Chief Compliance Officer

As Chief Compliance Officer at DVA, you lead our Compliance team and hold both of DVA's VARA-approved key functions: Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer. You report directly to the Board, own our relationship with VARA, set the compliance agenda at the highest level, and build a function that stands alongside the best in the industry. This is a hands-on leadership role for a proven digital asset compliance leader who has scaled compliance operations under real regulatory scrutiny.

What you'll do

• Act as DVA's VARA-approved Compliance Officer and MLRO, reporting directly to the Board and serving as the senior point of contact with VARA and other regulators
• Own the compliance management system end to end, including policies, risk appetite, the annual compliance risk assessment and the compliance monitoring programme
• Lead licensing and authorisation work across VARA licence variations and new jurisdictions such as ADGM, FSRA, DFSA, MiCA, MAS, FCA, SEC, and offshore jurisdictions (Jersey, BVI, Guernsey, Cayman)
• Own DVA's AML/CFT and sanctions framework as MLRO, including the business-wide risk assessment, customer risk scoring, blockchain analytics, Travel Rule compliance and transaction monitoring
• Make the final call on escalated suspicious activity, file STRs and SARs with the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit via goAML, and act as DVA's point of contact with the FIU and law enforcement
• Provide second-line-of-defence challenge and sign-off on new products, token listings, partnerships and market launches
• Ensure market conduct, market abuse surveillance and marketing communications meet VARA rules
• Lead regulatory inspections, thematic reviews and internal and external audits through to successful outcomes
• Prepare reports for the Board and its committees, escalating key and high-risk compliance issues
• Hire, lead and develop a high-performing compliance function

What you bring

• 12+ years in compliance within regulated financial services, including 5+ years in a senior compliance leadership role
• 5+ years leading compliance in digital assets at a top-tier exchange, custodian, broker or VASP
• Deep, hands-on AML/CFT expertise, including time as an MLRO or deputy MLRO, with direct experience of STR filing and FIU engagement in the UAE
• A recognised AML or compliance qualification such as ICA Diploma or CAMS
• Expert, current knowledge of the VARA Rulebooks (Compliance and Risk Management, Market Conduct and Custody), UAE federal AML/CFT law, and FATF standards for virtual assets including the Travel Rule
• A track record of taking a VASP through license expansion or a regulatory inspection successfully
• Deep understanding of crypto-specific risks such as stablecoins, DeFi exposure, staking, token listings, mixers and privacy coins, and hands-on use of blockchain analytics tools such as Chainalysis, Elliptic and TRM Labs
• The credibility to hold your ground with boards, regulators and banking partners, and the judgement to find a compliant way to say yes
• Fluency in English

Nice to have

• Previous approval as Compliance Officer and/or MLRO at a VARA-licensed VASP
• Experience with other digital asset regimes such as ADGM FSRA, MiCA, MAS, FCA, SEC, or offshore regimes (Jersey, BVI, Guernsey, Cayman)
• Arabic language skills
• At least 2.5 years of compliance experience in the UAE, with direct, hands-on VARA engagement through licensing, supervision or inspections
• UAE residency or a UAE passport, and the ability to be approved by VARA as a fit and proper, full-time Compliance Officer and MLRO

About DVA

DVA is building regulated rails to drive the evolution of institutional digital asset markets across crypto trading, tokenisation and digital asset infrastructure. The company serves clients ranging from large institutions through to retail investors, with a vision to build products that are truly innovative in design, utility, accessibility and safety.