Compliance Executive

Role Overview

Compliance Officer & Money Laundering Reporting Officer (CO/MLRO) at The Apex Group, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This is an Approved Person role regulated by the FSRA and DFSA.

Company Overview

The Apex Group was established in Bermuda in 2003 and is one of the world's largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers. The company operates globally across 112 offices with over 13,000 employees, delivering cross-jurisdictional services while maintaining the ability to service locally.

Role Purpose

The CO/MLRO is a senior control function holder with primary responsibility for regulatory compliance, AML/CFT oversight, licensing, and governance of businesses regulated by the FSRA, DFSA, and/or VARA in the UAE.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Licensing & Authorizations

• Lead and manage end-to-end licensing, authorization, and variation of permission applications with the FSRA, DFSA, and VARA for digital asset, virtual asset, and crypto exchange activities.
• Act as the primary regulatory liaison for all license applications, regulatory submissions, and post-authorization supervisory engagements.
• Prepare and oversee regulatory business plans, compliance frameworks, AML/CFT frameworks, governance documents, and Approved Person submissions required for authorization.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory queries, information requests, thematic reviews, and inspections conducted by FSRA, DFSA, or VARA.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with license conditions, regulatory commitments, and supervisory action plans.

Compliance Oversight

• Serve as the principal point of contact with the FSRA and DFSA for all compliance matters.
• Design, implement, and maintain compliance frameworks tailored to virtual assets, digital assets, and crypto exchange operations.
• Ensure compliance across products including token listings, spot trading, wallets, custody solutions, staking, and stablecoins.
• Monitor regulatory developments impacting digital assets (FSRA, DFSA, VARA awareness) and ensure timely policy updates.
• Develop and execute a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Programme and annual compliance plan.
• Oversee all regulatory filings, notifications, approvals, and periodic reporting obligations.
• Provide regular compliance reporting to the Senior Executive Officer (SEO), Governing Body, and Board committees.

AML/CFT & Financial Crime

• Act as the MLRO and primary point of contact with the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and competent authorities.
• Establish, implement, and maintain AML/CFT, sanctions, and counter-proliferation financing frameworks aligned with FSRA and DFSA AML Rulebooks.
• Oversee crypto-specific AML controls including blockchain analytics and transaction monitoring tools.
• Ensure compliance with Travel Rule requirements, ongoing monitoring obligations, and STR/SAR reporting.
• Conduct enterprise-wide AML and financial crime risk assessments covering custody risks, smart contract risks, cross-border flows, and fraud typologies.
• Deliver AML/CFT training to staff, senior management, and Board members.

Governance, Risk & Assurance

• Advise the Board and senior management on regulatory risks and compliance matters.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate regulatory, operational, and financial crime risks.
• Coordinate regulatory audits, inspections, and independent reviews, managing remediation actions to closure.
• Maintain regulatory registers including breaches, complaints, training records, regulatory correspondence, and suspicious transactions.
• Embed compliance-by-design principles within technology, product development, and blockchain integrations.

Qualifications & Experience

• University degree in law, compliance, finance, risk management, or a related discipline.
• Relevant compliance and regulatory experience with strong exposure to virtual assets, digital assets, or crypto exchange businesses.
• Prior experience as an Approved Person, Compliance Officer, MLRO, or Head of Compliance in a regulated environment.
• Strong working knowledge of FSRA and DFSA regulatory experience is highly desirable.
• Hands-on experience with AML/KYC frameworks.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to operate independently with sound judgment, seniority, integrity, and regulatory credibility.

Additional Information

• Unsolicited CVs sent by recruitment agencies will not be accepted. Apex operates a direct sourcing model and engages only with exclusive recruitment partners identified by the Talent Acquisition team.