AML Associate - Graduate Program

About us:

Tamara is the leading fintech platform in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region with a mission to help people make their dreams come true by building the most customer-centric financial super-app on earth. The company serves millions of users in KSA, UAE and Kuwait, and partners with leading global and regional brands such as SHEIN, Jarir, noon, Amazon, IKEA, eXtra and Farfetch as well as small and medium businesses.

Tamara is Saudi's first fintech unicorn and is backed by Sanabil Investments, SNB Capital, Checkout.com, amongst others, operating out of its headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with other regional and global support offices.

About our Anti Money Laundering (AML) Associate Graduate Program

Our 12 month program elevates exceptional Saudi graduates into future leaders. 

It is a comprehensive and hands-on experience designed to accelerate your growth within the dynamic realm of Talent Acquisition.

You will work with an executive mentor to help tackle company-wide initiatives with key stakeholders and gain professional development while handling live business challenges and making a mark from day one. Successful completion of this program will lead to internal opportunities based on performance.

If you have a brilliant academic track record, are proactive problem solver, and are ready to push boundaries, while executing with precision; this is the program for you!

Your role:

The AML Associate plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and company policies during the merchant onboarding process. This role involves assessing the risk profile of prospective merchants, conducting due diligence, and ensuring that Tamara’s on-boarding practices align with local and international regulatory standards.

With a proven track record of maintaining an organized and efficient compliance program, ensuring timely action and effective communication across all levels, and ultimately revolutionize the way millions of users shop, pay, and bank.

You are a driven, determined, curious team player, knowing that collective strength means we all win. With a positive outlook, you are solution-oriented–persevering regardless of circumstances, always finding a way through, no matter the challenges. 

You will effectively find a way to work with everyone through empathy and respect. You will be driven and comfortable with responding quickly with urgency, with the ability to change course without losing momentum and energy, resulting in great success.

Your responsibilities:

• Review applications, verify business documentation, ownership structures, and risk indicators.
• Perform comprehensive customer due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD) on prospective merchants.
• Validate merchant identities and conduct background checks using AML tools and databases (e.g., Sanctions Lists, Politically Exposed Persons (PEP), Relative and Close Associates (RCA) lists, adverse media and more).
• Conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) checks to confirm the legitimacy of merchants and their beneficial owners.
• Analyze merchant activities, business models, and geographic locations to assess AML and fraud risks.
• Assign risk ratings to merchants based on pre-defined criteria and escalate high-risk cases as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia AML regulations, including FATF guidelines, Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions and others. 
• Monitor changes in regulations and update onboarding processes accordingly.
• Work with internal teams to resolve discrepancies or incomplete documentation.
• Liaise with commercial, legal, and risk teams to address merchant queries or concerns during onboarding.
• Provide recommendations on whether to approve, reject, or escalate merchant applications.
• Identify inefficiencies in the onboarding process and recommend improvements.
• Stay updated on emerging AML risks, typologies, and technologies.

Your expertise:

Experience

• At a minimum, internship or co-op training experience in a similar field under SAMA regulations, with a maximum of 2 years of experience.
• Previous experience with merchant acquisition, partnerships, or sales is highly desirable.
• Degree in Law or Business Administration.

Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with fluency in both Arabic and English.
• Strong organizational and time management abilities.
• Customer-oriented mindset with strong negotiation skills.

Attributes

• Analytical and data-driven, with a problem-solving approach.
• Detail-oriented and precise, ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Resilient and adaptable, able to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

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