MLRO & Compliance Manager

Company Overview

Since 1992, Big Ticket LLC has been offering huge cash prizes and dream cars, creating unforgettable experiences for our customers. Our monthly guaranteed draws give participants the chance to win massive cash prizes, luxury cars, and more, with millions of dirhams awarded to lucky winners every month.

At Big Ticket, we're more than just a raffle; we create moments of hope, joy, and excitement for people around the world. With a mission to turn dreams into reality through exciting games and entertainment and make every draw an event to remember.

Purpose and Objectives for the Role

The Compliance Manager & MLRO is responsible for leading the Company's Compliance and Financial Crime function, providing strategic direction and oversight to ensure compliance with all applicable Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) regulatory requirements in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The role is accountable for promoting a strong culture of compliance, ethics, and integrity by implementing and overseeing effective financial crime risk management, fraud prevention, and corporate compliance programmes, while providing trusted advice to senior management on regulatory obligations, emerging risks, and governance matters.

As the Company's functional domain owner, the Compliance Manager & MLRO has enterprise-wide responsibility for the governance and continuous improvement of the Company's framework relating to AML, CTF, Fraud Prevention, Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC), Gift & Entertainment (G&E), Whistleblowing, and Conflict of Interest (CoI). The role also serves as the Company's appointed Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), acting as the primary point of contact with regulators and competent authorities on AML/ CTF matters.

Overall Responsibilities

AML/CTF & MLRO

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of the Company's AML/ CTF compliance framework.
• Serve as the Company's appointed MLRO, fulfilling all statutory and regulatory obligations under applicable UAE legislation.
• Develop, maintain and periodically review AML/ CTF policies, procedures, controls, and guidance to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Establish and maintain an enterprise-wide AML/ CTF risk assessment framework, ensuring emerging financial crime risks are identified, assessed, and appropriately mitigated.
• Oversee customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), sanctions screening, politically exposed person (PEP) screening, transaction monitoring, and ongoing customer risk assessment processes.
• Ensure appropriate risk-based due diligence is conducted on suppliers and other third parties in accordance with the Company's financial crime framework and regulatory requirements.
• Review and investigate unusual and suspicious activities, determine appropriate escalation, and submit Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), or other regulatory reports to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), where required.
• Act as the primary point of contact for regulators, competent authorities, law enforcement agencies, and external auditors on matters relating to AML/ CTF compliance.
• Provide independent advice to senior management on AML/ CTF regulatory obligations, financial crime risks, and control effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver AML/ CTF training and awareness programme to ensure employees understand their regulatory obligations.
• Monitor regulatory developments and emerging financial crime threats, assessing their impact on the Company and implementing necessary changes to policies, controls, procedures.
• Prepare periodic management information, risk reports, and Board or Committee reporting on AML/ CTF compliance, key risk indicators, and material financial crime matters.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and independent reviews, ensuring timely and remediation on findings and recommendations.

Fraud Prevention

• Develop and oversee the Company's fraud risk management framework to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to internal and external fraud risks.
• Monitor fraud trends, investigate suspected fraud, and recommend appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Work collaboratively with operational, technology, and customer service teams to strengthen fraud controls while maintaining an appropriate customer experience.
• Analyse fraud metrics, emerging typologies, and control effectiveness, recommending improvements to minimise financial and operational losses.

Corporate Compliance

• Maintain and oversee the Company's corporate compliance frameworks relating to ABC, G&E, Whistleblowing, and CoI.
• Support the development, review, and communication of compliance policies, standards, and employee awareness programmes.
• Provide compliance advice to business stakeholders and promote a culture of ethical conduct, integrity, and regulatory compliance across the Company.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned, consistent with the scope and objectives of the role.

Skills Required

• Strong knowledge of UAE AML/ CTF legislation, regulations, and regulatory expectations.
• Sound understanding of financial crime risk management, including AML/ CTF, fraud prevention, sanctions, CDD, and regulatory reporting.
• Knowledge of corporate compliance principles, including ABC, CoI, G&E and Whistleblowing frameworks.
• Strong analytical, investigative, problem-solving skills with the ability to assess and mitigate financial crime risks.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with regulators, senior management, and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership, sound judgement, integrity, and the ability to foster a strong culture of compliance and ethical conduct.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in AML, Financial Crime, or Compliance (e.g. CAMS, ICA or equivalent) is preferred.
• Extensive experience in AML/ CTF and financial crime with at least 3 years in a managerial or leadership role.
• Proven experience serving as an MLRO, Deputy MLRO, Compliance Officer, or in a comparable role within a regulated industry is required.
• Experience in gaming, raffle, lottery, financial services, fintech, or other regulated industries is an advantage.