance policy framework for Btse Dubai, ensuring alignment with group standards.

Who this role suits

• A person with 7-10 years of experience in compliance and AML/CTF within financial services or crypto.
• Someone who possesses a deep understanding of the UAE regulatory landscape, including VARA, CBUAE, DFSA, and FSRA.
• An individual with proven experience in directly engaging with regulators and leading compliance programs in the UAE.
• A candidate who is a UAE citizen, legally authorized to work locally, and has native-level Arabic proficiency.

From the employer

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).