About Girish
Girish is a seasoned Compliance, AML/CFT/CPF, and Regulatory Risk professional with nearly a decade of hands-on experience advising, building, and leading compliance functions across regulated financial institutions and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in the UAE.
He currently serves as Director - Managing Risk and Compliance at Prospera Compliance Consultancy. Previously he served as an approved Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Head of Compliance for entities regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Also, he has held CBUAE-approved Head of Compliance and Alternate Compliance Officer roles, working with reputed exchange houses in the UAE. These roles have provided him with deep, practical insight into regulatory expectations, supervisory engagement, and enforcement standards across multiple UAE regulatory regimes.
Girish brings extensive expertise across the DIFC, ADGM, and Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regulatory landscapes, with a strong focus on risk-based compliance frameworks, governance structures, and operational AML/CFT/CPF controls. He has successfully designed, implemented, reviewed, and enhanced end-to-end compliance frameworks, ensuring full alignment with UAE Federal AML/CFT/CPF legislation, the ADGM AML Rulebook, the DIFC AML Module, and relevant international standards and best practices.
As a trusted compliance leader and advisor, Girish supports organizations in establishing robust governance frameworks, effective AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions compliance programs, and sound regulatory reporting mechanisms. He works closely with Boards, senior management, and regulators, providing strategic guidance while ensuring practical, sustainable compliance outcomes.
Key Compliance & Regulatory Responsibilities
- Enterprise-Wide Compliance Frameworks: Establish and maintain enterprise-wide compliance frameworks aligned with ADGM, DIFC, CBUAE, and UAE Federal AML/CFT/CPF regulations.
- MLRO & Regulatory Leadership: Act as MLRO and Compliance Officer, ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance and effective engagement with supervisory authorities.
- Board & Senior Management Advisory: Advise Boards and executive management on regulatory risks, compliance gaps, and remediation strategies.
- AML/CFT & Sanctions Frameworks: Design and oversee AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions programs, including CDD, EDD, KYC, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and STR/SAR reporting.
- Risk Assessments (ML/TF/PF): Conduct customer, product, service, geographic, business, and financial crime risk assessments using a robust risk-based approach.
- Regulatory Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact with ADGM, DIFC, CBUAE, FIU, and law enforcement authorities.
- Independent Reviews & Remediation: Perform AML/CFT/CPF audits, compliance health checks, framework reviews, and lead regulatory remediation programs.
- Training & Compliance Culture: Develop and deliver risk-based compliance training and foster a strong culture of regulatory accountability.
- Regulatory Inspections & Examinations: Support organizations during regulatory inspections and ongoing supervisory reviews, acting as the principal regulatory contact.
