Head of Middle Office Transformation Financial Institutions - Achieve Group - Dubai, UAE

Achieve Test Prep; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive executive compensation package

High visibility role reporting to senior management

Collaborative and performance-driven banking environment

Job summary

Achieve Test Prep is seeking a Head of Middle Office Transformation to lead operational strategy and change management within a financial institution in Dubai, UAE. The role involves driving middle office transformation and process optimization.

The ideal candidate will have extensive financial operations experience, particularly in middle office leadership, and strong capabilities in KYC, AML, and risk governance. Competitive executive compensation is offered for this senior leadership role.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in financial institutions middle office or operational leadership roles.
• Strong background in business architecture, operational restructuring, and transformation.
• Deep understanding of deposit pricing, liquidity management, and treasury coordination.
• Proven experience in KYC, AML, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Solid knowledge of SWIFT operations and interbank settlements.
• Strong analytical and risk management capabilities.
• Effective communicator with ability to engage senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement end-to-end middle office processes for new financial products.
• Lead operational transformation initiatives to automate workflows, mitigate risk, and enhance efficiency.
• Drive system enhancements, migrations, and user acceptance testing in collaboration with IT.
• Oversee deposit pricing governance in partnership with Treasury.
• Govern interbank placement and settlement instructions with robust maker-checker controls.
• Supervise institutional client onboarding and KYC lifecycle including AML compliance.
• Ensure compliance with international regulatory standards and financial reporting obligations.
• Monitor credit exposure, counterparty risk, and collateral management frameworks.
• Provide strategic oversight for custody operations and compliance controls.
• Mentor middle office teams and embed best practices in governance and risk management.

Skills

Middle office transformation

Business process design

Operational risk governance

Deposit pricing and treasury coordination

KYC and AML oversight

System migration and change management

Credit and counterparty risk monitoring

Job description

Position Overview

Head of Middle Office Transformation Financial Institutions will lead operational strategy, change management, and process optimisation across the Financial Institutions business line within a leading banking environment. Based in Dubai, UAE this senior leadership role drives middle office transformation, governance enhancement, and system modernisation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement end-to-end middle office processes for new financial products including SOPs and SLAs
• Lead operational transformation initiatives to automate workflows, mitigate risk, and enhance efficiency
• Drive system enhancements, migrations, and user acceptance testing in collaboration with IT and Head Office
• Oversee deposit pricing governance in partnership with Treasury, ensuring alignment with funding transfer pricing and liquidity strategy
• Govern interbank placement and settlement instructions with robust maker-checker controls for SWIFT messaging
• Supervise institutional client onboarding and KYC lifecycle including AML compliance, complex structures, and regulatory requirements
• Ensure compliance with international regulatory standards and financial reporting obligations
• Monitor credit exposure, counterparty risk, and collateral management frameworks
• Provide strategic oversight for custody operations and compliance controls
• Mentor middle office teams and embed best practices in governance and risk management

Ideal Profile

• Extensive experience in financial institutions middle office or operational leadership roles
• Strong background in business architecture, operational restructuring, and transformation
• Deep understanding of deposit pricing, liquidity management, and treasury coordination
• Proven experience in KYC, AML, and regulatory compliance frameworks
• Solid knowledge of SWIFT operations and interbank settlements
• Strong analytical and risk management capabilities
• Effective communicator with ability to engage senior stakeholders

Skills Set

• Middle office transformation
• Business process design
• Operational risk governance
• Deposit pricing and treasury coordination
• KYC and AML oversight
• System migration and change management
• Credit and counterparty risk monitoring

Why Join Us

• Senior leadership opportunity within a leading APAC banking platform
• Exposure to strategic transformation initiatives across financial institutions
• Competitive executive compensation package
• High visibility role reporting to senior managementCollaborative and performance-driven banking environment