Head of Finance-Wholesale Banking

Overview

• This is a pivotal executive leadership role responsible for overseeing the Finance function across Mashreq’s Wholesale Banking businesses - CIBG, IBG, and FI - which collectively contribute to more than half of the Bank’s total revenue and span a wide international footprint.
• The role is designed to provide financial advice to the GCFO and to the Business Leaders, develop relevant and insightful Management Information, enhance financial governance, drive strategic alignment, and optimize operational efficiency across the Wholesale Banking platform. Pivotal in the role is to further implement fully digital processes flows and leverage for efficiency and effectiveness (insights) on (Gen)AI.
• The incumbent will serve as a key member of the GCFO’s management team and the CIBG and IBG management teams. He/She works in close partnership with the Group Heads of CIBG and IBG and their direct reports to support business growth, profitability, and strategic transformation.
• The role also includes developing financial strategy for scaling BAU and innovation investments, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and internal policies, and leading strategic projects such as core banking replacement, market expansion, and other ad-hoc priorities driven by the Leadership Team / GCEO.
• The Head of WB Finance has a management team that includes three Hierarchical DR’s in UAE and 8-10 Country Heads of Finance / CFO’s (including GCC, NY, UK, HK and India).
• Lead business advice, strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management processes for Wholesale Banking, ensuring alignment with Group strategy and enabling data-driven decision-making.
• Oversee the financial processes to ensure risks and opportunities are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
• Serve as the single point of contact for the GCFO and Group Heads of CIBG and IBG on all finance and related matters (including business performance and strategy implementation).
• Drive standardization, digitalization, and alignment across finance processes and systems for Wholesale Banking.
• Ensure robust financial governance, risk management, and compliance across all geographies in partnership with Country CFOs.
• Oversee and ensure financial controls are in place across Wholesale Banking Finance, supporting the integrity of financial reporting and compliance with Group policies and regulatory standards.
• Oversee integration and coordination of finance support for CIBG, IBG, and FI, ensuring consistency of financial insight and decision support across businesses.
• Support strategic on WB overarching initiatives such as WDS, Titan, and hierarchical/functional steering from a Finance perspective.
• Lead talent development, succession planning, and Emiratization efforts across Wholesale Banking Finance.
• Represent Finance in strategic forums and decision-making bodies, including the GCFO Leadership Team.
• Critically review business initiatives, financial plans, and strategic proposals; challenge assumptions and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Facilitate WB MBO reviews with Mashreq’s GCEO and ensure alignment with Group objectives; track and drive execution of agreed performance outcomes.
• Build and validate financial models to support strategic business decisions and investment cases.
• Supervise Finance functions across geographies in collaboration with Country Heads of Finance / CFOs, ensuring timely consolidation of financials and consistent application of management accounting standards.
• Consolidate strategic plans into financial forecasts and track key performance indicators to drive accountability.
• Participate as a core member of steering and working committees for Group-wide strategic initiatives, leading the Finance workstream and ensuring alignment with enterprise transformation goals.
• Oversee balance sheet governance and financial risk management across Wholesale Banking, in close coordination with Treasury, Risk, and Country CFOs, ensuring alignment with Group policies and regulatory expectations
• Member of the IBG ALCO
• - ACA, MBA, or equivalent; qualified accountant.
• - 20+ years in banking/financial services, with 5+ years in senior finance leadership.
• - Deep expertise in Wholesale Banking across Corporate, International, and FI segments.
• - Proven success in financial strategy, transformation, and cross-border operations.
• - Strong command of banking systems, risk frameworks, and regulatory environments.
• - Exceptional analytical, financial modeling, and data-driven decision-making skills.
• - Influential leader and communicator with a track record of engaging senior stakeholders and regulators.
• - Committed to leadership development and diversity within Finance.
• - Fluent in English
• - Experienced in working cross cultural and able to function in a fast paced dynamic international environment