Internal Risk Officer

Internal Risk Officer | Fintech | Stablecoin Cross-Border Payments | Relocation to the UAE

Own enterprise-wide risk for a business moving money across borders on blockchain rails, reporting directly to the CEO.

Open to candidates across Europe. This role is based in the UAE and relocation is required.

About the business

Our client is a UAE-based fintech building a blockchain-powered cross-border payments platform for businesses. Using stable coins and a network of regulated banking, custody and liquidity partners, it moves money across borders faster, at lower cost and with far greater transparency than traditional correspondent banking. Born out of a leading research and technology institution, it combines deep cryptographic expertise with a startup mindset, and is building its operations to the standards of the UAE's virtual asset regulatory framework.

The

role

Reporting to the CEO, you will identify, assess and mitigate the risks behind the company's blockchain-based cross-border payment operations. You will own the risk management framework, provide independent oversight of enterprise-wide risk and work closely with Compliance, Engineering and Security as the business moves from pre-launch into live operations.

What you'll be doing

• Maintaining and enhancing the risk framework across operational, financial, technology, cybersecurity, liquidity, market and regulatory risk
• Evaluating risks across blockchain and digital asset components
• Monitoring operational risk in transaction flows, reconciliation, outages, vendor dependencies and fraud scenarios
• Running risk assessments for partner due diligence on banks, exchanges, liquidity providers and off-ramp partners
• Working with Compliance on AML/CFT and financial crime risk in cross-border transfers
• Partnering with Engineering and Security on vulnerabilities, penetration test results and incident response readiness
• Producing risk dashboards, KRIs and reports for the CEO and senior leadership
• Maintaining and testing Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans
• Supporting regulatory submissions, licensing and ongoing engagement with UAE authorities
• Training internal teams on risk awareness

What you'll bring

• 8+ years in risk management within payments, banking or fintech, including 3+ years exposure to digital assets, stable coins or cross-border remittance
• Strong understanding of blockchain technology, digital assets and cross-border payment flows
• Experience with enterprise risk management frameworks
• Familiarity with UAE regulatory frameworks such as CBUAE and VARA
• Strong quantitative and qualitative risk assessment skills, and the ability to explain complex risks to technical and non-technical audiences
• Degree in Finance, Risk Management, Engineering or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• FRM or PRM preferred

What's on offer

• A direct line to the CEO and ownership of the risk function
• Work at the intersection of payments, stable coins and regulated virtual assets

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