AVP, Screening Optimization & Analytics

Role Overview

AVP, Screening Optimization & Analytics at First Abu Dhabi Bank. This role sits within Financial Crime Operations and supports the Tuning, Calibration & Analytics function across the Group's sanctions screening and AML monitoring platforms.

Company Overview

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the largest bank in the UAE and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions. We offer a comprehensive range of personal and private banking services, including credit cards, Islamic banking, investments, loans, and mortgages. FAB is dedicated to creating value for its employees, customers, shareholders, and communities through innovation, agility, and differentiation. Working at FAB means being part of a team of talented and passionate individuals with a shared vision to support the ambitions of stakeholders. FAB places customers at the core of activities, celebrates achievements, and empowers employees to deliver leading solutions.

Role Purpose

To support the Tuning, Calibration & Analytics function within Financial Crime Operations by performing tuning, calibration, optimization and analytics activities across the Group's sanctions screening and AML monitoring platforms. The role deploys and maintains fit-for-purpose screening and monitoring configurations, carries out periodic tuning and calibration to improve alert quality and effectiveness while reducing false positives, and produces analytics and management information for defined stakeholders, taking into account global regulatory requirements and Bank policies.

Key Responsibilities

Policies, Systems, Process & Procedures

• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and instructions to ensure work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner.

Continuous Improvement

• Support the Tuning, Calibration & Analytics function in identifying continuous improvement and sustainability opportunities across related systems, processes and practices.
• Support implementation of the Group's sanctions screening and AML monitoring systems roadmap as agreed with Financial Crime Operations management.
• Keep the VP & Head of Tuning, Calibration & Analytics updated on roadmap progress.
• Work proactively with Group IT and other stakeholders on screening and monitoring system projects to develop BRD/FSD documentation and ensure fit-for-purpose sanctions screening and AML monitoring systems are designed.
• Deliver mandated sanctions screening and AML monitoring tuning and optimization projects, coordinating with relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery.
• Provide periodic status updates to the VP & Head of Tuning, Calibration & Analytics on project progress.
• Deliver relevant user training to all affected users to ensure smooth go live.
• Ensure all relevant screening and monitoring system changes required in existing platforms per business requirements are well coordinated as change requests with Group IT.
• Set timelines, create programme structures and install/update systems architecture where appropriate to support financial crime control capabilities for major changes.
• Ensure fit-for-purpose algorithms, parameters, thresholds and rules are deployed for the Group as agreed with the VP & Head of Tuning, Calibration & Analytics and relevant stakeholders.
• Drive continuous tuning and calibration of screening and AML monitoring systems to improve the quality of alerts.
• Ensure sanctions screening systems effectively screen information against Bank-approved global lists and individual country lists for all FAB locations locally and internationally.

Technology

• Assist in producing procedures and processes aligned to Group Policy for the Tuning, Calibration & Analytics function within Financial Crime Operations.
• Assist in exercises such as the design and system architecture of sanctions screening and AML monitoring systems by consulting with relevant business users.
• Ensure proper UAT sessions and exercises for sanctions screening and AML monitoring system implementations.
• Manage periodic testing of screening and AML monitoring systems, including data testing, quality and completeness, underlying models, logic, thresholds and rules.

Data Analysis

• Perform periodic testing of payment/customer screening and AML monitoring systems to identify, record, risk assess and close gaps found.
• Carry out ongoing tuning and calibration of payment/customer screening and AML monitoring systems to maintain consistency, appropriate efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide support to all FAB's local and international locations in conjunction with the VP & Head of Tuning, Calibration & Analytics for country-specific configuration and related performance of screening and monitoring systems.
• Understand and adequately address local requirements with regard to international sanctions and AML.
• Advise and partner with related IT teams on system selections, minor or major systemic changes or upgrades, new system implementations, and any initiatives impacting the performance of sanctions screening and AML monitoring systems.

Reporting

• Collaborate with Financial Crime Operations SMEs to develop tuning, calibration and analytics MI dashboards.
• Develop periodic reporting plan and maintain the schedule and workflow for multiple reports.
• Populate management information dashboards by extracting relevant data from source systems including using logical queries and basic programming.
• Collaborate with Financial Crime Operations colleagues to obtain information to populate dashboards.
• Submit MI dashboards to the VP & Head of Tuning, Calibration & Analytics for review.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Technology, Data Analytics or a related discipline.
• ICA, CAMS or equivalent Financial Crime Compliance certification is an advantage.
• At least 4 years of experience in data analysis, data management and sanctions screening and/or AML monitoring systems, including tuning, calibration and threshold management.
• Strong knowledge of sanctions and AML monitoring concepts and financial crime control environments.
• Strong knowledge and experience of screening and monitoring platforms such as Fircosoft filter, Firco Utilities and backends, or equivalent screening/AML monitoring tools.

Skills & Competencies

• Good knowledge of SQL and Power BI.
• Scripting languages including Python, Bash, KSH and PowerShell.
• Exposure to machine learning or advanced analytics is a plus.

Additional Information

• FAB offers unique career choices, a chance to innovate and craft solutions for the future within a performance-based culture.
• FAB provides a range of learning and development initiatives to support all employees through training and skill development.
• FAB has structured plans for recruitment and career progression of Emirati talent to enable them to make a mark in the financial and banking sector both regionally and globally.