Head Sanctions, FI & Governance – Head.Injaz-Compliance-Sanctions Unit.Compliance Group

The Executive Vice President (EVP), Compliance is a senior executive leadership role responsible for leading, overseeing and driving the strategic direction, operational excellence of three critical compliance functions: Sanctions Compliance, Financial Institutions (FI) Compliance, and Compliance Governance. 

This role reports directly to the Group Head of Compliance and plays a pivotal role in shaping the bank’s global compliance framework, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations, risk appetite, and business strategy. 

Reporting directly to the Global Head of Compliance, the EVP drives the development and execution of a unified compliance strategy, ensuring regulatory alignment, operational excellence, and effective risk management across the bank’s global footprint.

Monitor international best practices and regulations, interpret them for the bank, and integrate necessary policies and controls to maintain compliance

Oversee financial management and budget allocation for the unit.

This Role Ensures:

• The bank’s operations comply with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations across jurisdictions and provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and regulatory engagement to protect the bank from sanctions-related risks and reputational harm. 
• The bank’s FI operations comply with applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and global standards for anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and financial crime risk management. 

The bank’s compliance policies, procedures, reporting mechanisms, and oversight structures are robust, consistent, and aligned with regulatory expectations and internal standards.

Strategic Leadership

• Oversee and execute the global sanctions and FI compliance strategy aligned with the bank’s risk appetite and regulatory obligations in the capacity of second line of defense risk steward.
• Serve as the principal advisor to executive management and the Board on sanctions, FI business related matters.
• Serve as a key advisor to the Global Head of Compliance and executive leadership on emerging compliance risks, regulatory developments, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and execute a unified compliance strategy across the three functions, ensuring consistency, effectiveness, and scalability.

Program Oversight

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the global sanctions compliance framework, including policies, procedures, and controls.
• Drive the oversight and management of effectiveness and efficiency of sanctions screening systems, alert management, and escalation protocols.
• Ensure compliance with AML/CFT regulations, KYC standards, and financial crime controls across all FI-related activities.
• Lead the design and continuous improvement of the global compliance governance framework.
• Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and internal risk appetite.
• Lead bank wide sanctions, FI compliance and governance digital projects / initiatives, overseeing the deployment of related initiatives across Mashreq locations.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable sanctions regimes (e.g., OFAC, EU, UN, UK, UAE, local authorities).
• Ensure compliance with AML/CFT regulations, KYC standards, and financial crime controls across all FI-related activities.
• Lead regulatory interactions, audits, and examinations related to compliance sanctions compliance, FI compliance and compliance governance matters.

Risk Management

• Conduct enterprise-wide sanctions risk assessments and ensure appropriate risk mitigation strategies are in place.
• Conduct and oversee FI-specific compliance risk assessments and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Monitor emerging sanctions risks, FI business related risks and geopolitical developments and keep the executive management and business leaders advised of risk management strategies & developments accordingly.
• Ensure integration of compliance risk insights into strategic decision-making and compliance planning.

Technology & Innovation

• Lead and drive the adoption of advanced screening and compliance technologies, data analytics, and automation to enhance the compliance processes’ effectiveness and efficiency.
• Lead the integration of new compliance technologies AI/ML and data analytics to enhance sanctions risk detection.

Monitoring & Surveillance

• Oversee and lead the sanctions screening processes, transaction monitoring, due diligence, and screening processes for FI clients.
• Ensure timely escalation and resolution of compliance issues.
• Function as the focal point for all AML/CFT and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) queries, investigations, and instructions received from the foreign correspondent banks/branches; conduct comprehensive reviews of such cases and respond within agreed turnaround times.

Compliance Reporting & Metrics

• Oversee and manage enterprise-wide compliance reporting, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for executive management and Board.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to executive committees, board-level governance forums, and regulators.

Training & Awareness

• Oversee global sanctions training programs for employees, senior management, and relevant stakeholders.
• Lead global training initiatives for FI compliance, tailored to business and risk profiles.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance and ethical conduct across the organization.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing compliance team.
• Foster collaboration across the bank and business lines to ensure consistent application of policies.
• Work closely with global and functional compliance teams to ensure consistent governance practices.

Governance Framework Development

• Lead the design and continuous improvement of the global compliance governance framework.

Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and internal risk appetite.

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in compliance/risk management/regulatory affairs within banking or financial services with relevant experience in Compliance functions in senior manager role or similar. 
• Deep knowledge and understanding of global sanctions regimes, global sanctions programs and regulatory management.
• Deep understanding and knowledge of AML/CFT regulations and programs for managing correspondent banking, and trade finance compliance.
• Recognized as an expert in Financial Crime Compliance and able to represent the bank at industry.
• Excellent analytical skills and strong working knowledge of various banking processes and systems internationally. 
• Proven leadership in managing and leading global teams and complex compliance programs.
• Highly developed inter-personal skills and the ability to influence, sell solutions, drive change, set strategy, and develop relationships – within Mashreq, Vendors, and as required with Regulatory Authorities. 
• Experience in leading Enterprise-wide compliance technology projects in an international banking environment 
• Proven ability to critically identify and adopt new technology/innovation to manage compliance risk. 

The leading financial institution in MENA While more than half a century old, we proudly think like a challenger, startup, and innovator in banking and finance, powered by a diverse and dynamic team who put customers first. Together, we pioneer key innovations and developments in banking and financial services. Our mandate? To help customers find their way to Rise Every Day, partnering with them through the highs and lows to help them reach their goals and unlock their unique vision of success. Delivering superior service to clients by leading with innovation, treating colleagues with dignity and fairness while pursuing opportunities that grow shareholders value.  We actively contribute to the community through responsible banking in our mission to inspire more people to Rise.