Associate - First Line Risk & Control - International

The Associate Director, First Line Risk & Control - International serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the Director, First Line Risk & Control International in driving a robust risk culture and a sustainable control environment across the businesses and functions of branches and representative offices of International Banking Group.

The role is responsible for the proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of all financial and non-financial risks within the First Line of Defense (1

LoD). By partnering with Front Office, COO, Compliance, and Operations, the First Line Risk & Control team (FLRC) ensures that the branch's inherent risk profile remains within agreed appetites while maintaining the integrity of operational processes in alignment with the Group’s vision.

• Professional
  
  Experience:
  
  5-8 years of experience in 1st or 2nd Line Non-Financial Risk roles or as an auditor.
• Educational Background:
  Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Risk Management, Finance, Business, or Accounting. FRM certification is considered an advantage.
• Domain Knowledge:
  Robust understanding of financial products, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape in the MENA region.
• Technical Proficiency:
  Advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite, specifically Excel and PowerPoint, for the production of Management Information (MI). Prior experience on Archer or other similar Enterprise Risk Management system would be helpful.

• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Proven expertise in operational risk methodology, internal control frameworks (or internal audit processes); strong process knowledge and attention to detail.
• Analytical & Problem Solving:
  Ability to form and articulate informed positions through structured thinking and prioritization, with the capacity to act autonomously in high-pressure environments.
• Communication & Negotiation:
  Excellence in written and spoken English (Arabic is a plus); ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Interpersonal
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong stakeholder management capabilities with a "team player" mindset and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

High ethical standards and a commitment to driving a value‑driven culture in relation to compliance and conduct standards.

• Risk Supervision & Advisory:
  Serve as the 1
  
  LoD SME for supervision structures and operational risk assessments, providing continuous advisory and ad‑hoc training to Front Office (FO) staff to strengthen risk mitigation culture.
• Risk Assessment & Prevention:
  Develop and manage critical risk monitoring measures, including Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), Risk Control Self‑Assessments (RCSA), and Conduct Risk Identification (CRI) to ensure a front‑to‑end control plan.
• Incident Management & Remediation:
  Lead the declaration, investigation, and analysis of operational risk incidents; coordinate global remediation plans and ensure the timely closure of internal/external audit recommendations.
• Control Optimization:
  Materialize and continuously improve the First Line control plan by rationalizing and streamlining controls to enhance efficiency while reducing residual risks.
• Validation Coordination:
  Oversee the internal validation process for exceptional transactions, new product rollouts, and automated trading strategies, ensuring adherence to policy and the implementation of required action points.

Act as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for business management tasks (BCP, DLP, SOPs) and contribute to Regional and International Governance forums (e.g., BRCC, RRCF, IRCF) to provide expert advisory on operational risk governance.