Regulatory Consultant Team Lead

Skills

About the Role

You will provide regulatory advice to clients in the UAE's financial sector, guiding them through license applications and ongoing operations such as inspections or thematic reviews. You will interpret and apply UAE regulatory frameworks within a common law / English-law based regulatory environment, and work closely with client stakeholders to develop, implement, and enhance compliance and AML/CFT frameworks and operational controls. You will act as outsourced Compliance Officer and/or MLRO for designated clients, overseeing AML/CFT processes, onboarding, surveillance, risk assessments, periodic filings, and regulatory reporting. You will lead investigations, SAR submissions, remediation activities, and regulator correspondence. You will prepare and present compliance reports and thematic reviews to client Boards and senior management, and represent the firm in high-stakes meetings with clients and regulators. You will also mentor and supervise junior consultants and analysts, and write internal playbooks, methodologies, and best practices for outsourced compliance and MLRO services. Although based in Malaysia, you will support clients located in the UAE and should be willing to travel approximately 30% of the time, with flexibility to reach around 50% during intensive engagement periods.

Requirements

• Role is based in Malaysia but supports clients located in the UAE
• Willing and able to travel for approximately 30% of the time, with flexibility to reach ~50% during intensive engagement periods
• 8–12 years' experience in a regulatory authority (supervision, authorisation, AML/CFT or policy development in capital markets or virtual assets) or a capital markets or virtual assets firm in compliance or AML/CFT
• Direct experience with achieving compliance under common law / English-law based regulatory frameworks (e.g. Singapore, UK, Hong Kong); exposure to UAE regulatory regimes is a plus
• Proven experience presenting to senior management and boards
• Prior managerial or team leadership experience
• Excellent communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to manage multiple concurrent engagements independently

Responsibilities

• Provide regulatory advice to clients through license applications and ongoing operations such as inspections or thematic reviews
• Interpret and apply UAE regulatory frameworks (DFSA and FSRA) within a common law / English-law based regulatory environment
• Work closely with client stakeholders to develop and implement or enhance compliance and AML/CFT frameworks and operational controls
• Act as outsourced Compliance Officer and/or MLRO for designated clients
• Oversee clients' AML/CFT processes, onboarding, surveillance, risk assessments, periodic filings, and regulatory reporting
• Lead investigations, SAR submissions internally and to the UAE FIU, remediation activities, and regulator correspondence
• Ensure clients maintain robust, risk-based control environments aligned with UAE expectations
• Prepare and present compliance reports, control assessments, and thematic reviews to client Boards and senior management
• Provide clear interpretation of regulatory obligations and practical, risk-based recommendations
• Represent the firm in high-stakes meetings with clients and regulators
• Mentor and supervise junior consultants and analysts
• Write internal playbooks, methodologies, and best practices for outsourced compliance and MLRO services