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Ethics and Compliance Officer

  • Location:

    Baghdad

  • Sector:

    Finance

  • Contact:

    Omid Miri

  • Job ref:

    4480

  • Published:

    12 days ago

  • Expiry date:

    2025-01-09

mselect is looking to hire an Ethics and Compliance Officer for an international fintech client in Baghdad, Iraq. Candidates must have 10-12 years of experience in compliance program operations within the financial services/payments industry. Fluency in English and Arabic is a must.

Job Purpose
This position is for an E&C Officer to join the CEMEA Ethics and Compliance Team. The E&C Officer will be a critical partner to the business, providing pragmatic, solutions-oriented advice to ensure that the client has effective, risk-based business decision-making, and performing a review of key processes to ensure that the activities meet the requirements of company policies and international standards. The Ethics and Compliance Officer is responsible for the support, execution and monitoring of the ongoing application of the Ethics & Compliance Program in Iraq.

Key Responsibilities
  • Execution of due diligence responsibility requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering/Anti-Terrorist Financing & Sanctions Programs, including third-party due diligence
  • Support of client’s Financial Intelligence Analytics activities through additional and enhanced due diligence applied Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Customer Due Diligence cases, including direct communications and requests for information from clients and partners
  • Drive and manage the cyclical independent onsite reviews on the clients in Iraq
  • Review significant business activities and transactions, assessment of risk and development and execution of risk mitigation action at country, program and product level
  • Responsible for all Compliance matters in Iraq and act as the primary point of contact for business units, support functions and local regulator, where required
  • Grow business partnerships and provide advice on regulatory compliance matters by providing accurate and timely advice and counsel to businesses and clients in Iraq
  • Ensuring understanding of business strategy through ongoing dialogue to identify potential or emerging risks and proactively address them to avoid unnecessary risk or delays to strategic plans
  • Ensure that the business has effective decision-making, risk assessment, processes, controls and procedures, meets obligations of international and local regulatory laws and requirements
  • Responsible for assisting the business in developing and enhancing the first line of defence to ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements, ensuring that risks are being adequately managed and that the business follows the client’s company policies
  • Responsible for business education on policy requirements, including delivery of localized training, tailored to the Iraq market specifics, and business and support function needs
  • Responsible for comprehensive reporting, including local dashboard and metrics reporting on Iraq-related metrics This includes Additional Due Diligence/Enhanced Due Diligence cases and Audit Remediation plans for clients in Iraq
  • Continually identify opportunities for efficiencies while ensuring enough controls are in place; partner with the business to drive process and control improvements
  • Work closely with Legal and Government Engagement to maintain an understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape in Iraq including the support and maintenance of the legal and regulatory obligations inventory as it applies to client
  • Handle queries and questions on the Compliance Program from the business, support functions, other control groups, regulators, clients and partners

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree or other higher education qualifications required
  • 10-12 years of experience in compliance program operations within the financial services/payments industry
  • Professional AML/ATF accreditation (ACAMS) will be an added advantage
  • ICA Diploma in Governance, Risk & Compliance or similar qualification will be an advantage
  • Good understanding of core pillars of effective AML, ATF and CDD programs and appropriate legislation
  • Good knowledge of payments industry products, emerging products, regulations and related trends
  • Corporate experience with a proven track record of managing multiple projects in a complex matrix business and operational environments
  • Excellent report writing, data interpretation and presentation skills
  • Sound knowledge of AML/ATF risks and typologies
  • Experience in risk assessment, control assessment and residual risk assessment
  • Strong analytical and Excel modelling skills
  • Fluency in English (mandatory) and proficient in Arabic (written and verbal)
  • Strong listening, communication, and presentation skills
  • High attention to detail and commitment to quality
  • Self-motivated and able to use own initiative with limited direction, adept at working independently and in a dispersed team environment covering multiple and varied tasks
  • Ability to inspire and influence others without direct management responsibility.
  • Capable of working collaboratively with employees from all levels within the organization
  • Flexible to work in an environment where needs and priorities are continually changing


*Only applicants meeting the strict criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the shortlisting process.