Chief Risk Officer

Position: Chief Risk Officer

Role Summary

The Chief Risk Officer (CRO) is responsible for establishing and maintaining a comprehensive risk management framework that safeguards the bank’s assets, capital, and reputation. The role ensures effective oversight across credit, market, liquidity, operational, and compliance risks, while supporting the bank’s strategic and business objectives. The CRO will lead the Risk Management Division and act as the primary advisor to the CEO and Board Risk Committee on all risk matters.

Key Responsibilities

1. Enterprise Risk Framework

• Develop and implement the bank’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework in alignment with regulatory guidelines and the bank’s strategic goals.
• Ensure risk policies, procedures, and appetite statements are updated, approved, and effectively communicated across all business lines.
• Coordinate stress testing, ICAAP, and risk appetite calibration exercises.

2. Credit & Counterparty Risk

• Oversee credit risk governance, ensuring prudent credit underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and exposure management across corporate and institutional segments.
• Ensure adherence to internal credit policies and QCB (or equivalent regulatory) standards.
• Review large exposure limits, concentration risks, and early warning indicators.

3. Market, Liquidity & Treasury Risk

• Monitor the bank’s liquidity profile, interest rate sensitivity, and FX positions to ensure adequate buffers under stressed conditions.
• Provide oversight on the investment portfolio, trading limits, and counterparty exposures within approved risk tolerances.
• Coordinate ALCO participation and ensure balance sheet risks are measured and managed effectively.

4. Operational & Technology Risk

• Implement robust operational risk controls to prevent, detect, and mitigate internal/external losses.
• Oversee risk reporting on fraud, cybersecurity, data protection, and third-party vendor management.
• Support the enhancement of business continuity and disaster recovery frameworks.

5. Regulatory & Governance

• Liaise with regulators and external auditors on risk management-related topics.
• Ensure compliance with all QCB and Basel III risk management standards.
• Act as Secretary to the Board Risk Committee, preparing high-quality reports and ensuring transparent communication of key risk exposures.

6. Strategic Advisory

• Provide strategic input to business lines to ensure that new products, services, or investments are aligned with the bank’s risk appetite and capital position.
• Participate in the formulation of the annual strategy, supporting business growth while maintaining prudent risk-adjusted returns.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, or related field; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Minimum 15+ years of experience in risk management within a banking or financial institution, ideally combining exposure to corporate, investment, and treasury functions.
• Strong knowledge of QCB regulations, Basel III, IFRS 9, and global best practices in enterprise risk management.
• Proven leadership skills with experience managing cross-functional risk teams.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation abilities.

Competencies

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking.
• Sound judgment in balancing business growth with prudential risk oversight.
• Deep understanding of both commercial and investment banking risk dimensions.
• Excellent relationship management with regulators and senior stakeholders.
• High ethical standards and professional integrity.