Assistant Manager, AML Investigations (UAE National)

Operating in the UAE for over 50 years, CBD manages the financial requirements of some of the largest corporates and businesses operating in the country, driving the UAE economy. Over the years, CBD has transformed into a progressive and modern banking institution winning multiple awards for its digital initiatives, credit cards, bank accounts, mobile app features and services.

CBD has been recognized as the number one bank in the UAE on the Forbes list of The World’s Best Banks 2022.

As we continue to build upon our successes, we are looking for ambitious individuals who are passionate about the banking and finance industry and the markets in which CBD operates. Just as important to us is your ability to demonstrate a talent for dealing with people - your colleagues and our customers - and delivering service that really goes the extra mile.

Job Purpose

To conduct and oversee AML investigations, review complex transaction monitoring alerts and financial crime referrals, assess suspicious activity, and support regulatory reporting requirements. The role is responsible for ensuring investigations are completed in a timely, thorough, and risk-based manner, while providing technical guidance and coaching to analysts to maintain high standards of quality, regulatory compliance, and effective financial crime risk management.

Principle Accountabilities

AML Investigations

• Conduct end-to-end investigations of alerts escalated by L1 analysts.
• Analyze unusual transaction patterns, customer behavior, and account activity.
• Review transaction monitoring alerts escalated from TM teams.
• Assess whether activity is consistent with the customer's known profile, business activities, source of funds, and expected account usage.
• Assess customer risk ratings and onboarding information.
• Analyze account activity, transaction flows, customer relationships, ownership structures, and counterparties.
• Assess customer activity against KYC, EDD, source of wealth, and source of funds information.

AML Investigations & Transaction Monitoring

• Conduct detailed investigations of escalated Transaction Monitoring (TM) alerts, unusual activities, and financial crime referrals.
• Review customer transactional behaviour against KYC, CDD/EDD, Source of Funds (SoF), Source of Wealth (SoW), and expected account activity.
• Identify and investigate potential indicators of money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, fraud, and other financial crime risks.
• Analyze complex transaction flows, customer relationships, counterparties, and ownership structures.
• Perform adverse media, sanctions, and open-source intelligence reviews as part of investigations.
• Prepare comprehensive and well-documented investigation reports with clear rationale and conclusions.

Suspicious Activity Assessment

• Assess and determine whether activity warrants escalation for Suspicious Transaction Report (STR/SAR) consideration.
• Support regulatory reporting and responses to law enforcement, regulatory, and internal stakeholder requests.

Case Review & Quality Oversight

• Act as an escalation point for complex and high-risk investigations.
• Review investigator assessments and provide challenge, guidance, and quality oversight where required.
• Ensure investigations are completed in line with regulatory expectations, internal policies, and audit requirements.
• Promote consistency and quality across case handling and documentation standards.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with Relationship Managers, KYC teams, Compliance Advisory, Operations, Fraud Risk, and other stakeholders to obtain information relevant to investigations.
• Communicate investigation outcomes and risk assessments effectively to senior management and key stakeholders.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Identify emerging financial crime typologies, trends, and control gaps.
• Contribute to the enhancement of transaction monitoring rules, investigation procedures, and AML controls.
• Support internal audits, regulatory inspections, compliance reviews, and remediation activities.
• Assist in preparing management information, investigation metrics, and reporting packs.

Experience and Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in AML, Financial Crime Compliance, Transaction Monitoring, or AML Investigations within the banking or financial services industry.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience handling complex investigations, suspicious activity assessments, and high-risk customer reviews.
• Experience in reviewing and coaching analysts, quality assurance, and stakeholder management preferred.
• Knowledge of AML/CFT regulations, sanctions compliance, and financial crime typologies.

Academic Qualifications

• Professional certification such as CAMS, ICA, CFCS, or equivalent is preferred.