Senior Manager, Financial Intelligence Unit, MEA

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through digital assets, payment applications, and programmable blockchain infrastructure. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest regulated stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation. Learn more at circle.com.

What you’ll be part of:

Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we're expanding into some of the world's strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.

What you’ll be responsible for: 

As a Manager within Circle’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), you will safeguard Circle’s integrity by leading financial crime investigations and intelligence efforts across the UAE and broader MEA region. You will identify, analyze, and report suspicious activity while ensuring compliance with AML and sanctions regulations. This role requires close collaboration with global FIU and compliance teams, product stakeholders, and regional regulators. You will enhance detection capabilities, respond to evolving typologies, and ensure that Circle meets the highest standards of integrity and compliance excellence in the region.

What you'll work on: 

• Design and implement MEA-specific compliance frameworks, including developing alignments with both local regulatory requirements (CBUAE, VARA) and global standards.

• Lead comprehensive financial crime risk assessments to identify regional vulnerabilities, ensuring Circle’s risk appetite and controls are optimized for MEA’s evolving landscape.

• Act cross-functionally within Financial Crime Compliance, providing expert support across broader compliance domains including Sanctions, KYC, and Transaction Monitoring. 

• Oversee and perform complex investigations into potential financial crimes and suspicious activities, leveraging deep local major markets knowledge to interpret regional transaction patterns and behaviors.

• Review and analyze sophisticated transaction data using blockchain analytics tooling, identifying illicit activity typologies unique to the Middle East and virtual asset markets.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for regional regulators, law enforcement, and industry bodies.

• Strengthen the Second Line of Defense (2LoD) by developing oversight processes, escalation protocols, and high-impact training programs for regional analysts.

• Collaborate with global product and engineering teams to enhance automated monitoring tools and rulesets based on regional risk profiles.

What you’ll bring to Circle: 

Core Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience conducting complex financial crime investigations, ideally 2+ years within fintech or native virtual asset environments.

• Proven experience navigating the MEA’s regulatory environment and a nuanced understanding of the local financial ecosystem.

• A background that spans beyond investigations into broader compliance areas including Transaction Monitoring, KYC framework design, and regulatory advisory.

• Proficiency in blockchain forensic tools, including TRM Labs and Elliptic and the ability to translate complex data into actionable compliance strategies.

• The ability to influence both internal stakeholders and external regulators, acting as a credible subject matter expert in the MEA market.

• Strong knowledge of UAE AML/CFT regulations and regional regulatory frameworks, including requirements from the UAE FIU and the ADGM.

• Strong knowledge of regional virtual asset typologies and risks within the Middle East and North Africa.

• Hands-on experience using blockchain analytics and transaction monitoring systems to identify suspicious activity.

• Demonstrated ability to write and review high-quality investigative reports and regulatory filings, including SARs.

• Excellent analytical and communication skills with the ability to distill complex data into clear, actionable insights.

Preferred Requirements:

• CAMS, ICA, or equivalent financial crime certification.

• TRM Advanced Crypto Investigations (“TRM-ACI”), Elliptic Specialist Investigator Certification, or equivalent blockchain analytics certifications. 

• Experience liaising with UAE regulators and law enforcement agencies on AML/CFT matters.

• Subject matter expertise with virtual asset service providers and evolving global typologies within the crypto ecosystem.

Circle is on a mission to create an inclusive financial future, with transparency at our core. We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.

Starting pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to: relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation ranges may differ for candidates in other locations.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other protected status required by the laws in the locations where we hire. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.

Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out to accommodations@circle.com for support. We respect your privacy and will connect with you separately from our interview process to accommodate your needs.

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