About the client

Our client is an established global online trading and investment group with central offices in the UAE, Cyprus and the UK and a number of smaller hubs globally. Through its power brands, the group has provided leveraged trading to over 2 million retail clients, offering access to equity, commodity and FX markets across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The business empowers a new generation of investors with the guidance, tools and market access to trade and invest with confidence, on their own terms.

The role

The Compliance Officer & MLRO will play a crucial role in overseeing the company's compliance activities under Financial Services Commission (FSC) regulations, as well as the company's activities under its licences in South Africa and other jurisdictions. The role requires accountability for timely delivery within deadlines, collaboration with the global compliance team, execution of the local compliance monitoring programme, and contribution to group-level initiatives.

Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

Ensure the business complies with FSC regulations, including requirements for financial markets, retail trading, investments and financial services operations
Monitor regulatory changes from FSC and other relevant authorities, ensuring the business adapts its practices to evolving requirements
Act as the company's primary point of contact with FSC where required, handling regulatory inquiries, compliance audits, inspections and ongoing reporting for the company and other group entities based in Mauritius
Provide expert advice to senior management on compliance matters

Money Laundering Prevention & Financial Crime Risk Management (MLRO)

Advise on escalations and edge cases and assist in defining local requirements under the firm's transaction monitoring framework, including identifying suspicious activities, conducting risk assessments and managing the preparation of suspicious activity reports (SARs)
Investigate potential financial crime incidents, liaising with internal and external stakeholders including law enforcement and regulators
Evaluate and determine whether an internal STR has merit and should be reported to the FIU
File internal disclosures not reported to the FIU for future analysis should a further internal disclosure be made about the same client

Regulatory Reporting & Regulator Liaison

Oversee the preparation and submission of all regulatory filings to FSRA and ADGM, ensuring they are timely and compliant with regulatory deadlines
Act as the primary liaison with ADGM and FSRA regulators, responding promptly to inquiries, examinations and audits
Ensure compliance with ADGM's reporting requirements, including annual compliance reports, regulatory filings and ad-hoc submissions
Liaise with other international regulators, particularly across GCC markets, Nigeria and India

Training & Awareness

Develop and deliver compliance training programmes for staff, focused on ADGM regulatory requirements, AML/CFT practices and general financial crime risk management
Foster a compliance culture across the organisation by raising awareness of regulatory obligations, ethical conduct and financial crime risks

Internal Collaboration & Risk Management

Work closely with internal teams including legal, risk and operations to identify and address compliance risks and issues
Provide regular updates and compliance reports to senior management, highlighting key regulatory developments, emerging risks and remediation recommendations
Act as subject-matter expert on ADGM compliance matters, supporting cross-border teams with regulatory queries and compliance challenges across jurisdictions

Group-Level Contributions

Contribute to global compliance projects, ensuring consistency and alignment across all jurisdictions in which the company operates
Contribute to workstreams covering cross-border distribution of products and management of risk through introducing brokers
Share knowledge and best practices with colleagues globally, ensuring compliance standards are adhered to in all regions

Requirements

5–7 years of experience in compliance roles within financial services, trading or retail investment businesses, with significant exposure to FSC regulations
Extensive experience in financial crime prevention, including AML and CFT, transaction monitoring and the preparation of suspicious activity reports (SARs)
Solid understanding of FSC's regulatory framework, including rules for financial services, trading, investment and other sectors regulated by FSRA; experience with other African jurisdictions a plus
Proven experience managing and overseeing AML compliance programmes and acting as MLRO or in an equivalent function within a regulated environment
Strong background in preparing regulatory filings, handling FSC off-site and on-site audits, and liaising with local regulators and law enforcement
Exposure to crypto, payments, FX and CFDs helpful but not essential
Bachelor's degree in law, finance, economics or a related field; professional compliance certifications a plus
Relevant AML certifications (e.g. ACAMS, ICA or equivalent) highly desirable, particularly those relevant to FSC requirements
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex regulatory matters to senior management and regulators
Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with experience guiding and developing junior compliance staff
A good eye for risk management, with the ability to quickly identify and escalate issues
Ability to think 'bigger picture' and work across multiple lines of business and jurisdictions, solving problems holistically and commercially
Ability to operate independently, make strategic decisions and manage a compliance function in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Ability to balance regulatory obligations with commercial and operational needs
Strong analytical skills, with a detail-oriented and methodical approach to problem-solving and risk mitigation
Fluency in English required

Compliance Officer