Group Compliance Officer – AML, Sanctions & Maritime Shipping Compliance

Location: UAE / Gulf Region

Experience: Minimum 5 years
Department: Group Compliance / Risk Management
Job Type: Full-time

We are seeking an experienced Group Compliance Officer specialising in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Sanctions Compliance and Maritime Risk to oversee and strengthen group-wide compliance controls across international business operations.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical knowledge of international sanctions regulations with practical experience investigating financial crime risks assessing complex ownership structures and identifying suspicious maritime activities involving vessels cargo movements and shipping counterparties.

This role requires a hands-on compliance professional who can independently investigate cases make risk-based recommendations document decisions and advise senior management on sanctions exposure arising from international trade and shipping activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. AML & Financial Crime Compliance

• Oversee AML controls financial crime risk assessments and customer due diligence processes.
• Conduct enhanced due diligence (EDD) on high-risk customers counterparties suppliers intermediaries and beneficial owners.
• Investigate suspicious transactions complex corporate structures and potential financial crime indicators.
• Assess ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) source of funds and relevant business relationships.
• Document investigation findings risk assessments and recommendations for approval escalation or rejection.

2. International Sanctions Compliance

• Interpret and apply relevant sanctions requirements administered by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) the United Kingdom the European Union and the United Nations.
• Assess sanctions exposure involving non-US companies including the OFAC 50 Percent Rule applicable secondary sanctions and Iran-related sanctions programmes.
• Evaluate direct and indirect ownership control counterparty relationships and transaction-specific sanctions risks.
• Conduct sanctions screening and investigate potential matches involving individuals companies vessels banks and other relevant entities.
• Recommend whether transactions should proceed be placed on hold rejected or escalated as appropriate under applicable laws and internal policies.
• Maintain clear audit trails and support the implementation of effective sanctions policies procedures and controls.

3. Maritime & Shipping Risk Intelligence

• Conduct vessel due diligence and investigate potential sanctions risks associated with ships shipowners operators charterers and cargo interests.
• Analyse Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to identify unusual vessel movements tracking gaps and other potentially deceptive shipping practices.
• Investigate ship-to-ship (STS) transfers vessel identity changes flag changes ownership chains and suspicious shipping patterns.
• Assess vessel movements cargo origins and destinations port calls and counterparties to identify potential sanctions evasion indicators.
• Research beneficial ownership and corporate relationships involving vessels and maritime counterparties.
• Correlate maritime intelligence with sanctions lists trade information and other available risk indicators.

4. Screening Tools & Investigations

• Use sanctions screening adverse media corporate intelligence and maritime intelligence platforms to investigate potential risks.
• Work with tools such as Dilisense LSEG World-Check SeaSearcher Kpler and Windward or equivalent platforms.
• Review alerts distinguish genuine matches from false positives and determine when further investigation is required.
• Produce clear evidence-based investigation reports and maintain appropriate case records.

5. Group Compliance & Risk Governance

• Develop review and strengthen group-wide AML sanctions and maritime compliance policies and procedures.
• Advise senior management on emerging regulatory developments and international sanctions exposure.
• Support internal audits compliance reviews regulatory enquiries and remediation programmes.
• Coordinate with legal finance commercial procurement logistics and shipping teams to manage compliance risks.
• Support sanctions-related remediation exercises independent reviews and monitorship requirements where applicable.
• Promote a strong compliance culture across the organisation and its relevant business units.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in sanctions compliance financial crime compliance or AML investigations with demonstrable responsibility for real case assessments and decisions.
• Strong working knowledge of OFAC sanctions as they apply to non-US companies including the 50 Percent Rule applicable secondary sanctions and Iran-related sanctions programmes.
• Good understanding of UK EU and UN sanctions frameworks.
• Practical experience investigating sanctions exposure complex ownership structures and high-risk counterparties.
• Demonstrable experience in shipping maritime compliance vessel due diligence or maritime sanctions risk.
• Working knowledge of AIS analysis ship-to-ship transfers vessel ownership chains and deceptive shipping practices.
• Hands-on experience with one or more sanctions screening or maritime intelligence platforms such as Dilisense World-Check SeaSearcher Kpler or Windward.
• Strong analytical investigative report-writing and decision-making skills.
• Ability to communicate complex regulatory requirements and risk findings clearly to senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications & Additional Experience

• ACAMS Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) ICA Diploma or equivalent professional qualification.
• Experience supporting compliance remediation independent reviews or regulatory monitorships.
• Exposure to Gulf-region Iraq-related oil and gas commodities or international trade operations.
• Arabic language proficiency.
• Experience establishing or enhancing group-wide compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

Key Competencies

• Strong investigative judgement and attention to detail.
• Ability to assess complex ambiguous and cross-border sanctions risks.
• Practical understanding of the relationship between financial crime international trade and maritime operations.
• Confidence in making and documenting risk-based decisions.
• Professional integrity discretion and the ability to handle sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with senior management and cross-functional teams.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit an updated CV highlighting their experience in sanctions or financial crime investigations maritime and shipping compliance applicable sanctions frameworks screening platforms and specific responsibilities in compliance case decisions.

Candidates with demonstrable hands-on sanctions investigation experience and practical maritime risk exposure are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1