Head of Service- Securities Services

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

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Head of Service for Securities Services. The role involves leading digital technology transformation, owning the service roadmap, and ensuring adherence to regulations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in banking technology, particularly in Securities Services and Capital Markets. A strong understanding of Custody operations, Fund Services, and proven vendor management skills are essential. This position is full-time with no remote work options.

Qualifications

• 12 years in banking technology with at least 5 years in Securities Services or Capital Markets.
• Proven track record of owning technology decisions and managing large and complex programs/projects.
• Strong understanding of Custody operations, Fund Services, and IPO issuance processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital technology transformation initiatives across all Securities Services functions.
• Own and manage Technology Service roadmap and act as trusted technology advisor.
• Ensure adherence to UAE Central Bank regulations and maintain high availability of platforms.

Skills

Team player

Analytical mindset

Strong leadership skills

Excellent presentation skills

Vendor management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field

MBA or business-related postgraduate degree preferred

Tools

AWS Cloud Services

Azure Cloud Services

AI/ML

Jira

Confluence

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

Head of Service Securities Services

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Generic Accountability

As Head of Service you will be responsible in building trust & relationship with business and jointly define and own the Technology roadmap and execution of critical banking this position you will focus on design development and execution of end to end solutions for Securities Services products including Custody Fund Administration and Capital Markets in the UAE and wider GCC region. You will understand strategic business needs and plan for growth explore and analyze the design of digital solutions and technical models suited to the growth of Security Services offering in the UAE and other international locations.

5. JOB CONTEXT

(Specific accountabilities unique for the role which are not covered in Section 4)

Specific Accountability

• Lead consult and implement digital technology transformation initiatives across all Securities Services functions considering the latest technological trends.
• Owns and manages end to end Technology Service roadmap and execution be the CTO for Security Services department and trusted technology advisor to the banks Head of Securities Services.
• Understand all service offerings and actively identify opportunities to better serve internal and external customers
• Oversight on demand management and release milestones for all initiatives Security Services portfolio
• Lead technology initiatives for launching new custody products cross-border fund services and digital capital markets workflows
• Collaborate with Product owners and develop strategies and solution of high business value.
• Align business and various IT teams across organization to drive common approaches delivering sustainable agile and reusable solutions.
• Ensure adherence to UAE Central Bank SCA ADGM and DFSA regulations on securities services and data management.
• Drive conceptualization and ideation process develop detailed project plans track and monitor key project health indicators and ensure effective implementation of new services and changes.
• Manage strategic vendor relationships with vendors and oversee contract negotiations renewals performance SLAs and roadmap alignment.
• Ensure high availability and operational stability of platforms through proactive monitoring and ITIL-aligned support processes.
• Manage support teams (internal or outsourced) for incident resolution and change requests especially during peak activity (e.g. corporate actions IPOs).
• Lead a local and offshore team of platform managers analysts and support staff; build local capabilities and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of service delivery risk management and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 12 years in banking technology with at least 5 years in Securities Services or Capital Markets.
• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science Engineering or a related field. MBA or business-related postgraduate degree preferred
• Experience managing enterprise-grade COTS platforms like TCS BaNCS Axia Profile Multifonds Temenos or FIS.
• Strong understanding of Custody operations Fund Services and IPO issuance processes.
• Proven success in managing third-party vendors and cross-border integration (e.g. GCC and global custodians).
• Familiarity with UAE and GCC regulations especially SCA/ADGM/DFSA compliance and reporting.
• Proven track record of owning technology decisions and managing large and complex programs/projects in Investment Banking.
• Strong team player and self-driven with strong analytical mindset plus able to manage multiple senior stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation analytical and articulation skills.
• Strong leadership vendor governance and communication skills.
• Knowledge and hands on working experience in one or more of the following areas is required: AWS Cloud Services Azure Cloud Services AI ML full stack engineering practices and platforms and Open APIs.
• Deep understanding on non-functional requirements and experience developing DevOps practices including pipeline automation and monitoring solutions
• Experience in both waterfall and agile methodologies.
• Proficiency in MS product suite Jira and Confluence is a must.

Certifications in Project Management approaches including PRINCE 2 PMI and Agile are desired.

Remote Work

No

Employment Type

Full-time