Risk Officer

Job Description

The Risk Officer is responsible for identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating all categories of risk arising from the firms regulated activities in line with FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority) guidelines. The Risk Officer ensures effective implementation of risk frameworks across the entitys licensed activities, which include operating a Private Financing Platform (PFP), Providing Investment Advice, Arranging Deals, and Managing Collective Investment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and enhance the firms risk management framework in accordance with FSRA&aposs Rulebooks (e.g., GEN, PRU, COBS, FUNDS, MKT).
• Implement and monitor a comprehensive Risk Management system encompassing investment, market credit, market, operational, legal, liquidity, and reputational risks.
• Define risk appetite and risk tolerance levels and ensure adherence across all business units.

• Design and enforce controls for onboarding issuers and investors on the Private Financing Platform, in line with FSRA PFP Rules and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements.
• Monitor risk exposures related to private offerings, investment advice, and managed funds, ensuring investor protection and platform integrity.
• Oversee valuation risk, liquidity risk, and market risk for Collective Investment Funds, ensuring adherence to fiduciary and conduct of business standards.

• Conduct risk assessments for new products, clients, and business lines.
• Ensure periodic stress testing, scenario analysis etc requirements are conducted and documented.
• Maintain and test the firms Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).

• Prepare periodic Risk Reports for Senior Management, the Risk Committee, and the Board.
• Liaise with the Compliance Officer, MLRO, legal counsel, and internal/external auditors to ensure risk-related findings are remediated.
• Ensure all FSRA regulatory reporting requirements (e.g., PRU returns, operational risk disclosures) are fulfilled accurately and on time.

• Develop internal training programs to promote a strong risk culture across departments
• Raise awareness of regulatory and business risks among operational teams and senior staff

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field
• Minimum 12 years of experience in a risk management role within financial services, preferably in ADGM or DIFC-regulated firms.
• Strong knowledge of FSRA regulations, particularly PFP Rules, GEN, PRU, COBS, FUNDS, and AML Rulebook.
• Experience with risk management tools, systems, and reporting dashboards.

Key Skills:

• Sound understanding of risk modelling and assessment tools.
• Familiarity with fund structures, private placements, and investment advisory models.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and interface with regulators confidently.
• Professional certifications such as FRM, CFA, or ICA Risk & Compliance preferred

Note: This role may also be considered a Controlled Function under FSRA rules and require FSRA approval and prior notification depending on responsibilities and organizational structure.