Job description

The Section Head – Enforcement (Commercial Legislation & Regulatory Investigations) role is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates within the ADGM Registration Authority’s Monitoring & Enforcement (M&E) Division. The Division is responsible for monitoring compliance with and enforcing ADGM’s commercial legislation, including non-financial regulations and rules governing incorporation, registration, commercial licensing, and operation of firms in ADGM. The Section Head supports the Enforcement Division by leading investigations and enforcement actions to achieve the RA’s regulatory objectives. Reporting directly to the Associate Director, Enforcement, the role collaborates closely with M&E, other RA Divisions, other ADGM authorities, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, and external stakeholders. Responsibilities include developing and proposing M&E’s enforcement strategy and operational plans, ensuring effective delivery of the enforcement strategy in line with yearly operational plans, and managing ongoing monitoring of enforcement engagement, case selection, and case assessment quality. The role independently manages and assesses enforcement cases related to suspected contraventions of ADGM commercial legislation, including audit and corporate reporting, corporate conduct, fraudulent activities, beneficial ownership, real property, professional services, and unlicensed activities. It oversees and conducts independent investigations, gathers required information to support evidence-based and objective decision-making, and advises on assessments performed by direct reports. The Section Head ensures complete, accurate, accessible, and confidential case records, maintains principles of natural justice and procedural fairness in decision-making, oversees late beneficial ownership penalties, ensures timely Registrar strike off of defunct and non-compliant legal persons, and maintains detailed records of warnings and penalties. The role ensures timely responses to information requests from local and international regulators, delivers clear and sound enforcement assessments and recommendations to the Associate Director, collaborates with Monitoring departments (Audit, DNFBP and DLT Sections), and works with RA Legal & Policy in civil and administrative proceedings. It also manages relationships with enforcement bodies and regulators, enhances internal processes and procedures, upholds ADGM Information Security Policy ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of ADGM Information, and leads managerial functions including team performance management, mentoring, empowerment, and accountability in a fast-paced, deadline-driven operational environment.