Head of Technology- Enterprise Architecture & Fintech

Head of Technology- Enterprise Architecture & Fintech

• Full-time
• Division: GCOO

Join 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 PURPOSE:

To lead and transform the global Enterprise Architecture and Fintech initiatives for a $400 billion asset bank, driving technological innovation, strategic alignment, and competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

The Architecture team is one of the strategic units within the organization and Group Technology function, responsible for ensuring the delivery of the highest quality Functional/Technical designs, solutions, and software to various businesses within the Bank. The team is responsible for the design across BAU and projects work streams and closely works with Business Partners, Enterprise Architecture, and Delivery teams.

This role is to lead and oversee the enterprise architecture and fintech initiatives technical design requirements and capacity requirements to ensure successful technical and business solution implementation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategic Contribution

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Enterprise Architecture and Fintech strategy that aligns with the bank's overall business objectives.
• Lead the design and implementation of scalable, secure, and efficient technology architecture for the Bank.
• Drive innovation by identifying and evaluating new technologies and fintech partnerships that can enhance the bank's products, services, and operations.
• Oversee the integration of emerging technologies and fintech solutions into the bank's existing systems and processes.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to understand their technology needs and expectations, using insights to inform the bank's technology strategy.
• Lead the bank's participation in fintech accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs to stay at the forefront of financial technology trends.
• Lead a team of enterprise architects, fintech specialists, and technology innovators.
• Manage the effective achievement of assigned objectives through the leadership of the Enterprise Architecture and Fintech department by setting individual objectives, managing performance, and developing and motivating staff to maximize sectional performance.
• Lead the talent development initiatives for the assigned department, collaborating with technical/discipline experts to ensure the availability of talent to fit business requirements.
• Act as a role model and drive adherence to organizational values and ethics by employees of the assigned department to foster a value-driven culture within the Group.
• Maintain a high degree of relationship and professional rapport with any Technology / Fintech / Partner / Business stakeholders across UAE and International locations.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

• Manage the preparation and recommend the department budget and monitor financial performance versus the budget while ensuring all sectional activities are conducted in line with the approved guidelines.
• Manage and ensure effective implementation of IT Integration & Transformation functional policies, procedures, and controls covering all areas of assigned department activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service.

Roadmap and Process Design

• Collaborate with other C-suite executives to ensure technology initiatives support business goals and drive digital transformation.
• Lead the production and delivery of a resilient roadmap for the Integration and Transformation program, providing an integrated approach to system architecture development.
• Translate the IT strategy into IT Architecture design changes and support in implementing these changes across IT applications to enable a smooth transition to the target technology architecture state.
• Formulate and manage design, maintenance, and recommendation of IT infrastructure architecture, standards, and software systems while capitalizing on application knowledge to respond promptly to market and future growth needs of the Group.

Technical Leadership

• Oversee the provision of technical design expertise in an end-to-end capacity per initiative while minimizing and mitigating prospect risks to optimize the delivery of initiatives within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Lead the development of solution design documentation to facilitate the implementation of technical solutions to business integration projects in relevant functions.
• Provide Architectural leadership and vision for the Bank’s expansion to newer International markets ensuring compliance with local regulations while maximizing capability reuse.
• Deliver high-quality architecture, design, and fintech solutions that drive business revenue, efficiency, and customer experience.

Design Authority

• Act as the representative of the bank in industry forums, conferences, and regulatory discussions related to technology and fintech.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key technology vendors, fintech startups, and industry thought leaders.

IT Governance Support

• Establish governance frameworks and best practices for technology adoption and implementation across the organization.
• Collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with evolving technology and data protection standards.
• Ensure all technology changes are authorized through a single entity to avoid conflicts and proactively mitigate risks, maintaining the integrity of the group’s architecture.
• Provide guidance in managing the change schedule demands impacted by BAU and Integration initiatives to ensure continuous compliance with laws and regulations.
• Ensure the Bank’s compliance with regulations across key Enterprise-wide functions of Risk, Compliance, and Finance is addressed and met through proposed Architecture and Designs.
• Ensure Architecture and Solution Design standardize and centralize solutions, processes, and reporting across the Bank’s UAE and International locations while adhering to local and country-specific regulatory requirements.
• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes, and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement, and cost reduction.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in technology leadership roles within the financial services industry with at least 4 years in similar positions of progressively increasing managerial responsibilities in technology, fintech & Transformation Projects.
• Proven track record of successfully leading enterprise-wide technology initiatives and digital transformation projects.
• Demonstrated success in fostering innovation and driving technological change in large organizations.
• Exceptional leadership and strategic thinking abilities.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks and methodologies gained through hands-on experience in implementing (architect, design, develop and deploy) technology solutions.
• In-depth knowledge of banking systems, fintech landscape, and emerging technologies.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value propositions.
• Experience working with international teams and understanding diverse market needs.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to navigate rapidly changing technology landscapes and regulatory environments.
• Strategic Financial Acumen: Capability to align technology investments with business outcomes and manage large-scale budgets effectively.
• Demonstrated commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and data security in all technology initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Change management and organizational transformation expertise.
• Risk management and compliance awareness in the context of banking technology.
• Deep understanding of banking operations, regulations, and industry trends.
• Experience in managing large, diverse teams and substantial technology budgets.
• Dedication to mentoring and developing the next generation of technology leaders within the organization.