GRC Lead - Banking & Financial Services

Job Title: GRC Lead – Banking & Financial Services

Location: Dubai, UAE

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: Competitive, as per market standards (Negotiable, in AED)

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced GRC Lead – Banking & Financial Services to join our team in Dubai, UAE. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, internal controls, and audit functions within the banking and financial services sector.

The role will be responsible for leading enterprise-wide Governance, Risk & Compliance initiatives, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements issued by the UAE Central Bank and other relevant regulatory bodies, while supporting the organization's risk management and compliance objectives. The successful candidate will work closely with executive management, business units, internal audit teams, regulators, and external auditors to strengthen the organization's governance and risk posture.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the organization's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) framework within the banking and financial services environment.

Develop, implement, and maintain enterprise risk management frameworks, governance policies, and compliance programs.

Conduct enterprise-wide risk assessments covering operational, regulatory, compliance, technology, and third-party risks.

Ensure compliance with applicable banking regulations, regulatory directives, and industry standards.

Establish and maintain effective internal controls and governance mechanisms to mitigate business and operational risks.

Coordinate regulatory examinations, compliance reviews, and audits conducted by internal auditors, external auditors, and regulatory authorities.

Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on business operations, policies, and compliance obligations.

Manage risk registers, compliance monitoring programs, issue remediation activities, and risk reporting.

Provide regular reporting and insights to senior management, risk committees, and executive leadership on risk exposure and compliance posture.

Collaborate with business, technology, cybersecurity, legal, finance, and operational teams to embed risk and compliance controls across the organization.

Drive policy management, control testing, risk assessments, and governance reviews.

Support initiatives related to operational resilience, business continuity, outsourcing governance, and third-party risk management.

Promote risk awareness and compliance culture across the organization through training and stakeholder engagement.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, Accounting, Information Technology, Law, or a related discipline.

Master's degree or professional certifications such as CISA, CRISC, CISSP, CIA, CAMS, FRM, PRM, CGEIT, CPA, or equivalent are preferred.

Minimum 8–12 years of experience in Governance, Risk & Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit, Regulatory Compliance, or Operational Risk within banks, financial institutions, fintechs, or regulated financial services organizations.

Strong understanding of banking regulations, risk management practices, and compliance requirements.

Experience interacting with regulators, auditors, and senior management within a regulated financial environment.

Proven track record of implementing and managing enterprise risk and compliance programs.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

Strong communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

Preferred Skills

Experience with UAE banking regulations and regulatory frameworks issued by the Central Bank of the UAE.

Knowledge of Basel III/IV, Operational Risk Management, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), AML, KYC, Financial Crime Compliance, and Regulatory Compliance programs.

Familiarity with governance and risk frameworks including ISO 31000, COSO, COBIT, ISO 27001, and NIST.

Experience with GRC platforms such as ServiceNow GRC, RSA Archer, MetricStream, OneTrust, or similar solutions.

Understanding of technology risk, cybersecurity governance, digital banking controls, and third-party risk management.

Experience supporting regulatory audits, compliance assessments, and remediation programs.

Strong project management and organizational skills.

Additional Information

Prior experience within retail banking, corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, digital banking, or financial services organizations is highly preferred.

UAE or GCC banking experience will be a significant advantage.

Candidates currently based in the UAE are preferred.

Immediate or short-notice joiners are highly desirable.