Head of Compliance

Company Description

Actively engaged in multi-asset class investment activities across various geographies, carried out by a highly qualified and experienced in-house team of investment professionals using an ‘Asset Allocation Matrix’ to realize risk adjusted returns on invested capital over a long-term period. Investment activities include direct investments in startups, taking stakes in established businesses, acquisitions of business enterprises and setting-up new businesses through collaborative joint venture routes.

Ghobash Trading & Investment is also active in private financial investments, including private equity and debt, venture capital, real estate and publicly listed financial investments.

The Head of Compliance is responsible for establishing, maintaining and continuously enhancing the leading Group’s compliance framework across all business clusters and functions. The role provides second-line oversight to ensure adherence to regulatory, statutory, ethical and internal governance requirements. This includes leading compliance governance, regulatory management, monitoring, investigations, and capability building while supporting senior leadership in understanding and mitigating compliance risks.

• Establish and lead the Group-wide compliance framework to ensure adherence to all internal policy requirements
• Maintain and regularly update the Group Compliance Register and Regulatory Change Tracker for centralized visibility and monitoring of obligations
• Clarify and uphold the distinction between compliance reviews (non-audit) and Internal Audit’s assurance role
• Oversee the development, approval, communication and periodic update of compliance-related policies and procedures
• Ensure alignment of compliance and ethical standards with Group strategy, governance principles and risk appetite
• Oversee implementation of the Group’s Code of Conduct, Whistleblowing Policy, and Conflict of Interest procedures
• Develop annual compliance plan for the entire group and ensure timely execution of activities
• Provide strategic leadership to the Compliance function, including workforce planning, team development, capacity building, and performance management to ensure the function operates effectively across the Group
• Manage the Compliance department’s budget and resources, ensuring optimal allocation, cost control, and efficient use across all compliance activities
• Oversee third-party and vendor compliance, including due-diligence reviews, sanctions and adverse-media screening, contract compliance clauses

• Oversee registration, licensing, and reporting obligations with authorities such as the Ministry of Economy, MOHAP, FTA, CBUAE (for AML), and other sector specific regulators in coordination with Business Units
• Coordinate with regional and global regulatory bodies to align compliance practices and ensure transparent communication
• Monitor the evolving regulatory landscape, assess potential impacts, and develop readiness plans for implementation
• Serve as the principal liaison for regulatory inspections, audits, and investigations, ensuring timely and accurate submissions
• Oversee compliance with data protection and privacy regulations (UAE PDPL, GDPR, where applicable), including data mapping, privacy impact assessments, consent management, breach response, and cross-border transfer controls
• Advise the Board and Audit Committee on emerging compliance risks and regulatory trends that could impact strategic decision-making
• Oversee ESG-related compliance requirements, including environmental reporting, sustainability disclosures, climate-related regulatory obligations, supply-chain due diligence, and alignment with UAE Climate Law, CSRD/ESMA guidelines, and any sector-specific ESG regulations
• Lead and oversee the AML/CFT framework, including customer due diligence, sanctions screening, suspicious transaction reporting

• Collaborate with Cluster Compliance POCs, Legal, HR, PRO, Finance, IT, and operational teams to ensure end-to-end compliance integration across processes
• Provide expert advisory support to business units,…