Compliance Officer - united arab emirates - Deel

Description

Location

United Arab Emirates

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

Remote

Department

G&A Compliance

Who we are is what we do.

Deel is the all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams. Our vision is to unlock global opportunity for every person, team, and business. Built for the way the world works today, Deel combines HRIS, payroll, compliance, benefits, performance, and equipment management into one seamless platform. With AI-powered tools and a fully owned payroll infrastructure, Deel supports every worker type in 150+ countries—helping businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly.

Among the largest globally distributed companies in the world, our team of 7,000 spans more than 100 countries, speaks 74 languages, and brings a connected and dynamic culture that drives continuous learning and innovation for our customers.

Why should you be part of our success story?

As the fastest-growing Software as a Service (SaaS) company in history, Deel is transforming how global talent connects with world-class companies – breaking down borders that have traditionally limited both hiring and career opportunities. We're not just building software; we're creating the infrastructure for the future of work, enabling a more diverse and inclusive global economy. In 2024 alone, we paid $11.2 billion to workers in nearly 100 currencies and provided healthcare and benefits to workers in 109 countries—ensuring people get paid and protected, no matter where they are.

Our momentum is reflected in our achievements and customer satisfaction: CNBC Disruptor 50, Forbes Cloud 100, Deloitte Fast 500, and repeated recognition on Y Combinator's top companies list – all while maintaining a 4.83 average rating from 15,000 reviews across G2, Trustpilot, Captera, Apple and Google.

Your experience at Deel will be a career accelerator. At the forefront of the global work revolution, you'll tackle complex challenges that impact millions of people's working lives. With our momentum—backed by a $17.3 billion valuation and $1 B in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just over five years—you'll drive meaningful impact while building expertise that makes you a sought‑after leader in the transformation of global work.

Summary

The Compliance Officer serves as a strategic leader and subject matter expert on compliance, responsible for shaping compliance strategy and guiding the organization through complex regulatory environments.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of the organisation's compliance program, ensuring the organisation meets all legal requirements and expectations of the CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE) and DIFC (Dubai International Financial Center). This must be done across various Fintech compliance domains (DORA, GDPR, PSD3, AML, …)
• Act as the AML Compliance Officer (AMLCO) for the UAE entity and stay updated on UAE financial crime legislation and ensure the organisation remains compliant with current AML/CTF requirements.
• Lead the development of long‑term compliance strategies and frameworks
• Advise executive leadership on compliance risks and mitigation approaches
• Act as the senior authority on global regulatory compliance, guiding the organization through changes and challenges
• Conduct regular reviews of internal compliance policies and procedures, updating them as necessary to reflect changes in the UAE regulatory landscape, implement strategies to mitigate risks and required training.
• Review and update Product Disclosure, Financial Service Guide and other relevant disclosure documentation to ensure compliance with regulations
• Oversee compliance for high‑risk areas such as anti‑corruption, data privacy, and financial regulations
• Act as the key point of contact with local regulators (i.e. CBUAE - Central Bank of the UAE, DIFC-Dubai International Financial Center), and industry bodies, represent the organization in regulatory discussions and industry forums
• Prepare or oversee preparing and submitting regulatory reports and notifications to the CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE) and other regulators, as needed.
• Provide advisory support to various business units on compliance‑related matters, with a focus on payment services regulations.
• Provide technical compliance support enabling new products or existing product feature changes.
• Ability to find the right balance between customer friction, compliance and cost in order to formulate creative and pragmatic compliance processes.
• Build effective working relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders regarding updates on issues, internal controls and key process changes.
• Design and implement control testing procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, conduct testing and formulate feedback.
• Identify control gaps, provide recommendations for control process improvements, and oversee corrective action plans on control gaps.
• Identify opportunities for efficiencies and automation i.e. to utilize various tools to monitor internal controls.
• Serve as a point of contact to internal and external auditors and support the evaluation of remediation action plans. Support cross functional teams in the issues management process.
• Provide regular updates and reports to management, including governance committees and respective boards.

Desired skills and competencies

• 2+ years of experience in compliance
• Deep knowledge of global regulatory frameworks, including SEC, GDPR, FCPA, and others
• Demonstrated success in managing compliance for multinational organizations
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
• Experience in either FinCrime operations, AML compliance, or related fields, preferably within the payroll industry or financial services and payments sector.
• Relevant qualifications and experience to meet the requirements of the local Responsible Manager position.
• Prior experience as a Responsible Manager for an AFSL preferably under a non‑cash payments authorisation. Experience in Fin-Tech industry highly regarded.
• Relevant post‑grad qualifications / accreditations for AFSL management to meet RG146.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of applicable legislative/regulatory requirements relating to AFSL and AML/CTF.
• Highly effective communication skills, both written and verbal, high attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks and work across multiple departments and geographical regions.
• Experience with regulatory authorities and payment service licenses in other jurisdictions preferred
• Relevant AML qualifications (ACAMS Certificate or equivalent).

Total Rewards

Our workforce deserves fair and competitive pay that meets them where they are. With scalable benefits, rewards, and perks, our total rewards programs reflect our commitment to inclusivity and access for all.

Some things you'll enjoy

• Stock grant opportunities dependent on your role, employment status and location
• Additional perks and benefits based on your employment status and country
• The flexibility of remote work, including optional WeWork access

At Deel, we're an equal‑opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Unless otherwise agreed, we will communicate with job applicants using Deel‑specific emails, which include and other acquired company emails like and You can view the most up‑to‑date job listings at our careers page. Deel is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects different abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, identities and perspectives. Deel will provide accommodations on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations, please inform our Talent Acquisition Team via this link and a team member will be in touch to ensure your equal participation. If you have difficulty accessing the form, please email at

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