Director - Regional Ethics & Compliance Officer GCC

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

This position is responsible for the oversight, support and monitoring of the application of the Ethics & Compliance Program across GCC At Visa, the GCC cluster consist of 6 countries. The position is a critical partner to the business, providing pragmatic, solution-oriented counsel to ensure that Visa has effective risk management, decision-making and review of key processes to ensure we meet international standards, the requirements of regulations and laws of the United States and of the countries in which we operate. These activities include the following areas of risk:

1. Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption
2. Office of Foreign Assets Controls and other Sanctions
3. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) / Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF)
4. Data Privacy
5. Information Security 
6. Anti-Trust and Competitive Intelligence
7. Other specific compliance requirements of regulators who have regulatory
   authority over our operations in the GCC region.

In addition, this position also holds responsibility for ensuring the highest standards of conduct, as set out in Visa’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Particular areas of focus include: 

1. Business Conduct and Ethics 
2. Conflicts of Interest
3. Prevention of Insider Trading

Core Responsibilities:  

• Responsible for all Compliance Program matters as the primary point of contact for business units, support functions and other control function.
• Primary point of contact for AML ATF matters with regulators, in collaboration with Legal and Government Relations function in GCC.
• Collaboration with Visas Financial Intelligence Analytics Center on activities including additional and enhanced due diligence applied to AML ATF and Sanctions cases, including direct communications and requests for information from clients and partner.
• Ensuring that the business has effective decision making, risk assessment, processes, controls and procedures to meet obligations of internal policy and international and local regulations, laws and requirements. 
• Review of significant business strategies, activities and transactions, assessment of risk and development and execution of risk mitigation action at regional, country, program and product level.
• Accountable for managing the process to provide required reporting to regulatory authorities in the GCC sub region, where relevant.
• Promote understanding of the Compliance Program and Code and drive effective inclusion of Compliance in business activities and strategies.
• Deliver compliance office visits within the region to re-enforce annual ethics and compliance training and adherence to the Code.
• Assist on Business Conduct Office investigations in GCC, as needed.
• Handle queries and questions on the Compliance Program from the business, support functions, other control groups, regulators, clients and partners.
• Responsible for business education on policy requirements, including delivery of localized training, tailored to the specific countries and business and support function needs.
• Responsible for comprehensive reporting including local dashboard and metrics reporting.
• Continually identify opportunities for efficiencies while ensuring sufficient controls are in place partner with the business to drive process and control improvements.
• Execution of due diligence requirements of the Anti Bribery Anti Corruption Program, AML ATF and Sanctions Programs, including third party due diligence, provision of AML ATF workshops and education for Clients and on site Client AML program assessments. The AML ATF component is a significant portion of the positions overall responsibilities.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

• Bachelors degree or other higher education qualifications
• 10 to 15 years of experience in management of compliance programs and controls within the financial services industry
• Professional AML ATF ACAMS accreditation
• Proficiency in Arabic and English required
• Sound knowledge on AML ATF typologies
• Good understanding of core pillars of effective AML, ATF and CDD programs and appropriate legislation
• Experience in regulatory Compliance, including direct work with different regulatory authorities is required
• Good knowledge of payments industry products, emerging products, regulations and related trends
• Corporate experience with a proven track record of managing multiple projects in a complex matrix business and operational environments
• Excellent analytical and data analysis skills including use of MS Office systems including Word, Access, Visio, Excel Power Point, SharePoint and other applications
• Intuitive, highly ethical and comfortable to question and challenge
• Highly analytical and self motivated, adept at working independently and in a dispersed team environment covering multiple and varied tasks
• Capable of working collaboratively with employees from all levels within the organization proactive planner able to engage peers and seniors constructively
• Flexible to work in an environment where needs are continually changing
• Ability to multi task and able to work with minimal supervision
• Excellent presentation and public communication skills
• Some travel and extended business hours conference calls may be required.

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.