Director- Product Governance

• Division: Personal, Wealth & Business Banking

Company Description

Join the UAE’s largest bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions. Our focus is to create value for our employees, customers, shareholders and communities to grow through differentiation, agility and innovation. We are looking for top talent and your success is our success. Accelerate your growth as you help us reach our goals and advance your career. Be ready to make your mark at a top company, in an exciting & dynamic industry.

Job Description

• Support, establish, manage and monitor governance aspects of Investment Products and Solutions.
• Ensure investment policies and processes are aligned with governance frameworks and relevant regulations.
• Manage affairs of various investment committees.
• Develop and manage governance dashboard for the investment solutions department.
• Conduct due diligence of fund/investment products performance on a regular or ad-hoc basis.
• Assist in completing due diligence questionnaires of third-party service providers.
• Lead in the areas of Regulatory Governance, Risk and Compliance, ensuring risk is identified, controlled, and managed for GPB.
• Work closely with local and international stakeholders to implement best practices, maintain a strong control environment, and proactively identify and resolve any issues.

Key Accountabilities:

• Monitor and assess investment processes to ensure compliance with FAB policies and regulations.
• Support the development of governance strategies and reporting mechanisms based on investment-related processes, regulations, etc.
• Conduct risk assessments related to governance aspects of investment products, product programs, SOP, regulatory reporting, etc.
• Assist in creating and maintaining Risk Control Self-Assessment plans on a year-on-year basis and manage the closure of the process in a timely manner.
• Monitor changes in financial regulations and governance standards affecting investment activities and suggest changes to the policy and processes impacting investment product activities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with legal and various compliance teams in FAB (PB compliance and Regulatory compliance team, etc.) to align investments with governance regulations.
• Facilitate communication between investment teams, senior management, and stakeholders on governance issues.
• Prepare and present reports, analyses, and recommendations on governance compliance and investment performance.
• Maintain relationships with external regulatory bodies, auditors, and other stakeholders to ensure adherence to governance practices.
• Provide training and guidance to investment staff on governance policies and best practices.
• Continuously educate the investment team on emerging trends and regulatory changes in governance.
• Collaborate with management and investment teams to integrate governance factors into strategic investment planning.
• Responsible for keeping investment solution policy and process documents up to date.
• Serve as the point of contact for the product team during internal audits and compliance audits, managing the resolution of audit points in a timely manner.
• Act as Secretary of the Investment Products Steering Committee and Investment Committee, including keeping TORs updated, scheduling meetings, preparing and circulating meeting agendas and minutes, and tracking action items.
• Conduct quarterly product exposure meetings, prepare minutes of the meeting, and circulate them to management.
• Lead the Investment Products & Solutions policy framework and procedures.
• Prepare and circulate MIS to Products and Service Management.
• Prepare regulatory filings (applications, supporting documents, etc.).
• Review new regulations and implementation for EPB.
• Ensure regulatory licenses renewal and requirements are met, including accreditation of professional staff, and raise issues/provide feedback on draft regulations.
• Lead Client Investment Suitability Questionnaire, product risk rating policies, and relevant governance (including development and management) and annual reviews.
• Develop and manage the policy framework on Complex and Non-Complex products in line with regulatory guidelines.

Qualifications

• At least 10 to 15 years’ experience in governance linked to investments, asset management, and/or investment banking, regulatory reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or an industry qualification (such as Banking).
• Professional qualification such as FRM/CFA/ACA/ACCA over and above Bachelor’s is a must.
• In-depth experience of investment product development, life-cycle management, broader investment management business, fund structures, and investment processes and regulations.
• Appreciation of deadlines, attention to detail, and delivery driven.
• Team player with a positive disposition who works extremely well with colleagues, engages peers and superiors, as well as clients as appropriate.
• Problem-solving attitude.
• Ability to operate independently, manage, and deliver results.
• Possess excellent communication skills (verbal and written).