Senior Compliance Manager

About the Role

Lean Technologies is seeking a Senior Compliance Manager to lead the compliance function for Lean Technologies KSA (Lean KSA), a SAMA-licensed Major Payment Institution in Riyadh. This full-time role involves ensuring adherence to the regulatory framework of SAMA (Saudi Central Bank) and acting as the primary interface with regulators. The successful candidate will hold SAMA’s approved Compliance Officer and AML / Financial Crime Officer (MLRO) positions for Lean KSA, reporting directly to the Board of Directors of Lean KSA and the Board’s Governance, Legal, Risk and Compliance Committee (GLRCC).

Role Context and Reporting Structure

This position is central to embedding compliance within the business's product development and operational processes. The Senior Compliance Manager will lead compliance workstreams for Lean’s pending payment services and payment initiation licence applications. Day-to-day reporting will be to the Group Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer, with administrative reporting to the CEO. The role requires presenting quarterly Compliance and Financial Crime reports to the GLRCC and the Board, with direct and unrestricted access to both. The KSA Compliance Officer reports to this role. Candidates should have 5-10 years of experience in compliance, preferably within the fintech sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive compliance policies and procedures aligned with SAMA regulations, including the Law of Payments and Payment Services, Open Banking Framework, and Counter-Fraud Framework.
• Monitor regulatory changes from SAMA, SDAIA, and other authorities, translating them into actionable guidance.
• Manage the KSA Compliance Annual Plan and risk assessments, reporting progress quarterly to the GLRCC and the Board.
• Lead SAMA supervisory visits, inspections, and compliance audits, ensuring clear communication and resolution of findings.
• Establish and operate a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Program (CMP) and periodic testing across KSA operations.
• Oversee the AML/CFT program, including customer due diligence, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting to SAFIU.
• Ensure compliance with SAMA’s Counter-Fraud Framework, including reporting, remediation plans, and chairing the Counter-Fraud Governance Committee.
• Manage SAMA’s approved-persons process for the company, including Fit and Proper submissions and non-objection requests.
• Support data protection and privacy compliance under PDPL and SDAIA requirements, specifically where SAMA obligations intersect with personal data.
• Provide expert compliance advice to business departments, including regulatory review of new products and client segments.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the KSA regulatory landscape and brief senior management on strategic implications.
• Manage relationships with SAMA and relevant industry bodies, staying informed of upcoming mandates.
• Lead licence applications, service additions, and SAMA no-objection requests, including regulatory business plans.
• Deliver accurate and timely reporting to regulators and senior management on compliance activities.
• Own the Consumer Protection and Complaint Handling framework, including SAMA complaints reporting.
• Oversee compliance aspects of outsourcing and third-party arrangements, including Fourth Party onboarding.
• Deliver compliance and financial crime training programs for staff and the Board.
• Manage and develop the KSA Compliance Officer and contribute to team expansion.

About Lean Technologies

Lean Technologies is a financial infrastructure provider in the Middle East, offering APIs for payments, account verification, and financial data access. The company began as an Open Banking platform and has expanded into a multi-product infrastructure company powering payments, data, and lending across MENA. Since 2019, Lean has become the first regulated Open Banking and Open Finance company operating across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, processing billions of dollars in transactions and connecting millions of accounts. Lean is backed by General Catalyst, Sequoia, and Shorooq, with a recent $** Series B funding round supporting expansion into new markets and product launches.

Commitment to Diversity

Lean Technologies is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. The company is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. For information regarding the collection, use, and sharing of personal data during the application process, please refer to the Privacy Notice on the company's website.