The Senior Analyst – Transaction Monitoring is responsible for executing and overseeing ongoing monitoring activities to identify, investigate, and escalate suspicious transactions in line with UAE regulatory requirements, including Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) AML/CFT regulations and internal policies. The role involves conducting detailed analysis of alerts generated from transaction monitoring systems, assessing customer behavior and risk profiles, preparing high-quality investigation narratives, and recommending STR/SAR filings where required. The Senior Analyst also supports tuning and optimization of monitoring scenarios, typology assessments, ensures timely closure of alerts within SLA, maintains robust documentation, and collaborates closely with Compliance, AML, Operations, and Technology teams to strengthen the bank’s financial crime risk management framework.

Transaction Monitoring Framework & Governance:

Own and maintain the Transaction Monitoring Program aligned to bank risk appetite. Ensure TM coverage across retail, corporate, trade finance, and digital channels and all products. Periodically review TM policies, procedures, and typology libraries.

Scenario Design, Tuning & Optimization:

Design and enhance rules-based and risk-based scenarios (velocity, structuring, round-tripping, unusual patterns) and thorough typology assessments. Lead threshold calibration and alert tuning to reduce false positives without weakening controls. Perform periodic scenario effectiveness testing and document outcomes.

Alert Management & Investigations Oversight:

Oversee daily TM alerts and ensure risk-based prioritization.

Review complex or high-risk cases (PEPs, sanctions nexus, high-risk geographies).

Ensure investigations are well-documented, consistent, and defensible.

STR / SAR Decisioning & Regulatory Reporting:

Act as facilitator in decision-maker or reviewer for STR/SAR filings to the UAE goAML platform.

Ensure reports are timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed.

Maintain confidentiality and prevent tipping-off.

Technology & Systems Management:

Act as Compliance SME for: ·     TM systems implementation or upgrades ·     Model changes, data mapping, and system validations

Partner with IT, vendors, and operations to resolve data quality or rule-logic issues.

Regulatory Engagement & Audit Readiness:

Lead TM responses for: ·     CBUAE inspections ·     Internal Audit ·     External Audit ·     Skilled Persons Reviews (SPR)

Track and remediate TM-related findings with clear ownership and timelines.

Risk Assessment & Management Information (MI):

Input TM insights into the Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessment (EWRA). Produce senior management MI: ·     Alert volumes & trends ·     STR conversion ratios ·     High-risk customer activity ·     Scenario effectiveness metrics

Training & Awareness:

Train TM analysts on typologies, red flags, and investigation quality.
Conduct QA reviews and coaching to improve consistency and judgment.

Maintain adequate staffing and productivity benchmarks.

Your main responsibilities:

• Acting as the key client contact throughout the client onboarding process to ensure seamless transition from Sales to BAU;
• Act as a first point of contact for client issues relating to onboarding matters.
• Coordinating client adoptions, account openings, review of fund offering documentation and legal agreements, internal system set ups, and project planning.
• Project management and coordination of internal functions to onboard new clients (launches and conversions) including Service Delivery, Sales, Legal, Compliance, and Technology teams.
• As part of the onboarding process, the candidate will be expected to provide regular status updates to new clients and internal parties. Weekly project calls should be held with stakeholders and project plans should be maintained to track progress.
• Assist in the initial drafting and review of client service agreements.
• Interacting with the Legal Department on template management and control.
• Managing the internal review process across different product and service lines within the fund administration, corporate services, depository and other product lines.
• Provide day-to-day client onboarding advice across all Apex Group business lines to best meet their business needs and maintain good working relationships through active communication, facilitation and teamwork.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to proactively manage multiple/changing priorities and deadlines.
• Support the wider onboarding team and sub processes where required.

Performance:

• The successful candidate will be expected to work on his / her own initiative to successfully onboard new fund launches and conversions and ensure a positive onboarding experience for clients. Documentary and other standards should be used wherever practical to ensure consistency and efficiency.