AML/CTF Officer

Role overview

This role sits within Compliance / Financial Crime Compliance in ADGM, Abu Dhabi, reporting to the Deputy MLRO and Head of AML/CTF. The AML/CTF Officer will help strengthen the bank’s defences against money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions breaches and other financial crime risks.

The position is operational in nature and focuses on alert investigation, onboarding support, screening review, escalation preparation, record keeping and ongoing control testing. It is well suited to a practitioner with developing experience who can apply sound judgement, remain detail-oriented and work confidently with stakeholders across the business.

Transaction monitoring

• Carry out the initial review of alerts generated by the transaction monitoring platform.
• Assess customer behaviour against expected activity, profile information, source of funds, risk rating and background details.
• Spot warning signs such as abnormal transaction patterns, rapid fund movement, third-party transfers, structuring, activity that does not fit the profile, exposure to higher-risk jurisdictions and unexplained payment behaviour.
• Seek further information from internal stakeholders when required to complete the assessment.
• Refer potentially suspicious matters to the Deputy MLRO or MLRO without delay, following internal escalation rules.
• Help draft internal suspicious activity reports, investigation notes and supporting evidence packs.
• Keep review records accurate and aligned with internal and regulatory retention expectations.
• Under the guidance of the Deputy MLRO, support the twice-yearly review of the effectiveness of the bank’s transaction monitoring system.

Onboarding, CDD and EDD support

• Assist Business and Onboarding teams with AML and KYC requirements for new clients.
• Check identification data, KYC documents and onboarding submissions for completeness and consistency.
• Contribute to customer risk assessments covering customer type, geography, product use, expected account behaviour, source of funds, source of wealth, and PEP, sanctions and adverse media factors.
• Raise and escalate missing information, inconsistent explanations and triggers for enhanced due diligence.
• Support EDD reviews for higher-risk clients, including PEPs, complex ownership structures, high-risk jurisdictions and unusual wealth or funding profiles.
• Work with Relationship Managers and business teams to obtain any additional client information needed.
• Assist with periodic and event-driven client reviews.
• Help with the twice-yearly review of the effectiveness of the bank’s E-KYC onboarding system.

Screening and sanctions support

• Review alerts from sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening for customers, beneficial owners, related parties and transaction counterparties.
• Separate likely false alerts from possible true matches or unresolved cases.
• Escalate possible sanctions, PEP or significant adverse media issues quickly.
• Document screening outcomes and the reasoning behind decisions.
• Monitor and apply procedures for restricted and higher-risk jurisdictions.

Suspicious activity escalation

• Recognise activity that may indicate money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing or sanctions evasion.
• Prepare internal escalation reports for review by the Deputy MLRO and MLRO.
• Support decision-making on potential SAR or STR filings by gathering relevant information.
• Protect confidentiality and avoid any tipping-off risks.
• Assist with follow-up actions after escalation, including account monitoring, information preservation and internal coordination.

Management information, controls and reporting

• Contribute to AML and CTF management information for the Deputy MLRO and Head of AML/CTF.
• Track alert volumes, turnaround times, closure rates, escalation rates, false positives and recurring thematic issues.
• Identify repeated data quality, process, system or training gaps arising from alert and onboarding work.
• Support tuning of transaction monitoring scenarios, typology reviews and effectiveness checks.
• Help prepare materials for committees, regulatory reviews, audits and inspections.

Policies, procedures and training

• Follow the bank’s procedures for AML/CTF, sanctions, transaction monitoring, onboarding and suspicious activity reporting.
• Assist with updates to procedures, checklists and operating guidance where needed.
• Take part in AML/CTF training and typology awareness sessions.
• Support focused training for Business and Operations teams based on recurring onboarding or alert issues.

Monitoring and testing

• Contribute to the bank’s annual AML/CTF monitoring and testing programme.
• Support the DMLRO in carrying out the AML monitoring programme.
• Prepare the first draft of monitoring and testing reports.
• Support focused training for Business and Operations teams based on recurring onboarding or alert issues.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate brings practical AML or compliance experience from retail banking, HNWI banking, fintech, payments, brokerage or wealth management. The role requires confidence in reviewing alerts, writing clear case notes and dealing professionally with colleagues in Business, Operations and Compliance.

Qualifications and experience

• 3 to 5 years of AML, compliance, financial crime or KYC experience.
• Hands-on experience reviewing transaction monitoring alerts and recording investigation conclusions.
• Working knowledge of onboarding, CDD, EDD, PEPs, beneficial ownership and source of funds/source of wealth checks.
• Exposure to sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening tools.
• Ability to produce clear, concise and audit-ready documentation.
• Strong written English and case-writing skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Preferred: ICA Certificate or Diploma in AML, ACAMS, an International Compliance Association qualification, or a willingness to begin a recognised AML qualification within 6 to 12 months.
• Preferred: familiarity with the UAE AML framework, FATF standards, sanctions screening and risk-based CDD.

Additional information

Location: ADGM, Abu Dhabi. Function: Compliance / Financial Crime Compliance. Reports to: Deputy MLRO and Head of AML/CTF. This is a full-time onsite position.

There is no stated salary or stipend for this role.