Compliance Senior Manager - Digital Assets
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Wise is looking for a Compliance Senior Manager for Digital Assets in Dubai to build and manage the compliance framework for stablecoin and virtual asset services under VARA regulation.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Act as the designated Virtual Asset Compliance Officer (VACO) as required by VARA
- Own the relationship with VARA, serving as point of contact for licensing, reporting, examinations, and strategic engagement
- Build and maintain a robust, scalable compliance program tailored to the VARA framework
- Oversee the maintenance of VARA license, monitor and interpret regulatory developments
- Localise and implement global compliance policies to ensure compliance with VARA rules
- Develop and deliver targeted training to Board and senior management on VARA framework and virtual asset risks
- Report directly to Board and senior leadership on compliance program health
- Act as key strategic advisor to business on compliance guidance for new product development and market expansion
- Design and manage financial crime risk management framework addressing virtual asset risks
- Own Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR/STR) process and manage interactions with UAE FIU
- Establish risk based procedures for CDD and EDD, act as escalation point for high risk customer approvals
- Regularly assess money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions risks
Requirements
- Experience as a Virtual Asset Compliance Officer (VACO) or similar role
- Deep understanding of VARA framework and virtual asset regulations
- Experience in building compliance programs for digital assets
- Strong knowledge of financial crime risks including blockchain analytics, Travel Rule, and CDD/EDD
- Ability to act as key strategic advisor to business on compliance matters
Full Job Posting
Role Overview
- Wise is looking for an experienced and forward thinking Compliance Senior Manager to join our team in Dubai.
- This role will be responsible for building, leading, and managing the compliance framework for our new stablecoin and virtual asset services, licensed by Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
- This is a unique opportunity to shape our compliance strategy from the ground up under a new regulatory paradigm.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the designated Virtual Asset Compliance Officer (VACO) as required by Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), holding ultimate responsibility for the integrity and effectiveness of the compliance framework.
- Own the relationship with VARA, serving as the point of contact for all licensing, reporting, examinations, and strategic engagement.
- Build and maintain a robust, scalable compliance program tailored to the VARA framework.
- Oversee the maintenance of our VARA license, monitor, interpret, and advise the business on all regulatory developments from VARA and other relevant UAE authorities.
- Localise and implement Wise's global compliance policies to ensure they are fit for purpose and compliant with VARA rules.
- Develop and deliver targeted training to the Board and senior management on the VARA framework and the specific risks associated with virtual assets.
- Report directly to the Board and senior leadership on the health of the compliance program, providing clear insights into emerging risks and the effectiveness of controls.
- Act as the key strategic advisor to the business, providing clear and practical compliance guidance on new product development and market expansion.
- Design and manage the financial crime risk management framework, addressing risks specific to virtual assets such as blockchain analytics, the 'Travel Rule', and counter party VASP due diligence.
- Own the Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR/STR) process, managing interactions with the UAE's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
- Establish risk based procedures for customer due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD), and act as the point of escalation for high risk customer approvals.
- Regularly assess the money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions risks associated with our virtual asset products and services.
This role will give you the opportunity to
- Build a compliance function from the ground up in the pioneering regulatory landscape of virtual assets in Dubai.
- Leverage your subject matter expertise to shape and influence the application of the VARA framework, setting a new standard for compliance in the virtual assets sector.
- Collaborate with brilliant teams across Wise, embedding compliance in our product innovation and growth strategy.
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