Head of Risk

Confidential; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is seeking a Head of Risk to establish and lead the risk management framework, ensuring compliance with regulations and fostering a risk-aware culture. This role demands at least 15 years of progressive risk management experience and strong leadership capabilities. The successful candidate will act as an advisor to the Board and engage with regulators to ensure effective governance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of risk management experience, including 5 in a leadership role.
• Strong track record in enterprise-wide risk management across multiple domains.
• Ability to engage with regulators and represent the bank effectively.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the bank’s risk management framework.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and reporting requirements.
• Lead the risk management team and collaborate with business units.

Skills

Progressive risk management experience

Strong knowledge of Basel standards

Experience in regulatory risk engagement

Leadership and mentoring

Crisis management abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or Risk Management

Professional certifications (FRM, PRM, CFA)

Job description

Overview

Head of Risk

Direct message the job poster from Confidential

Job Title : Head of Risk

Reports to : Board of Directors

Role : Full time

Company Details

Our client is an established financial institution licensed to provide a comprehensive range of banking products and services. Built on a foundation of resilience and innovation, it has grown into a trusted provider of financial solutions for individuals, businesses, and institutions. The organisation is deeply committed to financial inclusion, social responsibility, and aligning with global best practices in financial services and technology.

With a strong customer base and extensive network of branches, offices, and ATMs, the institution delivers tailored, high-quality services to meet the diverse financial needs of various economic and social sectors. Its highly qualified team also supports initiatives and projects that contribute to sustainable economic growth and development.

Job Purpose

The Head of Risk is responsible for establishing and leading the bank’s risk management framework to ensure sound risk governance, regulatory compliance, and long-term financial sustainability in accordance with ADGM regulatory standards. The role’s primary purpose is to identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate all categories of risk—including credit, market, liquidity, operational, conduct, compliance, and strategic risks—while fostering a strong risk culture across the organization. This position acts as an independent advisor to the Board of Directors and senior management, ensuring risks are clearly articulated, understood, and effectively managed within the risk appetite and tolerance approved by the Board.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Develop, implement, and oversee the bank’s enterprise-wide risk management framework in line with ADGM and FSRA regulations.
• Act as the key advisor to the Board Risk Committee and Executive Management on all risk-related matters.
• Ensure alignment of risk management strategies with the bank’s overall business objectives and regulatory obligations.
• Foster a risk-aware culture across the organization through training, awareness, and communication.
• Lead the identification, measurement, monitoring, and reporting of all material risks, including credit, market, liquidity, operational, conduct, and reputational risks.
• Establish robust systems and controls to ensure early detection of emerging risks and vulnerabilities.
• Conduct regular stress testing, scenario analysis, and capital adequacy assessments to evaluate resilience under adverse conditions.
• Oversee the implementation and maintenance of risk appetite frameworks and risk tolerance levels approved by the Board.

Regulatory Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with ADGM, FSRA, Basel III, AML / CFT, and other relevant international risk management standards.
• Prepare and submit timely and accurate risk reports to regulators, the Board Risk Committee, and senior management.
• Monitor regulatory developments and proactively adjust frameworks, policies, and processes to remain compliant.
• Design and update comprehensive risk management policies, frameworks, and procedures.
• Establish key risk indicators (KRIs) and performance metrics to track and escalate risk exposures.
• Oversee the implementation of risk mitigation measures, contingency planning, and recovery strategies.
• Ensure adequate systems for internal controls, segregation of duties, and operational resilience.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and mentor the risk management team, ensuring continuous development and succession planning.
• Collaborate with business units to embed risk considerations into strategic decision-making and daily operations.
• Act as the primary point of contact with internal and external auditors, regulators, and other stakeholders on risk-related matters.

Crisis & Incident Management

• Provide oversight and leadership in crisis situations, ensuring prompt and effective escalation, communication, and resolution.
• Lead post-incident reviews and ensure lessons learned are embedded into improved processes and controls.

Skills and Experience

(essential to any successful application)

• Minimum 15 years of progressive risk management experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a regulated financial institution.
• Demonstrated experience in enterprise-wide risk management, covering credit, market, liquidity, operational, and regulatory risk.
• Strong track record of building and leading risk governance frameworks in line with ADGM / FSRA requirements, as well as international standards (e.g., Basel III / IV).
• Proven ability to engage with regulators (FSRA, Central Banks, international regulators) and represent the bank at supervisory reviews, inspections, and regulatory meetings.
• Exposure to product risk assessments for wholesale, retail, investment banking, and digital banking offerings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, or a related discipline;
• Professional certifications such as FRM (Financial Risk Manager), PRM (Professional Risk Manager), CFA, or equivalent strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Basel standards, IFRS9, and ICAAP frameworks.

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