Senior Officer, AML/CTF

Job Overview

The Senior Officer role for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) at First Abu Dhabi Bank in Riyadh involves managing and ensuring AML/CTF activities conform fully to legal and regulatory frameworks. The officer will monitor and address AML system alerts, escalate suspicious cases timely, and apply international best practices to protect the bank's reputation.

Key Responsibilities

• Adhere strictly to all departmental policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements related to AML/CTF operations.
• Maintain high ethical standards reflecting the organization's values to foster a value-driven culture.
• Manage AML, CTF, and Counter-Proliferation Financing frameworks ensuring compliance with laws, internal policies, and global best practices.
• Process and resolve alerts from sanctions and AML systems, including those from Targeted Financial Sanctions (UN).
• Respond to SAMANET and Tanfeeth related requests efficiently.
• Escalate Suspicious Transaction Reports/Suspicious Activity Reports (STRs/SAR) to the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) as appropriate.
• Assess and authorize acceptance of high-risk clients including politically exposed persons (PEP).
• Keep detailed documentation and supporting evidence ensuring regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
• Identify opportunities to enhance and optimize systems and processes with global standards and productivity in mind.
• Assist in the timely and accurate generation of reports internally and for external compliance purposes.
• Generate and monitor AML system reports to detect unusual or potentially suspicious customer transactions.
• Prepare AML/CTF Management Information System (MIS) reports, ensuring data accuracy related to cases, volumes, ageing, and outcomes.
• Implement Anti-Bribery & Corruption (AB&C) policies and frameworks aligned with group and local regulations and provide advisory support to business units.
• Develop and conduct AB&C training for staff and stakeholders.
• Support investigation teams with bribery or corruption cases and ensure proper escalation.
• Address anti-commercial concealment activities mandated by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) under AML functions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisors to meet departmental and organizational objectives.

Context of Role

• Assist MLRO in executing bank strategy and business growth aligned with compliance.
• Handle SAMANET/Tanfeeth instructions and queries ensuring system alignment.
• Maintain confidentiality of customer and sanctions-related information rigorously.
• Conduct investigations and supporting documentation management.
• Participate actively in identifying any AML-CTF breaches by customers.
• Engage in ongoing systems testing and regulatory compliance checks per SAMA and bank policy standards.
• Implement daily transaction monitoring controls and submit MIS to MLRO for resource planning.
• Perform regular screenings against SAMA sanction lists.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with international AML/Compliance policies, regulator roles and requirements.
• Relevant professional AML qualifications preferred.
• Strong independent working capability and objective critical thinking skills.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English is essential.
• Must be a Saudi national.
• Minimum 0 to 4+ years of work experience in a recognized bank or financial institution focusing on compliance frameworks, risk control, governance, or quality assurance.