Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)

Join AFSA – We Are Hiring! We are pleased to announce two exciting career opportunities at AFSA: ?? Associate/Senior Associate at Prudential Division (https://lnkd.in/eq3WgrkY) ?? Associate/Senior Associate at Alternative Platforms Division (https://lnkd.in/eMRbTn4d) These roles offer the opportunity to contribute to the regulatory framework of the AIFC, engage with key financial market participants, and help shape the future of financial supervision and alternative investment platforms. Location: Astana, Kazakhstan Join us and be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking regulatory environment. #AFSAHiring #AFSAHR #Hiring #Careers #FinanceJobs #Regulation #AFSA

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AFSA has wrapped up 2024 with record growth, further strengthening the AIFC’s position as a global financial hub. Our achievements in 2024 include: ?? ????????????????????????: AFSA welcomed 1,174 new participant companies in 2024, nearly doubling the 600 registrations from the previous year. This brought the total number of registered companies at AIFC to over 3,500, representing 85 countries worldwide. ?? ?????????????? ????????????????????????????: AFSA has successfully digitised post-registration services, reducing processing times from 7-10 days to just 1-5 days, improving efficiency for businesses operating in the AIFC. ?? ??????????????????????????: AFSA issued 49 licenses to financial service providers, doubling the number from 2023. Over one-third of authorised companies were interested in the fund management licence, highlighting the growing interest in this sector. ?? ?????????? ????????????????????: AIFC's fund and asset management industry grew by 865% over the past 3.5 years, reaching over $1.1 billion in assets by the end of 2024. ?? ??????????????: The digital asset sector saw massive growth, with over $1.4 billion in trading volume and more than 140,000 clients, marking a four-fold increase in trading activity from 2023. ?? ?????????????? ??????????????: AIX saw 140 new listings in 2024, bringing the total number of securities traded to more than 250. ?? ???????????? ?????? ????????????????????: AFSA introduced a comprehensive range of new regulations, including frameworks for family offices, corporate treasury centers, green bonds, and tokenised assets, solidifying AIFC’s role as a forward-thinking financial hub. ?? ?????????????????????????? ??????????????????????: AFSA strengthened its global ties, signing agreements with key regulators across the globe, including El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Sweden, among others. Our press release here: https://lnkd.in/dRa3W4vH.?

Maintaining high compliance standards is closely linked to continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and the ongoing development of human capital. AFSA promotes innovation while ensuring that cutting-edge regulations are in place to support market growth in a secure way. One of our recent accomplishments is the successful completion of a specialised course on the regulation and supervision of FinTech by Danaya Urzhanova, Senior Associate at the Authorisations Division. This course was made possible through a scholarship from the International Monetary Fund and the Joint Vienna Institute. The FinTech sector is rapidly expanding within the AIFC. In 2024, the trading volume of Digital Asset Service Providers in the AIFC was over $1.4 billion, with the client base growing to over 140,000 individuals - a significant rise from 2023, when the trading volume stood at $324 million, and the client base was 53,000.

We're Hiring: Senior Associate – Legal Advisory Division AFSA is looking for a Senior Associate to join our Legal Advisory Division. This role is key in providing expert legal advice, supporting litigation and enforcement matters, contributing to legislative development, and ensuring compliance with AIFC regulations. Key Responsibilities: * Provide legal advice on AIFC legislation * Represent AFSA in litigation and enforcement matters * Conduct legal research on international financial regulations * Draft and review legal documents * Collaborate across divisions to support regulatory initiatives What We’re Looking For: * Law degree (preferably from a common law jurisdiction); additional qualifications in finance/economics are a plus * 5+ years of legal experience, preferably in financial services, regulatory bodies, or private practice * Strong expertise in litigation, enforcement, and regulatory investigations * Excellent command of English and Russian/Kazakh Location: Astana, Kazakhstan ?? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/eCndG_TY Join us and contribute to shaping the regulatory landscape of AIFC!

We are hiring: The Senior Associate in the Legal Advisory Division (LAD) plays a crucial role in supporting the development, interpretation, and application of the AIFC legislation. This position involves providing legal advice, researching international standards, and drafting legal documents to ensure AFSA’s activities are compliant with regulatory frameworks and best practices. Requirements Provide expert legal advice and guidance concerning the application of the AIFC legislation to ensure compliance and support informed decision-making within AFSA. Actively support the development and review of AIFC legislation by researching relevant laws and regulations, proposing improvements, and ensuring that new regulations align with international standards. Conduct comprehensive research on key benchmark jurisdictions, especially major and international financial centers, to keep abreast of international standards and best practices that can be adapted for the AIFC. Draft and review legal memoranda, opinions, contracts, and other legal instruments to support various functions within AFSA, ensuring all documents are precise, legally binding, and serve the organization’s interests. Represent the Legal Advisory Division in internal committees and working groups, contributing legal expertise to cross-departmental discussions and initiatives. Communicate pertinent emerging legal issues and risks to the Chief Legal Officer, the Chief Executive Officer, and other relevant parties, ensuring that potential legal challenges are addressed proactively. Requirements Educational Background: Undergraduate or postgraduate Law degree required. Additional degrees in Economics, Finance, or related fields will be advantageous. Preference for qualifications from universities in major common law jurisdictions. Professional Experience: At least 5 years of legal experience, with a preference for candidates possessing 3-5 years of relevant work experience in financial services, either in-house, in private practice, or with a regulatory agency. Certifications: Experience working with regulatory frameworks, such as AML/CFT, conduct regulation, or prudential regulation. Familiarity with common law jurisdictions will be an advantage. Language Skills: Excellent command of English and Russian/Kazakh, both written and verbal. Required Competences: In-depth understanding of the financial services industry, the role of the regulator, and the specific needs related to AFSA. Exceptional attention to detail for managing extensive and varied organizational documents. Proficient in managing detailed and complex legal information. Working Conditions Full-time position based in Astana, Kazakhstan. Office environment with a hybrid work option as per AFSA’s policy. May require extra hours during peak project periods or event planning phases. Link to apply: https://lnkd.in/eCndG_TY

Together with AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) and in partnership with the China-Eurasian Business Council CEBC谊瑞亚, we have hosted a webinar "A Gateway to Central Asia and the CIS Region: Chinese Enterprises in AIFC." Bringing together over 40 Chinese enterprises, the event served as a key platform to explore business opportunities within the AIFC and gain insights into the region’s dynamic financial landscape. It highlighted AIFC’s strategic role as a gateway for Chinese businesses looking to expand into Kazakhstan and the broader CIS region. The webinar included discussions on investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and the advantages of establishing a presence in AIFC. Participants engaged in meaningful dialogue on strengthening business cooperation and financial connectivity between China and Kazakhstan. With the support of CEBC, the event reinforced efforts to deepen economic and financial ties between China and Central Asia, fostering greater collaboration in the region. ? Chyngyz Sher 圣彼霖

Join Our Team: Senior Associate for Public Relations at AFSA AFSA is looking for a Senior Associate for Public Relations to support the implementation of our communications strategy. This role focuses on media engagement, content development, strategic communications, and social media management to enhance AFSA’s public presence. Key Responsibilities: Assist in executing AFSA’s communications strategy and identifying thematic priorities. Monitor national and international media trends to align messaging with current discussions. Develop and edit press releases, articles, and social media content. Collaborate with internal teams to gather insights and create impactful communication materials. Manage social media presence and engagement across platforms. Qualifications & Skills: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related fields. Minimum 3 years of experience in PR, communications, or media relations, preferably in finance or regulation. Strong writing and editing skills in English and Russian (Kazakh is an advantage). Ability to simplify complex financial concepts for broader audiences. Experience in social media management and audience engagement. ?? Location: Astana, Kazakhstan (Hybrid work available) Apply now and be part of shaping AFSA’s communications strategy! ?? Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/ertPkknR

Exciting Opportunity at AFSA: Team Assistant We’re looking for a Team Assistant (Maternity Cover) to join AFSA. This role is pivotal in supporting effective administrative and operational procedures, serving as the main point of contact for both internal and external stakeholders, and working closely with our HR Division and Legal Office. Key Responsibilities: Act as the primary point of contact for all external parties and internal staff regarding the Legal Office. Manage the AFSA Open Days Calendar, including scheduling meetings and arranging facilities. Provide day-to-day office support (procurement, office supplies, etc.). Coordinate business travel arrangements (tickets, hotels, visas). Ensure smooth operations in the absence of other support staff. Handle all correspondence for the Legal Office. Prepare routine reports and presentations. Serve as Secretary for assigned committee meetings, including taking minutes. What We’re Looking For: Bachelor’s degree in Law. At least 3 years of professional experience. Excellent organizational and multitasking skills. Strong written and verbal communication in English. Ability to adapt within a diverse environment, work independently, and proactively solve problems. Working Conditions: Full-time, 5/2 schedule in Astana (maternity cover). If you’re ready to take on a varied and impactful role, we’d love to hear from you! Interested candidates, please send your CV and a brief cover letter to https://lnkd.in/ekfFGm6x

AFSA has made significant new steps in further digitalisation of its post-registration services and currency reporting. From now on, services of the ???????????????? ???? ????????????, ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????????? and ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? are available online through one’s personal account on the Digital Resident Portal via this link: https://lnkd.in/d59-u8T3. Similarly, the process of ???????????????? ?????????????????? is now also available via the Digital Resident Portal. A detailed route of how to proceed to use these services is available in our press release: https://lnkd.in/gJ9P8r66.