Senior Transaction Monitoring Specialist

Job description

About Company & Role Purpose
A leading licensed crypto-assets trading platform regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) is seeking a Senior Transaction Monitoring Specialist. The role supports the Compliance Function and takes a lead role in the day-to-day operation of its transaction monitoring framework. The successful candidate will work with professionals across the organisation to help ensure adherence to applicable regulatory requirements and the Company's AML/CFT Programme. This is a senior position within the function and reports to the Head of Compliance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES, ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
• Own the daily transaction monitoring process across both entities, adjudicating system-generated alerts, conducting enhanced due diligence on flagged activity, and clearing or escalating cases within agreed service levels.
• Investigate unusual or potentially suspicious activity, document rationale to an audit-ready standard, and escalate to the MLRO/DMLRO, including preparing internal escalation reports and supporting the STR/SAR decision.
• Review the calibration of monitoring rules, thresholds and scenarios, identify tuning opportunities and false-positive drivers, and recommend changes to reduce noise while maintaining coverage of known typologies.
• Develop and maintain transaction monitoring typologies and red-flag indicators, applying them to emerging virtual asset risks (mixers, cross-chain activity, sanctions and high-risk exposure) and feeding findings back into rule design.
• Perform quality assurance and testing over the AML monitoring process, evaluate process deficiencies, assess the effectiveness of control measures, enhance reporting capabilities, and recommend corrective actions to the MLRO/Head of Compliance.
• Review client due diligence documentation where it intersects with monitoring outcomes and approve or reject records in line with the Company's AML/CFT policy and procedures.
• Identify and escalate activity or cases that fail to meet internal guidelines, regulatory requirements, and applicable AML law.
• Stay current on the AML and virtual asset regulatory landscape to identify emerging risks and drive enhancements to the monitoring programme.
• Support the Head of Compliance in implementing the board-approved compliance programme, ensuring the Company meets regulatory requirements and internal procedures.
• Assist the Head of Compliance and MLRO in preparing periodic and annual reports on compliance and transaction monitoring matters, including trend analysis and management information.
• Promptly escalate concerns relating to non-compliance, control gaps, or areas requiring revision.
• Provide guidance to junior analysts on monitoring, alert handling and EDD, and support consistency of investigation standards across the team.
• Undertake any other ad hoc assignments delegated by the Head of Compliance from time to time.

3–5 years of experience in a Compliance/AML/financial crime or risk function with a regulated VASP.
• Strong practical experience operating transaction monitoring systems and working with case management and screening tools, with the ability to interpret monitoring output and identify tuning opportunities.
• Well-versed in MS Excel and associated data analysis tools, with the ability to work with large transaction datasets and produce clear management information.
• Sound understanding of AML/CFT typologies and red-flag indicators, and the ability to apply them to virtual asset activity.
• CAMS certification required; ICA Advanced Certification or Diploma, or equivalent, an advantage.
• Working knowledge of digital assets and blockchain analytics tools (for example Chainalysis, Elliptic, or TRM) is preferred.
Skills
• Thorough understanding of AML/CFT obligations and internal procedures.
• Detail-oriented with a strong work ethic and sound investigative judgement.
• Ability to analyse data and identify patterns and anomalies in transaction activity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear investigation write-ups.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proactive in staying updated on the latest AML landscape and regulations.
• Adaptability to handle ad-hoc assignments and changing priorities.