Head of Enterprise Risk | Dubai, UAE

Head of Enterprise Risk

Department: Compliance

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: UAE

Reporting To: Tommaso Pace

Description

As the Head of Enterprise Risk, UAE, you will play a critical role in shaping and overseeing the risk management strategy for one of the region's fastest-growing BNPL fintechs. You will lead the enterprise-wide risk function, ensuring a proactive approach to risk identification, mitigation, and compliance across all business operations. This role requires a seasoned risk professional with deep expertise in credit risk, fraud risk, operational risk, and regulatory compliance within fintech or financial services. If you have a track record of driving risk governance in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Risk Strategy & Framework: Develop, implement, and maintain a robust enterprise risk management framework, ensuring alignment with local UAE regulations (including the Central Bank of the UAE - CBUAE) and industry best practices.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay up to date with regulatory requirements and guidelines impacting fintechs in the UAE, ensuring compliance with all risk-related mandates.
• Credit & Fraud Risk Management: Oversee credit risk policies, fraud detection frameworks, and mitigation strategies to minimize losses while supporting business growth.
• Operational & Enterprise Risk: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks across technology, product, operations, liquidity, and other key business areas.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize analytics and risk modeling to monitor key risk indicators, trends, and mitigation strategies, ensuring data-driven risk management practices.
• Incident Response & Crisis Management: Lead incident response efforts, ensuring timely resolution of risk-related issues and continuous process improvements.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, engineering, compliance, finance, and operations teams to embed risk-conscious decision-making across the organization.
• Stakeholder Reporting: Prepare and present risk reports to senior management and board committees, outlining key risk metrics, emerging threats, and strategic recommendations.
• Audit & Regulatory Engagement: Coordinate internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and risk assessments, supporting compliance initiatives with relevant authorities.
• Risk Awareness & Training: Promote a strong risk culture within the organization through employee training, workshops, and awareness programs.
• Process Optimization: Continuously enhance risk management frameworks using advanced risk assessment tools, automation, and best practices.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, or a related field. Advanced certifications such as FRM, PRM, CFA, or CAMS would be an advantage.
• Experience: Minimum 8-12 years of experience in risk management roles within financial services, fintech, or banking, with expertise in credit risk, fraud risk, and operational risk.
• UAE Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of UAE's regulatory landscape, particularly CBUAE regulations, risk governance frameworks, and compliance requirements.
• Analytical & Strategic Thinking: Ability to assess complex risks, design mitigation strategies, and leverage data analytics for decision-making.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven experience working with engineering, product, compliance, and operations teams to drive risk-conscious business decisions.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Strong ability to influence and engage with C-suite executives, regulators, and external partners.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience in preparing reports and presenting risk strategies to senior leadership.
• Tech & Data Savvy: Familiarity with risk analytics tools, AI-driven fraud detection systems, and digital risk management technologies is a plus.
• High Growth & Fast-Paced Experience: Experience working in a scale-up or high-growth fintech environment is highly desirable.