Compliance Support Officer

Role Purpose

Provide short-term compliance support to the Licensed Compliance Officer, focusing on regulatory gap analysis, documentation and evidence testing.

• Regulatory gap analysis
• Policy & SOP support
• Evidence testing and documentation
• Readiness for DFSA thematic and emerging regulatory reviews

Candidate Profile

• 5–8 years’ experience in compliance and risk.
• Familiarity with DFSA rulebooks (GEN, COB, PIB – awareness level)
• Strong documentation, tracking, and evidence-management skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, process-driven
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED- DFSA experience

Core Responsibilities

The Compliance Support Officer will assist the LCO in performing general and targeted regulatory gap analyses, with specific attention to new or evolving DFSA requirements.

1. Mapping applicable DFSA rulebook requirements to:

• Approved Policies
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Actual Operational Practices across Front office (sales / execution), Operations (settlement, custody interfaces, record keeping), Compliance & governance processes, Technology and data handling practices

2. Identifying gaps between:

• DFSA regulatory requirements
• Documented internal controls
• Day-to-day operational execution

(Including situations where policies exist but are not consistently evidenced in practice.)

3. Primary focus areas:

3.1 Brokerage & Execution Activities

• Order handling and execution workflows

Clear delineation between:

• Execution-only services
• Any advisory or non-advisory elements
• Best execution obligations:
• Execution policies
• Monitoring methodology
• Review frequency
• Evidence of oversight
• Conflicts of interest in execution and order routing
• Fee and commission disclosures

Gap focus:

• Policy vs actual execution practice
• Monitoring performed vs monitoring evidenced
• Governance oversight of execution quality

3.2 Client Suitability, Appropriateness & Classification (Non-AML)

Assess compliance with DFSA rules relating to:

• Client classification (Retail / Professional / Market Counterparty)
• Appropriateness assessments for products and services
• Suitability disclosures (where applicable)
• Product eligibility and client consent
• Ongoing review triggers and documentation

Gap focus:

• Completeness of documentation
• Alignment with SOPs
• Evidence of review and escalation

3.3 Operational Processes & Controls

Evaluate operational compliance across:

• Trade booking and confirmation processes
• Settlement and custody interfaces
• Use of third-party brokers, custodians, and service providers
• Incident handling and escalation
• Record-keeping standards

Gap focus:

• Operational practices deviating from SOPs
• Manual controls not sufficiently documented
• Reliance on informal processes without evidence

3.4 Data Protection, Record Retention & Communications

Review of DFSA-relevant obligations around:

• Approved communication channels
• Client communication controls
• Record retention and retrieval
• Access controls and data handling procedures
• Oversight of outsourced or third-party data processors (TPA-related)

Gap focus:

• Communication happening outside approved channels
• Incomplete or inconsistent record retention
• Lack of documented oversight for data handled by third parties

3.5 New & Enhanced DFSA Regulations

Support the LCO in reviewing Ark Capital’s readiness for:

• Newly introduced DFSA rules
• Enhanced guidance or supervisory expectations
• Thematic review focus areas
• Third-Party Arrangements (TPA) and outsourcing obligations

Gap focus:

• Policies not updated to reflect new rules
• SOPs not yet aligned
• Oversight evidence missing or incomplete