Senior Transaction Monitoring and Surveillance Associate

ADSS is a successful retail and institutional brokerage based in Abu Dhabi. The company is currently undergoing a multi-year transformation to become a fast growing, purpose-led, data-driven enterprise that delivers market-leading personalized content, propositions, and experiences to traders. To reinforce client-centricity the company structure, technology and operations are being redesigned alongside the crafting of a high-performance culture underpinned by The ADSS Way. The objective is for ADSS to become a dynamic and innovative, trusted market leader as measured by feedback from clients, talent, shareholders, and competitors.

ADSS is regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) as a Category 1 and 5 firm. This role focuses on executing the firm’s transaction monitoring activities and supporting the trade surveillance function that covers ADX and DFM markets. Working closely with the Head of Compliance and the Trade Surveillance Lead, the role ensures that alerts and activities relating to financial crime, market conduct, and reporting obligations are properly reviewed, investigated, and documented in a timely manner.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with the design, development and continuous enhancement of the monitoring and surveillance program which captures the regulatory conduct, prudential, organisational, financial crime risks.
• Help ensure the timely execution of the monitoring and surveillance program.
• Devise and execute relevant tests in line with regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and maintain related registers.
• Assist the Trade Surveillance Lead with data review and analysis of trading activity across ADX and DFM, ensuring alerts are accurately triaged and investigated.
• Support FATCA and CRS due diligence, classification, and reporting processes.
• Coordinate with ADX, DFM, and SCA as needed for information requests, regulatory queries, or reporting follow-ups.
• Ensure completion of risk-based desk and thematic reviews to deliver independent recommendations to business heads.
• Working with key stakeholders to design effective controls.
• Execute reviews under the monitoring and surveillance program and escalate findings to Chief Compliance Officer.
• Identify, integrate and test third party systems to be used by Compliance.
• Undertake trade surveillance monitoring on a timely basis to identify suspicious activity ensuring that all analysis is completed to the highest standard and is appropriately documented.
• Review and escalate possible money laundering, market abuse and market integrity issues.
• Review transactions for compliance with anti-money laundering laws.
• Prepare and ensure that all functional operation reports related to compliance are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Maintain and ensure accurate records and documentation of compliance related monitoring activities.
• Recommend enhancements to existing processes and develop new processes for identifying and monitoring regulatory risk.
• Analyse and review compliance data.
• Help ensure effective, accurate and timely regulatory reporting.
• Advise and develop robust Transactions and Trades Reporting control frameworks including effective reconciliation, exception handling, management information, static data and change management processes.
• Undertake any other related work that may be required from time to time.
• Promote the profile of the Compliance department and help to cultivate a strong compliance culture and effective communication across the business.

ABOUT YOU

• 5-8 years of relevant compliance experience within an SCA-regulated brokerage or financial institution.
• Proven experience with transaction monitoring systems (e.g., GBG, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with ADX and DFM markets and the fundamentals of market surveillance.
• Experience in preparing STRs/goAML submissions and FATCA/CRS reports.
• Exposure to working with regulators such as SCA, ADX, and DFM is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of AML/CFT regulations and market conduct requirements.
• Working knowledge of SCA Rulebook and UAE Central Bank AML regulations.
• Analytical with excellent attention to detail and ability to interpret data.
• Strong report writing and investigation documentation skills.
• Effective communicator and collaborator within compliance and business teams.
• Ability to adapt to evolving systems and regulatory expectations.

*No Recruitment Agencies.*

THE ADSS Way

We exist to help our clients become better traders. We obsess about improving the opportunities and experiences we offer to clients and their ability to achieve positive outcomes.

We set the pace on innovation by unlocking potential. Speed matters, so we think and act with urgency. We are relentless in staying at the forefront of the market and clients’ minds. To do this we hire and develop the best and we invest for the long-term.

We achieve trust through collaboration and accountability. We are better by working together openly and transparently across the company, and we take responsibility for what we say and do.

We positively impact the world in which we all live. We are proud of what we do, we insist on the highest standards and inspire others to achieve their goals. We live to our values.