Sanction Officer

About Hala

Hala is a leading fintech company in the MENAP region focused on redefining financial services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The company aims to empower SMEs by providing financial and technological tools to support their business operations. Hala operates multiple entities in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, offering solutions for payment digitization, sales management, and operational control. Founded in 2017, Hala is licensed by the Saudi Arabian Central Bank.

The Role of Sanctions Officer

As a Sanctions Officer at Hala in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, your primary responsibility will be to conduct sanctions screening and investigations. This full-time role involves identifying potential sanctions matches, ensuring timely regulatory compliance, supporting transaction monitoring, and maintaining accurate documentation in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements. This position requires 2-5 years of relevant experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct sanctions name screening for new and existing customers, transactions, employees, and third parties.
• Analyze alerts generated by screening systems to assess the level of match (False Match / True Match).
• Perform necessary investigations for potential matches, gathering supporting evidence and information before escalating to the Sanctions Manager.
• Execute instructions to stop or suspend transactions when required.
• Update screening records and ensure complete and accurate documentation.
• Implement freezing or temporary blocking of transactions or accounts upon confirmed matches, in accordance with approved policies and procedures.
• Update and review approved sanctions lists within the system, ensuring timely reflection of regulatory updates.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of information related to sanctions cases.
• Support the execution of requests from competent authorities related to specific sanctions cases, in accordance with approved authorities.
• Contribute to the reduction of false positives by providing practical feedback to enhance screening criteria and parameters.
• Conduct periodic rescreening of existing customers upon updates to sanctions lists or changes in customer data.
• Support sanctions screening system effectiveness testing by reviewing samples and validating match results.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have 2-5 years of experience in a relevant field, demonstrating a strong understanding of sanctions regulations and compliance procedures. You will be detail-oriented, analytical, and capable of conducting thorough investigations while maintaining confidentiality.

Work Environment and Culture

Hala fosters an inclusive and diverse culture that supports innovation and flexibility across remote, in-office, and hybrid work setups. The company emphasizes personal development through regular training and an annual learning stipend. You will join a team comprising over 30 nationalities working across 7 countries, gaining experience in a growth-oriented environment. Hala promotes autonomy, mentoring, and challenging goals, providing opportunities for professional growth.

Compensation

Hala offers competitive compensation packages, which may include the potential for shares.