Senior Operational Risk Manager

ADIB Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services firm in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Senior Operational Risk Manager. This role is pivotal in developing a center of operational risk excellence and requires at least 12 years of experience in operational risk and banking. The ideal candidate will lead initiatives, oversee compliance with operational risk frameworks, and foster relationships across the business. Strong knowledge of risk management standards and excellent communication skills in both English and Arabic are essential.

Qualifications

• 12 years of progressive Financial Services industry experience.
• At least 7 years in Operational Risk Management.
• Strong knowledge of banking products and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational risk advisory on key business initiatives.
• Oversee the implementation of Operational Risk Management Framework.
• Build and produce reports on operational risk profiles.

Skills

Operational Risk Management standards

Communication skills in English and Arabic

Problem-solving skills

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

MBA or other reputable postgraduate studies

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Description

Role: Senior Operational Risk Manager

Location: Abu Dhabi

Role Purpose

• This is a risk management role reporting into the Head of Operational Risk Management directly responsible for developing a center of operational risk excellence and advisory and will assist and coach business and operational risk stakeholders within the areas of his/her responsibility.
• The role requires a proactive and confident individual with at least 12 years experience in operational risk and various banking activities.

They should be highly able to communicate and build strong relationships across the wider business.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a subject matter expert and provide leadership & operational risk advisory on key business initiatives, projects, products, policies, procedures, outsourcing engagements, etc.
• Oversee and ensure the implementation of Operational Risk Management Framework throughout the Group including all branches and subsidiaries locally and internationally ensuring alignment with the enterprise-wide Risk Management strategy and enabling improved decision‑making that explicitly considers operational risk and the related appetite.
• Provide guidance to the businesses ORM Peers and other 2nd LOD risk oversight functions throughout the identification of key operational risk exposures as an overarching principle.
• Oversee and ensure the implementation of GORM tools within the Group from an overarching principle.

Key Accountabilities of the role

This role includes but is not limited to the following:

• Coordinate with all business functions and ensure a harmonized implementation and rollout of Operational Risk Management Framework and related policies and procedures across the Group.
• Act as a subject matter expert and provide leadership & operational risk advisory on key business initiatives, projects, products, policies, procedures, outsourcing arrangements, etc.
• Manage the assessment and analysis as required by working with different stakeholders including 2nd LOD and ORM peers handling different streams and support them with the operational risk assessment and advisory needed in relation to different tools such as risk workshops, incidents root‑causes identification and related risk assessment issues, key indicators, etc.
• Support and challenge the businesses and risk owners in the identification of key operational risk exposures rising from key initiatives, projects, new and existing products, outsourcing engagement within the group and recommend effective mitigation strategies.
• Review and approve banks policies and procedures and support and challenge the related risk exposures and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure that adequate risk responses are taken toward the risk exposures identified from various reviews including ensuring that acceptance and escalation are sought as per the approved risk appetite.
• Build and produce regular reports on operational risk profiles, analysis and exposures to Senior management and various committees.
• Analyze and monitor the control environment information pertaining to ADIB Group and recommend management action to ensure a stable risk profile.
• Ensure that the issues/actions identified/recommended from assessment and advisory engagements are properly logged and tracked to completion.
• Coordinate with ORM peers to ensure the consistency and alignment of the provided advisory outcome with other relevant operational tools including the Risk & Control Self‑Assessment Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), Issue and Actions Management and Incident Management.
• Develop and maintain the relevant ORM policies & procedures and standards and ensure they are being adhered to.
• Perform regulatory gap analysis for various ORM regulations and best practices and support the necessary implementation.
• Manage ORM stakeholders requirements about issues & actions, incidents and RCSA & KRI related to systems reporting, etc.
• Perform comparative analysis for the outcome of different ORM tools such as Loss data, KRI, RCSA, issues and actions and challenge the underlying business risk assessment.
• Develop and maintain training materials and conduct ORM trainings & awareness sessions on operational risk management standards, tools & systems.
• Coordinate as required with Internal Audits, central bank examiners, etc. visits.
• Support and ensure the effectiveness of the Business Operational Risk Management Committees across various business lines.
• Support and ensure the effectiveness of dedicated Business Operational Risk champions in managing and embedding the operational risk management framework within their areas.
• Support the implementation of ORM Projects in relation to systems, platforms, tools and training.

Specialist Skills / Technical Knowledge Required for this role

• Working knowledge of leading international and local operational risk practices and regulatory requirements and guidelines
• Demonstrate ability to collaborate with coworkers and Senior Management.
• Strong presentation and communication (verbal and written)
• Strong problem‑solving, research, analytical qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Strong knowledge of Operational Risk Management standards and tools.
• Strong knowledge of banking products, processes and organization across different businesses.
• Advanced computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite)
• Technology Risk knowledge
• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic.

Previous experience required (if any)

• Bachelor’s Degree with 12 years of progressive Financial Services industry experience, of which at least 7 years in Operational Risk Management.
• MBA or other reputable postgraduate studies are required.

Required Experience:

Manager