Job Title: Senior Financial Crime Compliance Consultant – Correspondent Banking (Contract)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract
Job Overview:
We are seeking a highly experienced Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) Consultant to lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive FCC framework for a bank with correspondent banking activities, based in Dubai. This is a senior-level contract position requiring deep subject matter expertise in financial crime compliance within the context of correspondent banking, along with hands-on experience designing, building, and rolling out FCC frameworks.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and end-to-end development of a Financial Crime Compliance framework tailored to correspondent banking activities.
- Assess existing FCC infrastructure and identify gaps against international best practices and regulatory expectations (e.g., FATF, Wolfsberg Group, local UAE regulations).
- Define and implement policies, procedures, and controls to manage FCC risks specific to correspondent banking.
- Advise on the implementation of customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), transaction monitoring, name screening, and sanctions compliance procedures.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations, etc.) to ensure the FCC framework is fit for purpose and aligned with the bank’s overall risk appetite and business strategy.
- Support the development of a governance model, reporting structures, and key risk indicators (KRIs) for FCC.
- Provide guidance on training and awareness programs related to FCC in the correspondent banking context.
- Ensure the framework is aligned with applicable UAE Central Bank, DFSA, and other relevant international regulatory requirements.
- Prepare documentation for internal review and potential regulatory submission.
Required Experience & Qualifications:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in financial crime compliance, with a strong focus on correspondent banking.
- Proven track record of building and implementing FCC frameworks from the ground up.
- In-depth understanding of global FCC standards, including FATF recommendations, Wolfsberg Correspondent Banking Due Diligence Questionnaire (CBDDQ), Basel Committee guidance, and OFAC/EU/UN sanctions regimes.
- Strong familiarity with the UAE regulatory landscape, including Central Bank of the UAE requirements and regional compliance expectations.
- Experience interacting with regulators and senior executive stakeholders.
- Professional certifications preferred (e.g., CAMS, ICA Diploma, CFCS).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate compliance principles into practical, operational frameworks.
- Self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments and can work independently with minimal oversight.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and cultural awareness, ideally with experience working in the Middle East or GCC region.