Job Description – Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Reporting to: Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) Regulator: Capital Market Authority (CMA
)
Position Summa
ry
The Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) is responsible for the design, implementation, oversight, and continuous enhancement of the firm's Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Terrorist Financing, Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF), sanctions, and financial crime compliance framework. Reporting directly to the Chief Compliance Officer, the MLRO serves as the firm's appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable UAE regulatory requirements governing virtual asset service providers, including AML/CFT legislation, FATF standards, and applicable CMA regulatory requirements. The MLRO acts as the primary point of contact for the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and regulatory authorities on all financial crime matters and provides independent oversight of the firm's financial crime controls. The role will work closely with Compliance, Operations, Risk, Legal, Product, and Technology teams to ensure the firm's financial crime framework remains effective as the business expands within the UAE and international
ly.
Key Responsibili
ties
AML/CFT Gover
nance
Serve as the firm's appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer in accordance with applicable UAE regulatory requirements. Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously enhance the firm's AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions compliance framework. Ensure compliance with UAE AML legislation, FATF Recommendations, and applicable regulatory guidance governing virtual assets and digital asset businesses. Provide regular reporting to the Chief Compliance Officer, senior management, and relevant governance committees on financial crime risks, regulatory developments, and control effectiveness. Maintain the firm's Enterprise AML Risk Assessment and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are implem
ented.
Financial Crime Ov
ersight
Oversee the firm's Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), sanctions screening, ongoing monitoring, and customer risk rating frameworks. Ensure effective transaction monitoring across both fiat and blockchain transactions, including oversight of automated monitoring systems. Lead investigations into unusual, suspicious, or high-risk customer activity. Review and determine whether suspicious activities require regulatory reporting. Prepare and submit Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (go AML) where required. Ensure appropriate record keeping and documentation supporting all investigations and regulatory re
porting.
Regulatory C
ompliance
Act as the primary liaison with UAE regulators and competent authorities regarding AML/CFT matters. Manage regulatory inspections, thematic reviews, audits, and information requests relating to financial crime compliance. Monitor regulatory developments affecting virtual asset businesses and recommend appropriate changes to policies, procedures, and controls. Ensure timely implementation of regulatory changes across the business. Policies, Controls & Risk Management Develop, review, and maintain AML/CFT, sanctions, and financial crime policies, procedures, and operational standards. Conduct periodic reviews of the effectiveness of AML controls and recommend enhancements. Oversee periodic AML risk assessments covering products, customers, jurisdictions, delivery channels, and emerging technologies. Support new product approvals and business initiatives by assessing financial crime risks and recommending appropriate
controls.
Technology &
Monitoring
Oversee transaction monitoring systems, sanctions screening platforms, and blockchain analytics solutions. Lead the optimisation, calibration, and tuning of monitoring scenarios to improve effectiveness while reducing false positives. Evaluate and implement new technologies supporting AML/CFT compliance and blockchain monitoring. Work closely with Technology and Product teams to embed financial crime controls into busines
s processes.
Training &
amp; Advisory
Develop and deliver AML/CFT and financial crime training programmes across the organisation. Provide expert guidance to business stakeholders on AML/CFT obligations and regulatory expectations. Foster a strong culture of compliance and financial crime awareness throughout the firm. Stakeholder Management Partner with Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations, Finance, Product, and Technology teams to ensure effective implementation of financial crime controls. Support internal and external audits relating to AML/CFT compliance. Build effective working relationships with regulators, banking partners, and industry participants wher
e appropriate.
Qualifications &
amp; Experience
Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related discipline. Professional AML qualification (ACAMS, ICA, or equivalent) preferred. Minimum 7 years of experience in AML/CFT, financial crime compliance, or regulatory compliance within financial services, with significant experience in virtual assets, fintech, digital assets, or capital markets. Previous experience serving as an MLRO or Deputy MLRO with sufficient seniority to undertake an approved MLRO function. Strong knowledge of UAE AML legislation, FATF Recommendations, sanctions requirements, and financial crime regulations applicable to virtual asset businesses. Experience engaging with UAE regulators such as the CMA, CBUAE, SCA, ADGM FSRA, VARA, or other regional regulators. Demonstrated experience managing regulatory inspections and regulatory reporting obligations. Experience with blockchain analytics and financial crime technology platforms such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, TRM Labs, or equivalent. Strong understanding of fiat and blockchain transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, customer risk assessments, and financial crime
investigations.
Skills &
amp; Competencies
Excellent analytical and investigative capabilities with strong attention to detail. Strong understanding of financial crime risks associated with digital assets, stablecoins, DeFi, wallets, custody, and blockchain ecosystems. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with regulators, executive management, and Board committees. High ethical standards with the ability to exercise sound judgement and maintain strict confidentiality. Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills. Ability to operate independently while partnering effectively across business functions. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, regulated environment. Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with a commitment to conti
nuous improvement.
P
referred Experience
Experience establishing or enhancing AML frameworks for a regulated crypto or virtual asset business. Experience supporting licensing applications and regulatory remediation programmes. Familiarity with cross-border AML requirements across the GCC and broader MEASA region. Experience with blockchain investigations involving complex transaction tracing and typology analysis. Exposure to institutional digital asset markets, OTC trading, brokerage, custody, or
exchange operations.