Compliance Senior Manager - Virtual Assets Compliance Officer (VACO)

Location: Global

Team: General

About the Role

Wise is seeking an experienced Compliance Senior Manager to serve as our Virtual Assets Compliance Officer (VACO) in Dubai, building and leading the compliance framework for our new stablecoin and virtual asset services under the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). As the primary point of contact with VARA, you will shape our compliance strategy from the ground up, ensuring operations exceed regulatory expectations while collaborating with global Product, Legal, Operations, and Engineering teams to launch innovative products compliantly. Key responsibilities include owning the VARA relationship, localising global policies, designing financial crime frameworks for virtual assets (including blockchain analytics and Travel Rule), managing SAR/STR processes, and advising senior leadership on risks. This role offers a unique chance to pioneer compliance in Dubai's virtual assets landscape, embedding it into Wise's mission of making money instant, convenient, and transparent for everyone, everywhere. With a competitive salary of 536,000 - 841,000 AED annually, generous stock options, flexible working, and a host of benefits, join us to leverage your expertise in a fast-paced, global environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the designated Virtual Asset Compliance Officer (VACO) as required by VARA, holding ultimate responsibility for the integrity and effectiveness of the compliance framework
• Own the relationship with VARA, serving as the point of contact for all licensing, reporting, examinations, and strategic engagement
• Build and maintain a robust, scalable compliance program tailored to the VARA framework
• Localise and implement Wise’s global compliance policies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and compliant with VARA rules
• Design and manage the financial crime risk management framework, addressing risks specific to virtual assets such as blockchain analytics, the "Travel Rule", and counter-party VASP due diligence
• Own the Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR/STR) process, managing interactions with the UAE’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
• Establish risk-based procedures for customer due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD), and act as the point of escalation for high-risk customer approvals
• Report directly to the Board and senior leadership on the health of the compliance program, providing clear insights into emerging risks and the effectiveness of controls

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in a regulatory or financial crime compliance role, OR 5 years of experience combined with a relevant professional certification (e.g., Certified Cryptoasset Financial Crime Compliance (CCFCC), Chainalysis Reactor Certification (CRC))
• Demonstrable, direct, hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of the virtual assets/cryptocurrency sector, including an understanding of key risks and industry best practices
• Profound knowledge of UAE AML/CFT regulations and the FATF Recommendations for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)
• Proven ability to build and manage a compliance program, with experience in policy writing, risk assessment, and regulatory engagement
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the VARA framework
• Certified Cryptoasset Financial Crime Compliance (CCFCC)
• Chainalysis Reactor Certification (CRC)

Required Skills

• Regulatory oversight and licensing management
• VARA framework expertise
• Financial crime compliance (AML/CFT)
• Blockchain analytics and Travel Rule compliance
• Policy development and risk assessment
• Stakeholder engagement and negotiation
• Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR/STR)
• Customer due diligence (CDD/EDD)
• Training and advisory skills
• Growth mindset and pragmatic problem-solving

Benefits

• Competitive salary (536000 - 841000 AED Annual)
• Generous stock options package
• Flexible working
• Wise card
• Health insurance
• Learning budget
• Company retreat
• Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives

Wise is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse workforce.