Internal Audit Lead - Financial Crime

About the role

The Lead Auditor – Financial Crime & Compliance will head audits across AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud prevention and customer due diligence functions. Reporting to senior management, you will independently assess the effectiveness of the firm’s financial crime prevention framework and regulatory compliance programs.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and execute end‑to‑end audits of financial crime and compliance processes using a risk‑based approach.
• Evaluate design and operating effectiveness of AML, CTF, sanctions, fraud prevention and CDD/KYC/KYB controls against CBUAE regulations and international best practices.
• Assess compliance‑owned processes such as regulatory horizon scanning, change management, monitoring programs and policy governance.
• Identify control gaps, thematic risks and provide actionable recommendations to senior management and regulators.
• Lead forensic reviews of suspected financial crime or fraud, analysing complex data sets to detect suspicious patterns.
• Apply advanced data analytics and continuous monitoring techniques to enhance audit coverage.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in financial crime compliance, audit or risk functions within a regulated financial institution.
• Strong investigative mindset with the ability to work independently while maintaining audit objectivity.
• In‑depth knowledge of CBUAE regulatory expectations and international AML/CTF standards.
• Proven ability to communicate findings clearly to senior stakeholders.

Required skills

• Data analytics