Compliance Officer

Emirates Nature is a UAE environmental non-governmental charity, established in 2001 under the Honorary Founder and President H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed’s vision for the United Arab Emirates. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Ruler’s representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) Board of Directors.

We operate with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah and are governed by a local board of directors. Emirates Nature works in association with WWF, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. Emirates Nature-WWF has been active in the UAE for two decades and is renowned for its commitment to biodiversity conservation, habitat protection, sustainable development, and community engagement.

Some of our flagship projects include marine conservation initiatives to protect coral reefs and marine species, wildlife conservation programs focusing on endangered species such as Arabian oryx and sea turtles, habitat restoration projects in critical ecosystems, and sustainable development initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change impacts and promoting eco-friendly practices across various sectors.

It is our organizational objective to ensure a high performing workforce within our offices with highly efficient, skilled members all of whom will be unilaterally focused on supporting and delivering conservation activities to our stakeholders within the UAE.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and driven Compliance Officer who also holds responsibilities as an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Finance Terrorism (CFT) Specialist. The ideal candidate must bring a strong understanding of regulatory compliance in the INGO sector, with particular expertise in AML and CFT regulations. You will play a critical role in ensuring our organization’s activities adhere to both local regulations and international standards, protecting the organization from potential (financial) crime risks and ensuring robust governance and compliance frameworks.

AML Compliance Duties:

• Perform Vendor Due Diligence (VDD)/ Know Your Client (KYC) assessments, Risk Assessments, Monitoring, and Reporting to ensure full compliance with AML and CFT regulations, in line with the current legislation in force in the UAE, and any amendments thereof.
• Implement and maintain automated systems to streamline compliance processes and improve vendor and donor selection.
• Conduct screening for PEPs, Sanctions, and Adverse Media using industry-standard sources, ensuring suspicious transactions are escalated to the relevant competent authorities of the UAE.
• Screen potential donors for suspected green-washing activities, escalating concerns to the relevant department(s).
• Implement and create a robust anti-corruption policy to meet international best practices (this should include a section on gifts and anti-bribery) along with their standard operating procedures.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to ensure effective compliance processes and risk mitigation strategies are in place.

General Compliance Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and review high-level compliance policies and procedures across the organization, ensuring alignment with both international best practice and current applicable local legislations and regulations, including those related to financial transparency.
• Monitor compliance with applicable UAE laws, regulations, and internal policies, advising the Management Team on necessary updates and modifications to compliance frameworks.
• Conduct periodic risk assessments to identify potential compliance issues and ensure the organization’s risk management of international best practices meets regulatory standards.
• Coordinate compliance training programs for staff to promote awareness of regulatory requirements and organizational compliance policies.
• Act as the organization’s point of contact for regulatory bodies, managing relationships with relevant authorities and ensuring timely submissions of compliance reports.
• Assist with the development of corrective action plans when compliance issues are identified and ensure their timely implementation across the organization.
• Provide guidance to the Management Team and other internal stakeholders on regulatory and compliance matters, including those related to potential green-washing, and the interpretation of regulations that impact the organization.

Education:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in law, business administration, finance, or a related field. Master’s degree in law (LL.M.), business administration (MBA), or a specialized compliance-related qualification is a plus.

Certification:

• Certification in at least two of the following professional accreditations:
  • International Compliance Association (ICA)
  • Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP)
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
  • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  • ISO 19600 certification

Experience:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in compliance, legal, risk management, or audit functions within a non-profit organization.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.
• Demonstrated experience with client due diligence, risk assessments, and the preparation of compliance reports.
• Proven knowledge and/or experience in the non-profit sector, preferably within environmental non-profit organizations.

• Strong analytical skills to assess risk and regulatory changes.
• Attention to detail when assessing compliance requirements and internal audits.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong oral and written communication for reporting and policy explanation.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple tasks.
• Strong communication skills.
• Good knowledge of MS Office.
• Able to take initiative and prioritize among competing demands.
• High level of cultural sensitivity and awareness with the ability to work in a multi-cultural setting.

Emirates Nature-WWF Focus: Acts as a member of Emirates Nature-WWF, placing higher priority on Emirates Nature-WWF goals than own goals and anticipating the effects of own area’s actions on others to ensure holistic Emirates Nature-WWF outcomes.

External Orientation: Looks outwards ensuring WWF stays relevant, continues to anticipate and adapt to external environmental and global trends.

Delivering Quality Outcomes: Establishes stretch goals, plans, using best judgment and takes responsibility for planning to and delivering on outcomes.

Building Working Relationships: Builds collaborative relationships through the understanding and development of other’s and own ideas.

Communicating Effectively: Uses appropriate means of communication to convey messages, seeks input from others and ensures understanding.

Leading Teams: Develops direction and shared purpose, builds a team through coaching to ensure the accomplishment of goals and high-level team performance.

Leading Change: Encourages and seeks out innovative solutions and brings people on a journey constructively and empathetically.

Managing Resources: Makes the right judgments based on financial and resource availability.

Establishing Strategic Direction: Generates options to achieve long-range goals, selects the best strategies for success, and delivers on strategic goals.

Building Organizational Capability: Diagnoses individual and team capability and development needs and champions talent management.

• Internal: Works with all Units within the organization.
• External: Works with external stakeholders, such as, but not limited to, government entities, international and local corporates, and individual donors.

Emirates Nature-WWF is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity in the workplace and offer a flexible and diverse place of employment.

Emirates Nature-WWF staff participate wholeheartedly in general activities and events that require the full support and participation of all staff members, whether the focus of any particular event or activity has any bearing on the job description and assigned project objectives and activities.

Please send your application consisting of a cover letter explaining why you are the right candidate to work with EN-WWF and your CV with the subject ‘Application for Compliance Officer’ to the attention of Ms. Magdalena Tayoun at [email protected] before 30th November 2024.

Emirates Nature-WWF reserves the right to appoint a candidate prior to this date.