Compliance Officer & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (VARA)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer to lead the compliance and financial crime framework for regulated digital‑asset activities in the UAE. The role reports to senior executives and serves as the primary contact for the FSRA, DFSA and VARA regulators.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end licensing, authorisation and variation‑of‑permission applications with the FSRA, DFSA and VARA, managing all regulatory submissions and post‑authorisation matters.
• Design, implement and maintain proportionate compliance frameworks for institutional digital‑asset and crypto‑exchange operations, covering token listings, spot trading, custody, staking and stablecoins.
• Act as the MLRO, overseeing AML/CFT, sanctions and counter‑proliferation financing controls, including blockchain analytics, transaction‑monitoring systems and Travel Rule compliance.
• Provide regular compliance reporting to the Board, senior management and relevant committees, and advise on regulatory implications of new products and partnerships.

Required profile

• University degree in law, finance, compliance, risk management or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in compliance and regulatory functions within institutional financial markets, preferably with exposure to digital‑asset or crypto‑exchange environments.
• Previous experience as an Approved Person, Compliance Officer, MLRO or Head of Compliance in a regulated organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of FSRA and/or DFSA regulatory frameworks; familiarity with VARA requirements is highly desirable.

Required skills

• Virtual assets and digital‑asset regulatory governance.
• Licensing and authorisation processes for crypto‑exchange operations.
• AML/CFT oversight, sanctions screening and transaction‑monitoring.
• Blockchain analytics and financial‑crime risk assessment.