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Lean Technologies, a leading financial infrastructure provider in the Middle East, is seeking a Senior Compliance Manager to own and lead the compliance function for Lean KSA, a SAMA-licensed Major Payment Institution. This is a high-impact role reporting directly to the Board of Directors and the Governance, Legal, Risk and Compliance Committee (GLRCC), with day-to-day reporting to the Group Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer.
You will serve as SAMA's approved Compliance Officer and AML/Financial Crime Officer (MLRO), holding dual regulatory positions critical to the organization's operations. Your responsibilities span developing and implementing comprehensive compliance policies aligned with KSA financial services regulations, including the Law of Payments and Payment Services, SAMA's Open Banking Framework, Counter-Fraud Framework, and Anti-Money Laundering law. You will monitor regulatory changes across SAMA, SDAIA, and other authorities, translating them into actionable business guidance.
Key responsibilities include: owning the KSA Compliance Annual Plan and risk assessment; leading SAMA supervisory visits, inspections, and audits; establishing and running a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Program; overseeing the AML/CFT program including customer due diligence, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and STR decisioning; managing SAMA's Counter-Fraud Framework compliance and chairing the Counter-Fraud Governance Committee; handling SAMA's approved-persons process for board and senior positions; supporting data protection compliance under PDPL; providing expert regulatory advice on new products and client segments; managing relationships with SAMA and industry bodies; leading licence applications and service additions; delivering accurate regulatory reporting (monthly Open Banking reports, quarterly Counter-Fraud returns, SAFIU filings, material-incident notifications); owning the Consumer Protection and Complaint Handling framework; overseeing compliance aspects of outsourcing and third-party arrangements; delivering compliance training to staff and the Board; and managing and developing the KSA Compliance Officer.
Lean is backed by General Catalyst, Sequoia, and Shorooq, has processed billions of dollars in transactions, and serves 350+ clients including Tabby, Tas'heel, and Hungerstation. The company is expanding into new markets and building capabilities across payments, data, and lending in MENA.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 6+ years of compliance experience in financial services, including direct experience inside a SAMA-regulated entity
- In-depth knowledge of KSA financial services regulation applicable to fintechs and payment/open banking providers, specifically: Law of Payments and Payment Services and Implementing Regulations, SAMA rules, KSA Open Banking Framework, SAMA Counter-Fraud Framework, Financial Consumer Protection Principles, AML/CFT law, and PDPL
- Demonstrated track record building and running compliance programs and policies from the ground up
- Direct experience managing SAMA inspections and audits, and liaising with regulators
- Must meet SAMA's Fit and Proper requirements; appointment conditional on SAMA's written non-objection (current or prior SAMA non-objection is a strong advantage)
- Relevant compliance certification (e.g., CAMS) or equivalent AML/financial crime qualification
- Experience preparing licence applications, regulatory business plans, and working with counter-fraud frameworks and anti-fraud tooling (highly desirable)
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail; ability to interpret complex regulations and turn them into workable controls
- Clear written and verbal communication in Arabic and English
- Ability to work independently and run multiple concurrent regulatory workstreams under commercial pressure
- Saudi national (required for AML/CFT function holders under SAMA rules)
