Overview
Sanctions Lead – Compliance Jobs in Sharjah, UAE/Dubai at United Arab Bank
To lead the Bank’s sanctions compliance framework (including during a period of regulatory remediation and heightened geopolitical risk), ensuring the design and execution of a robust, sustainable, and regulator-aligned sanctions control environment.
The role is accountable for end-to-end sanctions effectiveness, including framework design, control implementation, and remediation delivery, ensuring alignment with CBUAE expectations, UAE Executive Office requirements, and applicable international sanctions regimes.
Principal Accountabilities Sanctions Remediation & Regulatory Alignment (Critical Priority)
- Lead and execute all sanctions-related components of the CBUAE AML remediation program
- Ensure remediation actions are sustainable, evidenced, and regulator-defensible (not tactical fixes)
- Partner with FCC, Internal Audit, and external advisors (e.g., EY) to ensure clear ownership and delivery accountability remains with the Bank
- Provide structured progress updates to senior management and regulators, demonstrating tangible control uplift and early wins
- Ensure all remediation actions are supported by clear RACI, documentation, and audit trails.
Sanctions Framework Strengthening
- Redesign and enhance the Bank’s Sanctions Policy, Procedures, and Standards to meet CBUAE and international best practices
- Ensure clear articulation of:
- Regulatory obligations
- Control ownership
- Escalation and decision-making protocols
- Embed risk-based approach principles in line with UAE regulatory expectations.
Geopolitical Risk Response & Dynamic Sanctions Controls
- Establish mechanisms to rapidly assess and respond to geopolitical developments impacting sanctions risk (e.g., new designations, regional conflicts, sectoral sanctions)
- Ensure real-time or near real-time updates to screening systems and internal controls
- Provide timely guidance to business units on emerging sanctions risks and exposure scenarios
- Oversee controls for high-risk corridors, including cross-border payments, trade finance, and correspondent banking relationships.
Screening Effectiveness & Control Integrity
- Oversee the effectiveness of name screening and filtering systems across:
- Customers (KYC onboarding and periodic review)
- Payments and transactions
- Drive scenario tuning and threshold calibration to balance detection capability and operational efficiency
- Ensure relevant and comprehensive input and collaborate with QA for screening controls, aligned with regulatory expectations on assurance independence
- Address backlog (if occur) and alert management challenges as part of remediation.
Investigations, Escalations & Decision Governance
- Oversee investigation of potential sanctions matches and complex cases, ensuring:
- Consistent and well-documented decision-making
- Clear escalation to MLRO and governance forums where required
- Establish defensible frameworks for true match determination, customer exit decisions, and transaction blocking/rejection
- Ensure alignment with FIU reporting obligations.
Regulatory Engagement & Reporting
- Act as the Bank’s subject matter lead for sanctions in all interactions with CBUAE, FIU, and other authorities
- Support regulatory reviews, thematic inspections, and ongoing supervisory engagement
- Ensure timely, accurate, and transparent reporting of sanctions-related matters.
Advisory & Business Integration
- Provide clear, actionable sanctions guidance to business and support functions, particularly in:
- Client onboarding and periodic reviews
- Trade finance and structured transactions
- New products and digital initiatives
- Ensure sanctions considerations are embedded early in product governance and change management processes.
- Drive improvements in:
- Data quality and integrity feeding screening systems
- System capabilities and automation
- Integration between sanctions controls and broader AML systems
- Ensure all enhancements are documented, tested, and auditable.
Training & Awareness (Targeted and Practical)
- Deliver role-based sanctions training, focusing on practical risk scenarios relevant to the Bank’s exposure
- Ensure senior management is equipped to understand sanctions risk appetite and decision implications.
Team Leadership & Capability Build
- Build and lead a sanctions team…
Title: Sanctions Lead – Compliance
Company: United Arab Bank
Location: Sharjah, UAE/Dubai
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