Compliance Officer and MLRO

Role Overview

Compliance Officer and MLRO at The Apex Group, based in Abu Dhabi. This is a permanent position reporting to the Regional Compliance Officer – Middle East.

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 worldwide with over 13,000 employees, delivering cross-jurisdictional services while maintaining local expertise.

Role Purpose

Establish, monitor and maintain adherence to compliance, legal and regulatory requirements across the Abu Dhabi office. Act as the firm's Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), overseeing anti-money laundering policies, procedures, systems and controls, and serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory matters and compliance strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance Oversight & Monitoring

• Oversee licensing requirements and regulatory obligations while ensuring compliance activity accounts for all relevant legislation and ADGM/FSRA/SCA related activities.
• Review compliance and internal control operations to ensure adherence with the firm's and Apex Group's Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Compliance Monitoring Programme and perform monitoring activities.
• Ensure non-compliant findings are tracked with respective business function managers until resolved.
• Monitor regulatory risks within the business.
• Maintain adherence to data protection requirements and raise awareness of staff obligations and responsibilities.

Regulatory Reporting & Communication

• Report to and liaise with the SEO, Regional Compliance Officer and the Board on compliance-related matters as required.
• Prepare and submit compliance reports to management and various committees and governance structures within the Apex Group.
• Prepare and submit reports to regulatory authorities.
• Handle communications with Regulator(s), obtain approvals as required, and notify the Regulator as required for all compliance-related matters.
• Set strategy for managing the relationship with the Regulator(s) and for all operational aspects including visits and reporting.

Anti-Money Laundering & Transaction Monitoring

• Act as the firm's MLRO, establishing and maintaining the firm's Anti Money Laundering policies, procedures, systems and controls in compliance with Regulatory Anti Money Laundering rules and all relevant legislation applicable in the jurisdiction and Apex Group Policies.
• Monitor suspicious transactions, identify potential sanctions and submit reporting as required.
• Maintain a register of PEPs, High Risk clients and investors.

Risk & Issue Management

• Maintain a register of complaints, conflicts of interest, compliance and data breaches.
• Actively manage adherence to the complaints process and mitigation of breaches.

Regulatory Knowledge & Advice

• Keep up-to-date with all relevant laws and regulations and communicate regulatory changes and developments to senior management and staff.
• Provide advice and assistance to senior management and staff on Apex Group compliance-related matters.
• Give advice and recommendations to the firm about the interpretation or application of data protection rules.
• Monitor that a register of processing operations is maintained by the firm.

Training & Development

• Provide assistance and support in satisfying staff training and development needs and plans related to new regulations and legislation.
• Prepare training material and deliver training in compliance with regulatory obligations and business procedures.
• Promote a positive compliance culture through engagement with staff.

Ad-Hoc Projects

• Handle other ad-hoc compliance-related projects that may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5 to 7 years of financial services experience working within a financial environment, specifically Fund Administration experience.
• Understanding of relevant regulations in UAE and International AML Laws.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as AML, CDD, Compliance, Risk, or equivalent.
• Experience in Customer Due Diligence (CDD/KYC) on various international corporate structures and risk profiles.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Experienced leader able to develop team members.
• Motivated and driven team player.
• Solutions-driven critical thinking with the ability to adapt to change.

Additional Information

• High level of visibility within a large organisation on an upwards trajectory.
• Ability to define compliance processes to drive innovation and have a tangible impact on the business.
• Exposure to all aspects of the business and cross-jurisdictional operations.
• Opportunity to innovate, bring discipline to business activity and make a meaningful difference.