Group Head of Financial Crime/MLRO

About Fanatics Momentum
Fanatics Momentum is building the UAE's leading regulated commercial gaming operator. Licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), we operate across lottery, iGaming, sportsbook, and digital content, combining Momentum's regional foundation with Fanatics' global product, technology, and scale. The business is ambitious, well-resourced, and moving fast. If you want to help build a category-defining operator in one of the world's most exciting regulated gaming markets, this is the right time to join.

Group Head of Financial Crime/MLRO

Job Summary

The Group Head of Financial Crime/MLRO will lead the development and implementation of the strategic direction of Momentum Group’s (“Momentum”) Group Financial Crime function, particularly in compliance with all applicable Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) and Proliferation Financing (PF) regulations in the UAE.

The role will provide strategic oversight of the Financial Crime function, including direct supervision of two Deputy MLROs responsible for day-to-day operational AML/CFT/CPF activities across the licensed entities. While operational responsibilities may be delegated, the Group Head of Financial Crime / MLRO retains overall accountability for the effectiveness of the AML/CFT/CPF framework and all regulatory reporting obligations.

The role will also support the development of a strong compliance culture throughout Momentum through effective governance, oversight, and leadership of the Financial Crime function.

The role will be appointed as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for the relevant licensed entities.

Responsibilities

The Group Head of Financial Crime/MLRO will report to the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer. Responsibilities include:

Financial Crime Leadership:

• Manage Momentum’s Financial Crime function across all of the Group’s licensed entities by developing, overseeing and advising on policies and programmes in line with the highest international financial crime standards and regulatory requirements.

• Direct supervision of the Deputy MLRO’s who will be responsible for the day-to-day operational activities across the licensed entities.
• Lead and manage the Financial Crime team, providing strategic oversight, guidance, support, and performance feedback.

• Foster a collaborative and results-driven team environment.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Compliance Operations, Technology, Regulatory Compliance and Customer Support, to ensure cohesive and effective financial crime management.
• Exercise independent judgement and challenge business decisions where necessary to ensure AML/CFT/CPF compliance.

Technical AML/CFT/CPF Competence

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of commercial gaming ML/TF/PF risks and typologies, including risks associated with player/customer profiles, geography, payment methods, products and gaming and wagering behaviour.
• Develop and maintain a documented, business-wide ML/TF/PF risk assessment and ensure implementation of a risk-based AML/CFT/CPF programme.
• Design and oversee customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD) and ongoing monitoring frameworks, including source of funds and source of wealth assessments.
• Design, implement and oversee transaction monitoring scenarios and typologies, including alert handling, escalation, investigation, tuning and effectiveness review.
• Assess internal alerts and reports and make timely, documented STR/SAR reporting or non-reporting decisions, maintaining confidentiality and independence.
• Implement and oversee sanctions and targeted financial sanctions controls, including screening, match handling, escalation, freezing measures and regulatory reporting.
• Maintain oversight of goAML (or equivalent reporting systems) and submission of STRs, SARs, PNMRs, CNMRs and High-Risk Country Reports as required under UAE law.
• Establish and maintain effective governance arrangements, including clear and timely reporting to senior management and governing bodies and robust record-keeping and audit trail processes on financial crime risks and control effectiveness.

Regulatory Engagement

• Act as primary point of contact with supervisory authorities, including GCGRA (working with the Regulatory Compliance team) and the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit.
• Manage regulatory examinations, enquiries, findings and remediation requirements.

Training & Continuous Professional Development

• Ensure AML/CFT/CPF training programmes are risk-based, role-specific and regularly updated to reflect evolving risks, requirements and regulatory developments.
• Demonstrate ongoing commitment to maintaining and enhancing professional knowledge of evolving AML/CFT/CPF landscape including risks, typologies, legislation and emerging technologies.

Requirements

• Over 7 years of specialized experience in AML/CTF/CPF within the online gaming/sportsbook or financial services industry.
• Strong knowledge of AML legislation and the specific financial crime challenges in the lottery and gaming/sportsbook or financial services
• Proven operational experience designing, implementing and overseeing AML/CFT/CPF frameworks, including transaction monitoring systems, sanctions controls and regulatory reporting processes.
• Demonstrated operational MLRO or senior financial crime prevention experience in a complex, technology-driven or high-volume transactional environment.
• Where direct gaming sector experience is limited, demonstrate transferable AML/CFT/CPF competence.
• Prior management-level experience with sufficient authority, independence and direct access to governing bodies.
• Practical experience with STR/SAR decision-making and reporting systems (preferably goAML or equivalent).
• Strong leadership, management, decision-making, and analytical skills.
• A degree in Law, Business Management, Risk Management, and with Professional AML qualifications (e.g., CAMS or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, and highly proficient in English.

At Fanatics Momentum, we’re proud to be a fair, transparent, and inclusive employer. We value diversity, collaboration, and innovation, and we’re committed to creating an environment where every team member can thrive. If you’re ready to grow your career and help us build Momentum, we’d love to hear from you.