Executive Director, Risk Management – DIFC Branch Coverage

About the role

Join a high‑performing risk team where your expertise will shape governance, strengthen controls, and enable sustainable growth in a dynamic, international environment. You will bring an independent perspective and practical judgement to help teams make timely, well‑informed risk decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Provide senior, independent second‑line of defence oversight for DIFC branch activities, delivering constructive challenge on governance, policies, limits, controls and risk decisions.
• Coordinate and contribute to legal‑entity risk governance forums, preparing materials, escalating issues and tracking decisions to clear outcomes.
• Maintain a strong understanding of regulatory expectations for the Switzerland legal entity and cross‑border considerations in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
• Lead analysis and preparation of accurate responses to regulator inquiries and internal governance requests, ensuring stakeholder alignment.
• Advise on new initiatives, products and distribution strategies by identifying key risks—including suitability, market, interest‑rate, fiduciary, ESG, reputational and operational risks—and required controls.
• Translate risk assessments into clear requirements, practical mitigation plans and decision‑ready recommendations that enable responsible business growth.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree with significant relevant risk‑management experience or equivalent practical achievement.
• Significant experience in financial‑services risk management, ideally in private banking or wealth management.
• Demonstrated experience providing independent challenge in a second‑line of defence role and supporting legal‑entity governance.
• Direct professional experience covering UAE‑based activities.
• Strong expertise in risks associated with investment offerings, including suitability, market, interest‑rate, fiduciary and ESG considerations.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge constructively in cross‑functional, multi‑jurisdiction environments.

Required skills

• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Artificial‑intelligence tools for productivity