Manager of Financial Crime Prevention

Job Description

Job Description

The Manager of Financial Crime Prevention plays a critical supervisory and managerial role within the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and ongoing effectiveness of the Authority's financial crime prevention framework for the gaming sector.

The Manager provides subject-matter expertise, supervisory judgement, and leadership to safeguard the integrity, transparency, and resilience of the UAE's commercial gaming sector.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Regulatory Oversight:

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of GCGRA's financial crime prevention strategy, ensuring alignment with national AML/CFT priorities, FATF standards, and the Authority's risk-based supervisory approach.
• Support the development, interpretation, and maintenance of policies, regulatory notices, guidance, and by-laws relating to AML, CTF, fraud, sanctions, and related financial crime risks applicable to the gaming sector.
• Monitor regulatory developments at the federal and international level and assess their implications for the gaming regulatory framework.

• Oversee sectoral, thematic, and entity-level financial crime risk assessments, identifying key vulnerabilities, emerging risks, and supervisory priorities.
• Assess the adequacy and effectiveness of gaming operators AML/CFT frameworks, including customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), transaction monitoring, suspicious transaction reporting (STR/SAR), and record-keeping.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of financial crime controls implemented by operators and recommend corrective actions or enhancements where deficiencies are identified.

• Prepare and review high-quality analytical reports, supervisory findings, and recommendations for senior management, committees, and the Board, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and sound regulatory judgement.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and records relating to risk assessments, supervisory reviews, thematic work, and financial crime prevention activities.
• Contribute to national-level reporting obligations, including inputs to relevant committees, working groups, and government entities.

• Provide clear, consistent, and technically sound guidance to licensed gaming operators on their AML/CFT obligations, supervisory expectations, and industry best practices.
• Engage with operators on emerging risks, typologies, and control weaknesses, promoting a strong culture of compliance and ethical conduct across the sector.
• Represent the Financial Crime Prevention function in cross-functional initiatives and internal working groups, providing specialist input where required.

• Develop and deliver targeted training and awareness programs for GCGRA staff and, where appropriate, gaming operators, to strengthen understanding of financial crime risks and supervisory expectations.
• Stay informed of emerging financial crime typologies, methodologies, and technological developments relevant to the gaming sector and supervisory authorities.
• Act as a subject-matter expert within GCGRA, supporting internal capacity-building and knowledge sharing.

• Significant experience in financial crime prevention, AML/CFT supervision, regulatory compliance, or related roles, preferably within a regulatory authority, financial institution, or regulated gaming environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UAE AML/CFT legislation, FATF Recommendations, and international best practices, with the ability to apply them using a risk-based supervisory approach.
• Bachelor's degree (required); Master's degree in finance, law, criminology, economics, or a related field (preferred).
• Experience with risk assessment methodologies, supervisory frameworks, and financial crime control environments.
• Strong analytical and judgement skills, with the ability to assess complex risk scenarios and develop proportionate regulatory responses.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively with senior stakeholders, regulated entities, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Professional certifications such as CAMS, CFCS, or equivalent are desirable.

• Regulatory Judgement & Risk-Based Decision-Making
• Financial Crime & AML/CFT Technical Expertise
• Strategic Thinking & Supervisory Insight
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
• Analytical & Critical Thinking
• Leadership, Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
• Integrity, Professionalism & Ethical Conduct

About Us

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) is the federal executive agency responsible for regulating and overseeing commercial gaming in the United Arab Emirates. We aim to drive sustainable growth by cultivating world-class commercial gaming operations and implementing efficient regulation, grounded in the principles of integrity, innovation, and responsible practices.

Established by Federal Law by Decree and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the GCGRA is the executive authority that holds exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities and facilities in the UAE.