Head of Risk & Compliance

Role Overview:

To oversee end-to-end compliance management, legal governance, and risk control for the MEA region. This role goes beyond designing top-level frameworks—it emphasizes the effective implementation of compliance and risk management measures to ensure regulatory adherence and stable business operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Licensing Application and Implementation:  Lead and successfully execute licensing applications in the MEA region and other key target markets, serving as the primary point of contact for regulatory authorities.

2. Localized Compliance Operations:  Design, implement, and continuously optimize AML/CFT, sanctions, KYC, and transaction monitoring frameworks to ensure efficient integration into business operations.

3. Policy and Governance:  Draft, review, and maintain all compliance policies and procedures to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and practical applicability, while overseeing their implementation.

4. Regulatory Reporting and Inspections:  Coordinate all regulatory reporting, inquiries, and on-site inspections to ensure zero critical deficiencies.

5. Business Support and Review:  Provide clear, locally regulated compliance guidance to business and product teams, ensuring new products and initiatives undergo compliance review and risk mitigation prior to launch.

6. Training and Culture Development:  Develop and deliver effective compliance training programs for regional employees to foster a robust compliance culture.

7. Comprehensive Risk Management:  Establish and maintain an enterprise risk management framework to continuously identify, assess, and monitor operational, compliance, and information security risks.

Requirements:

1. 8–12 years‘ experience in compliance or legal roles within banking, fintech, payments, or digital assets area.

2. Strong regulator-facing experience, ideally within Bahrain or GCC markets.

3. Deep understanding of AML/CFT and financial crime p revention frameworks.

4. International experience and qualifications highly desirable.

5. Proficiency in English as the working language, with fluency in both written and verbal professional communication. Proficiency in Arabic is a significant advantage.

6. Hold a valid Bahrain work visa, possess legal eligibility to work in Bahrain, or demonstrate exceptional qualifications to secure a Bahrain visa.