AVP, Financial Control

Role Overview

AVP, Financial Control at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). Reports to VP, Financial Control within Group Finance, Reporting, Controls and Taxation function.

Role Purpose

Support the implementation and ongoing monitoring of financial control policies across the Group to strengthen the control environment by ensuring that all balance sheet substantiation activities are conducted in an effective and appropriate manner.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance & Policy Oversight

• Monitor ongoing compliance with all financial control policies across the Group, including the Account Ownership and Verification policy.
• Assist with proper implementation of all financial control policies in the Group and ensure oversight over the smooth functioning of such activities thereafter.
• Provide training and guidance to relevant staff members to ensure they are well versed with the requirements of the Account Ownership and Verification (AOV) policy and other financial control activities.
• Function within the framework and boundaries of Group policies as well as overall organizational and governance frameworks.

Control & Governance Management

• Oversee and manage various control and governance activities including Account Ownership and Verification, Internal Accounts Review, and GL mapping to ensure integrity of the Group's balance sheet.
• Carry out conformance testing as per approved standards for all accounts owned by Business and Operations teams with full documentation.
• Support units with resolving issues highlighted through conformance testing exercises.
• Conduct independent testing of the governance and controls environment across the Group, ensuring gaps are remediated timely.

Balance Sheet Substantiation

• Review and ensure the accuracy of all data and conduct required checks prior to loading account information into OneFC, the tool used to manage balance sheet substantiation activities.
• Update the Account Ownership Inventory table with risk rating and nature/purpose of accounts to maintain a central repository of these details in the OneFC tool.
• Enhance monthly substantiation and conformance testing processes to improve efficiencies and strengthen the control framework.

Account Ownership & Verification

• Ensure coordination and completion of the monthly Account Ownership and Verification (AOV) exercise across the Group.
• Monitor and review submissions to ensure alignment with established standards and appropriate capture of embedded controls results.
• Prepare the monthly Account Ownership and Verification pack for management.

Issue Management & Escalation

• Provide timely reporting and escalation to senior management, and follow-up on resolution of identified issues.
• Liaise with account owners and ensure all self-identified issues reported through the RAG and IAR have a corrective action plan with an action owner and target resolution date.
• Follow-up for timely resolution of all such issues.
• Support ensuring that all audit issues highlighted by external and internal auditors and regulators are properly resolved, in addition to all self-identified issues.

Risk Management & Governance

• Participate in the annual RCSA exercise and ensure key processes relating to the team with residual risks have effective mitigating controls.

Systems & Implementation

• Involve in all finance-related systems implementation and assist in preparing relevant business requirement documents, UAT and trainings.

Qualifications & Experience

• Accounting qualification (preferably ACA, CPA, or ACCA).
• Banking or Finance Degree.
• 5–7 years of experience garnered across accounting and internal controls.
• Good understanding of accounting standards (IFRS/IAS).
• Good working experience in Excel with strong analytical skills.

Additional Information

• Reports to: VP, Financial Control
• Direct Reports: None
• Indirect Reports: None