Associate Vice President & Solution Architect

Role Overview

Associate Vice President & Solution Architect at RAK BANK, located in the UAE.

Role Purpose

Lead the bank's core banking solution architecture and strategic initiatives by designing and governing innovative technical solutions that align with enterprise goals, regulatory requirements, and regional banking practices. Own the end-to-end architecture for the Finacle platform and surrounding ecosystem, mentoring teams and ensuring scalable, compliant implementations across conventional and Islamic banking lines of business.

Key Responsibilities

Solution Architecture & Design

• Own end-to-end solution architecture for the Core Banking platform (Finacle), translating business, product and regulatory requirements into robust, scalable technical designs.
• Lead solution design for core customizations, extensions and upgrades, balancing standard product capability against bespoke development.
• Design and develop core banking solutions, focusing on Finacle implementation and customization.
• Participate in project planning and provide estimates for solution architecture efforts.

Platform & Module Governance

• Define and govern the target architecture for core product modules including Customer Information File (CIF), Loans and Liabilities, General Ledger (GL), Value Added Modules (VAM), and Liquidity Solutions, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture principles.
• Architect and optimize core banking frameworks such as EOD (End-of-Day) processing, batch cycles, and cross-application handoffs to ensure timely, reliable close-of-business operations.

Integration & Ecosystem Design

• Design integration patterns and interfaces between the core banking platform and surrounding applications (digital channels, payments, CRM, risk, compliance, data warehouse) using APIs, messaging and file-based interfaces.
• Conduct architecture reviews, impact assessments and technical risk assessments for changes to the core banking ecosystem.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Assess UAE and regional regulatory requirements and translate them into core banking design changes, ensuring compliance by design.
• Ensure compliance with banking regulations and best practices, especially in the UAE context.

Stakeholder & Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor solution and technical teams, acting as the go-to authority on core banking architecture within the organization.
• Mentor a team of solution architects, providing guidance and support to ensure high-quality architecture and design practices.
• Partner with business, delivery and vendor teams to define implementation roadmaps for core banking programs, upgrades and migrations.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into technical requirements.
• Work closely with the development team to ensure efficient and effective solution delivery.
• Document and communicate architectural decisions and strategies to various stakeholders.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the team.

Product & Domain Leadership

• Provide architectural guidance across conventional and Islamic banking product lines, covering Large Corporate/FI, SME and Retail lines of business.
• Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in core banking and enterprise architecture.
• Conduct architecture reviews and provide recommendations to improve system performance and scalability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in Banking and Financial Services Technology, with a strong focus on Core Banking.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in core banking modules, including asset management, liabilities, GL, wealth management, and virtual accounts.
• Mandatory experience within Core Banking technology, specifically on the Finacle platform.
• Deep product and domain knowledge across core modules including CIF, Loans and Liabilities, GL, VAM, and Liquidity Solutions.
• Strong understanding of core banking frameworks, including EOD processing, batch scheduling, and cross-application handoffs.
• Proven experience integrating core banking systems with surrounding applications (channels, payments, CRM, risk, compliance) via APIs and middleware.
• UAE banking experience with exposure to best-of-breed practices across conventional and Islamic banking, spanning Large Corporate/FI, SME and Retail lines of business.
• Hands-on development and customization experience within core banking platforms (Finacle customization/scripting preferred).
• Sound knowledge of UAE and regional regulatory requirements affecting core banking operations.
• Proven implementation experience with tiered banks in the UAE region, across upgrades, migrations or greenfield core banking implementations.
• Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with Finacle, a core banking solution.
• Strong understanding of banking products and practices, with expertise in both conventional and Islamic banking domains.
• Familiarity with regional banking practices and regulations in the UAE.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing core banking solutions.
• Experience in leading and managing solution architecture projects.

Skills & Competencies

• Core Banking Solution Architecture (Finacle)
• Product Domain Knowledge: CIF, Loans & Liabilities, GL, VAM, Liquidity Solutions
• EOD Processing & Batch Design
• Core-to-Ecosystem Integration & API Management
• Conventional & Islamic Banking Practices
• Corporate/FI, SME & Retail Banking Domain
• Core Customization & Development
• Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge
• Implementation & Upgrade Delivery
• Enterprise & Solution Architecture Governance
• Vendor & Stakeholder Management
• Leadership and communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to work independently and make sound architectural decisions
• Willingness to stay updated with industry trends and best practices

Additional Information

• Position is part of the Strategy, Enterprise Architecture & Design team.
• Role requires deep understanding of the banking industry and regional context.