Amal Alhaniah
Director of Compliance
Riyadh
Summary
Seasoned compliance and internal audit executive with over 20 years of experience in regulatory compliance, risk management, and audit functions within the banking and government sectors. Expertise in designing and implementing enterprise-wide compliance programs that enhance internal controls and effectively mitigate institutional risk. Proficient in aligning governance frameworks with Saudi and international regulations, including initiatives related to Vision 2030. A robust foundation in regulatory knowledge, strategic vision, and exceptional stakeholder management abilities positions this professional for impactful senior executive or advisory roles.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
12
12
Certificates
2
2
Language
Work History
Compliance Director
General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI)
10.2024 - Current
- Lead the compliance function, and ensure operations adhere to Saudi regulations and internal policies.
- Monitor authority activities, report potential infractions, and review policies to identify risks and legal liabilities.
- Enforce organization-wide compliance through regular audits, policy updates, and day-to-day monitoring.
- Contribute to departmental budgeting, ensuring efficient use of funds, and accurate reporting on progress and challenges.
- Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and represent the authority at events and partnerships.
- Recruit and develop compliance talent, and promote a high-performance culture.
- Direct projects to ensure adherence to scope, budget, and quality metrics.
- Design a comprehensive compliance strategy based on international best practices, and align internal policies with external legislation.
- Produce periodic, ad-hoc reports on compliance status, corrective actions, and lessons learned.
- Led the national compliance modernization initiative, aligning internal policies with updated regulatory frameworks across 40+ departments, and reduced audit findings by 85% over one year.
- Designed and implemented a risk-based compliance monitoring system, increasing the detection of non-conforming practices by 40% yearly.
- Spearheaded a task force to streamline procurement compliance, resulting in a 65% cost reduction, and improved transparency.
- Trained over 700 public officers on governance, ethics, and regulatory compliance, leading to an 85% improvement in policy adherence metrics.
- Oversaw enterprise-wide compliance with standards across local and international regulations, maintaining a zero-penalty record for 18 consecutive years.
- Delivered a 20-year track record of regulatory excellence, with zero major enforcement actions across two highly regulated sectors.
Head of Compliance & Audit PMO
Ministry Of Investment (National Incentives Committee)
02.2021 - 09.2024
- Developed and enforced MISA's compliance policies and regulations, and created a compliance register to track obligations and breaches.
- Implemented risk-based compliance testing, and designed corrective action plans.
- Launched a comprehensive compliance framework, and managed digital compliance platforms and dashboards.
- Evaluated control effectiveness, and drove continuous improvement.
- Ensured adherence to laws, and coordinated changes in response to new regulations.
- Oversaw a team of compliance officers, investigated alleged violations, and conducted regular audits.
- Delivered training on the code of ethics, and drafted whistle-blowing, conflict of interest, and incident management policies.
- Advised management on the legal implications of new projects, and reported to senior management and regulators.
- Led the development of national regulatory frameworks for investment incentives, ensuring full alignment with Vision 2030 goals and international standards; contributed to attracting over SAR 75 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) within five years.
- Oversaw compliance monitoring across 10+ major government entities participating in national incentive programs, and improved cross-agency governance coordination, reducing compliance gaps by 60%.
- Designed and launched a centralized digital compliance platform, increasing transparency, and reducing regulatory response time by 45%.
- Directed high-level audits and risk assessments of incentive schemes totaling SAR 30+ billion, resulting in the recovery or reallocation of SAR 2.4 billion in misused funds.
- Spearheaded the creation of standardized performance KPIs across ministries, enabling real-time compliance tracking, and improving program delivery timelines by 35%.
- Collaborated with legal and policy departments to draft and implement national compliance standards for private sector incentive recipients, ensuring 100% regulatory conformity in high-value contracts.
- Played a key role in embedding compliance governance into national reform initiatives, including the development of incentive structures for SMEs, and industrial zones.
- Monitored SAR 12 billion in incentive allocations across strategic sectors, identifying inefficiencies, and reducing non-compliant disbursements by over 50%.
- Acted as a liaison with the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, providing strategic reports that supported policy shifts impacting national investment incentives.
- Directly contributed to the optimization of incentive programs that facilitated billions in economic development, while upholding governance and integrity.
- Directed comprehensive compliance audits for over 300 incentive beneficiaries across industrial, technology, and tourism sectors, resulting in a 98% regulatory adherence rate.
- Developed and launched a centralized Incentives Compliance Monitoring Portal, reducing agency coordination delays by 45%, and audit closure times by 38%.
- Spearheaded a cross-agency initiative to standardize eligibility and performance criteria, improving application processing efficiency by 60%, and reducing policy violations by 40%.
- Designed and led training programs for over 250 compliance officers across ministries and economic zones, strengthening national capacity in risk mitigation and governance.
- Partnered with the Ministry of Investment and other key stakeholders to develop a performance-linked incentive model, enhancing ROI tracking, and fiscal discipline. Governance & Regulatory Compliance: Maintain a thorough understanding of Saudi regulatory frameworks, including Capital Market Authority (CMA) regulations, Companies Law, and governance codes applicable to closed joint stock companies, ensuring Board and committee practices are fully aligned with all legal and procedural obligations.
- Committee Support: Serve as the principal coordinator for all Board Committees, including the Audit, Nomination, and Governance Committees, and circulate agendas, manage logistical arrangements, and ensure proper documentation and dissemination of decisions, resolutions, and formal minutes in compliance with internal bylaws, local, and CMA requirements.
- Documentation Management: Oversee the end-to-end management of formal documentation processes, including the drafting, circulation, review, and finalization of Board materials, meeting records, shareholder communications, and regulatory filings. Ensure all documents are produced with accuracy, consistency, and in a timely manner.
- Meeting Preparation and Execution: Coordinate the preparation and distribution of all Board-related information packages, in collaboration with executive management, allowing Board members adequate time to review materials prior to meetings. Ensure the proper conduct of meetings, quorum confirmation, and documentation of resolutions, and voting outcomes.
- Stakeholder Communication: Act as the key liaison between the Board, executive management, shareholders, and regulators. Ensure effective and secure communication channels are maintained, especially for confidential or time-sensitive materials.
A.Vice President Internal Audit
Public Investment Fund (PIF)
10.2018 - 01.2021
- Developed and executed annual risk-based audit plans aligned with organizational priorities.
- Conducted audits to evaluate internal controls, and compliance with policies and laws.
- Prepared detailed audit reports with findings and recommendations, and presented results to senior management and committees.
- Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency.
- Conducted more than 50 department audits across multiple regions; flagged 120+ high-risk gaps, resulting in immediate corrective action plans.
- Reduced regulatory violations by 40% within two years through comprehensive policy revamps and department-level compliance coaching.
Operations & Support Senior Internal Audit Manager
Banque Saudi Fransi
03.2014 - 09.2018
- Led a team of auditors in comprehensive audits of banking and investment operations to ensure compliance with regulatory and internal requirements.
- Designed risk-based audit plans, identified key risk areas, and implemented appropriate control measures.
- Reviewed internal controls and operational processes, and partnered with cross-functional teams to develop corrective actions.
- Performed root cause analyses on identified issues, providing actionable recommendations for long-term improvements in business practices.
- Conducted more than 150 branch audits across multiple regions, flagged 180+ high-risk gaps, resulting in immediate corrective action plans.
- Recognized by the BSF for Excellence in Governance Compliance (2017), and received the BSF Leadership in Risk Integrity Award (2018).
- Oversaw enterprise-wide compliance with SAMA, AML, and FATF standards across retail and corporate banking, maintaining a zero-penalty record for five consecutive years.
- Led a team of 15 internal audits; resolved 100% of issues within regulatory deadlines, reducing operational risk exposure by 70%.
- Developed a centralized KYC and CDD platform that cut client onboarding time by 50% and increased customer satisfaction scores by 28%.
- Served as the primary liaison with SAMA for compliance reporting, achieving a 98% accuracy rate on all submissions during my tenure.
Head of Compliance & Anti-Money Laundering
MaCeen Capital Investment Company
01.2010 - 02.2014
- Established and enforced policies ensuring compliance with the Saudi Central Bank, AML, and Capital Market Authority regulations.
- Conducted regular risk assessments, and implemented controls to mitigate vulnerabilities.
- Monitored suspicious activity reports (SARs), and maintained communication with regulators.
- Maintained effective working relationships with regulatory authorities, suppliers and customers.
- Prepared records and data for regular audits.
- Led the implementation of a firm-wide AML framework, aligning with SAMA, CMA, and FATF standards; achieved 100% regulatory compliance across three consecutive audits.
- Monitored over 3,000 client transactions monthly, utilizing automated screening tools to identify suspicious activity; flagged and escalated over 20 STRs, reducing financial crime exposure by 35%.
- Conducted enhanced due diligence (EDD) for over 200 high-risk clients, ensuring robust onboarding and KYC processes; shortened onboarding timelines by 40% while maintaining full compliance.
- Trained and certified over 30 employees in AML/CFT procedures and regulatory updates, increasing internal compliance test pass rates from 72% to 96% within one year.
- Coordinated with internal audit and external regulators on AML inspections, resulting in zero major findings, and improved risk ratings across three business units.
- Developed internal monitoring dashboards and KPIs for compliance reporting, reducing manual effort by 60%, and enabling real-time oversight of high-risk exposures.
- Collaborated with IT and legal teams to enhance transaction monitoring systems, increasing anomaly detection capabilities by 60%.
- Provide the Board of Directors and its committees with up-to-date advice and guidance on regulatory obligations, governance best practices, and disclosure requirements mandated by the CMA.
- Support the Board in the preparation and filing of statutory reports, general assembly meeting notices, board resolutions, and regulatory disclosures in accordance with CMA requirements and deadlines.
- Review and maintain the Board’s governance charters and internal policies to ensure alignment with CMA-mandated roles and responsibilities, including independence, conflict of interest policies, and performance evaluations.
- Coordinate with legal and compliance teams to ensure that Board activities and decisions are in line with CMA's regulatory framework, including financial reporting timelines, audit committee governance, and shareholder rights.
Compliance, AML & Risk Senior Officer
Watan Investment & Securities Company
01.2007 - 03.2010
- Implemented improvement initiatives and developed a compliance testing program to identify gaps in existing practices.
- Managed large-scale projects, introducing new systems and tools to meet regulatory objectives.
- Updated compliance policies to ensure ongoing conformity with laws, and assessed risks associated with operational processes.
- Managed compliance and AML operations across multiple investment portfolios totaling SAR 15+ billion, ensuring full adherence to CMA, SAMA, and FATF regulations.
- Led the review and risk assessment of over 500 client files annually, identifying high-risk clients with 98% accuracy, and initiating enhanced due diligence (EDD) protocols.
- Designed and enforced an internal AML/CFT policy framework that resulted in zero regulatory breaches across three external inspections.
- Investigated and reported 55+ suspicious transactions (STRs) to the Saudi Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), contributing to the prevention of illicit financial activity.
- Spearheaded a risk-mapping project that reduced operational compliance risk by 60% through automated control checks, and department-level remediation plans.
- Conducted periodic training sessions for over 60 staff members, raising AML awareness, and increasing compliance testing scores from 70% to 95% within one year.
- Collaborated with legal and operations teams to resolve audit findings, resulting in a 40% improvement in audit readiness, and accelerated issue closure.
- Coordinate with legal and compliance teams to ensure that Board activities and decisions are in line with CMA's regulatory framework, including financial reporting timelines, audit committee governance, and shareholder rights.
- Document and archive board and committee minutes, resolutions, and meeting materials in a manner that satisfies CMA audit and inspection standards.
- Facilitate proper Board functioning by ensuring quorum requirements, voting procedures, and disclosure protocols are followed during meetings, in compliance with applicable CMA laws.
- Ensure the timely preparation and distribution of Board meeting materials, agendas, and supporting documents, enabling informed decision-making in accordance with CMA regulations.
- Act as a key liaison between the company and the CMA on governance-related matters, including enforcement actions, inquiries, and regulatory inspections.
Credit Risk Analyst
Banque Saudi Fransi
03.2003 - 12.2006
- Assessed borrowers' financial status and collateral to determine loan feasibility.
- Verified income, credit reports, and employment histories, and made recommendations on loan approvals or denials.
- Identified potential risks by analyzing trends in industry-specific data and market fluctuations.
- Reduced credit risk by implementing comprehensive risk assessment strategies.
- Conducted comprehensive credit risk assessments for over 160 corporate and SME clients annually, contributing to a 19% reduction in non-performing loans (NPLs) over three years.
- Developed and implemented risk rating models based on sector-specific KPIs, enhancing credit decision turnaround time by 60% and improving risk accuracy scores.
- Performed in-depth financial statement analysis, cash flow forecasting, and industry benchmarking to support lending decisions on exposures exceeding SAR 30 billion.
- Partnered with Relationship Managers to deliver risk-adjusted portfolio reviews, increasing high-quality credit approvals by 22% year over year.
- Monitored risk concentrations and portfolio health across commercial, real estate, and contracting sectors, enabling early warning triggers that reduced credit loss provisions by SAR 67 million.
- Contributed to the digitization of the credit-scoring process, cutting assessment time by 40%, and improving internal stakeholder satisfaction.
- Ensured strict compliance with SAMA credit policies and Basel III standards, maintaining a 100% clean audit record during my tenure.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 04.2001 - 01.2004
Skills
Governance and compliance management
Certification
ISO 31000 – Risk Management
Timeline
Compliance Director
General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI)
10.2024 - Current
Head of Compliance & Audit PMO
Ministry Of Investment (National Incentives Committee)
02.2021 - 09.2024
A.Vice President Internal Audit
Public Investment Fund (PIF)
10.2018 - 01.2021
Operations & Support Senior Internal Audit Manager
Banque Saudi Fransi
03.2014 - 09.2018
Head of Compliance & Anti-Money Laundering
MaCeen Capital Investment Company
01.2010 - 02.2014
Compliance, AML & Risk Senior Officer
Watan Investment & Securities Company
01.2007 - 03.2010
Credit Risk Analyst
Banque Saudi Fransi
03.2003 - 12.2006
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
04.2001 - 01.2004
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Arabic
Native or Bilingual
Additional Skills
- Visionary leadership and team development
- Advanced risk management and strategic decision-making
- Stakeholder engagement and negotiation
- Analytical problem-solving and attention to detail
- Project planning, execution and control
- Comprehensive knowledge of compliance and regulatory frameworks
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