VP & Head of Compliance - Global Markets, GCF and Head of Surveillance

Role Overview

VP & Head of Compliance - Global Markets, GCF and Head of Surveillance at First Abu Dhabi Bank, a global role with responsibility for international locations.

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. FAB offers a comprehensive range of personal and private banking services, including credit cards, Islamic banking, investments, loans, and mortgages. The organization is committed to excellence and innovation, delivering top-tier financial solutions to clients globally. FAB operates with a performance-based culture that supports career development through learning and development initiatives, structured plans for Emirati talent recruitment and progression, and empowerment of employees to deliver leading solutions.

Role Purpose

The incumbent serves as a core member of the Compliance Advisory team, providing compliance advice, oversight, and challenge to Global Markets and Global Corporate Finance business teams while leading and overseeing the Compliance Surveillance team. The role upholds fair and orderly markets, acts as an independent partner to the First Line of Defense, and oversees enhancement and framework development of the Second Line of Defense. This global position requires collaboration with country Compliance teams to provide advice and support to business activities in international locations and to manage surveillance controls on behalf of country Compliance teams.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance Advisory

• Serve as trusted adviser and compliance subject matter expert for Global Markets and Global Corporate Finance, providing advice, oversight, and challenge to support business areas in managing compliance risks.
• Provide product and location-specific regulatory and compliance policy guidance.
• Advise on regulatory, compliance policy, and strategic aspects related to business strategy, new business products, or initiatives with ability to develop solutions meeting various internal and external requirements.
• Act as Compliance point of contact for other compliance issues including financial crime risks, employee compliance controls, and conflicts of interest.
• Support the business to foster an open and cooperative relationship with regulatory authorities and exchanges.
• Support the business during regulatory requests for information, reviews, and examinations.
• Assist in formulation of management action plans in relation to regulatory findings.

Surveillance

• Lead and execute tactical and strategic intent for Compliance Surveillance.
• Evolve the surveillance control environment and explore how the surveillance mandate can be rolled out to other business areas and locations.
• Ensure day-to-day surveillance activities are executed per agreed protocol and key performance indicators are achieved.
• Demonstrate entrepreneurial capability in advancing surveillance to global best practice level by working with vendors and technology on various enhancements.
• Calibrate alerts and other forms of automated oversight for optimization.
• Oversee ongoing governance and oversight of surveillance controls ensuring they remain fit for purpose.
• Build and maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders ensuring robust oversight of trade alerts.
• Work with vendors so that tools, metrics, and alerts remain fit for purpose and proactively seek enhancements within the surveillance framework.
• Document surveillance reviews, investigations, and other activities following guidelines.
• Perform quality assurance on surveillance reviews performed by the team.
• Provide advice and training where required on key surveillance themes.
• Play a pivotal role in projects and initiatives impacting surveillance including expansion to other relevant business areas.

Governance and Compliance Administration

• Serve as Compliance representative at governance meetings and relevant operational forums.
• Manage issue identification, escalation, and timely closure of compliance or operational issues.
• Engage in regulatory change and regulatory projects relevant to the business.
• Work with Regulatory Compliance and other Compliance stakeholders in development of policies and procedures.
• Oversee development and execution of the Annual Compliance Plan for all business areas.
• Perform annual compliance risk assessment to identify key risks and assess control effectiveness.
• Develop plans for testing or targeted reviews based on assessment.
• Conduct planned and ad hoc reviews to ensure the control environment for specific areas is designed and operating effectively.
• Design and deliver training to the business to promote compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Oversee and input into management information and other forms of reporting.
• Oversee and maintain procedures, service level agreements, and other forms of documentation.
• Partner with colleagues in international locations.
• Lead on solutions to risks, issues, and breaches.
• Support Senior Management in escalating and investigating actual or potential breaches of law, regulation, or policy.
• Work with Global Internal Audit to support reviews and take responsibility for timely and thorough closure of management action plans.

People Management

• Lead and develop a team of AVPs and Specialists.
• Support personal development and department nationalization targets.
• Provide training, support, and mentoring to direct reports.
• Lead by example to build an inclusive work environment demonstrating the vision and values of FAB.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in management, banking, finance, or other relevant field, preferably with a certification in compliance.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in financial services Compliance.
• At least 6 years within a Compliance Surveillance or Monitoring role.
• Extensive work experience with market abuse rules, regulations, and cases.
• Good understanding of automated surveillance tools and platforms.
• International mindset and good knowledge of international laws, regulations, and rules impacting Global Markets, Corporate Finance, and Investment Banking.
• Understanding of products and services across Sales, Trading, and Investment Banking.
• Strong interpersonal, people management, and facilitation skills with good leadership capability.
• Good exposure to project and programme management.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to support decisions with sound reasoning.
• Excellent communication skills, including delivering to Senior Management.
• Focused on driving tasks to completion, often at pace, whilst retaining a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.