Senior Officer - Shari’a Assessment & Testing

Role : Senior Officer - Shari’a Assessment & Testing
Location : Abu Dhabi

Role Purpose:

Assisting the leadership team in maintaining Shari’a Compliance across the ADIB Group by continuously monitoring the Bank’s business activities an operations in accordance with the prevailing standards and resolutions of the Higher Shari’a Authority (HSA),the relevant regulations issued by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and the related resolutions of the Bank’s Internal Shari’a Supervisory Committee (ISSC), in alignment with the SCD policies, procedures, methodologies, and the policies and frameworks established by the ISCG.

Key Accountabilities of the role

Implement the SAT’s Annual Shari’a Assessment and Testing Plan “Annual Plan” in line with internal policies, procedures, and methodologies utilizing a risk-based methodology supported by systems, such as the Governance, Risk and Control (GRC) platform.

• Assist the Head of the Unit in effectively managing and supervising the SAT unit’s various functions and the team members in accordance with applicable procedures and policies.
• Perform thorough Shari’a monitoring and assurance reviews across the Bank’s business units, functions, departments, etc.

• Evaluate operations and transactions for compliance with HSA standards and CBUAE regulations and other regulating bodies.

• Assist in drafting detailed reports on the review findings and results.

• Communicate these reports effectively to the leadership team.
• Assist developing information management reporting when required for the appropriate committees and forms.
• Monitor the implementation of action plans derived from the field reviews.
• Assist with continuous monitoring and enhance the compliance of the bank’s business and operations with prevailing HSA standards and resolutions, related ISSC Resolutions and any other CBUAE requirements.
• Assist the team in assessing and evaluating the Shari’a Non-Compliance “SNC” Risks and related controls and maintain regular coordination with Business Units and Operational Risk Management teams to identify issues and develop and implement effective controls.
• Support the leadership team in maintaining Sharia compliance across the ADIB Group.

• Provide support to other SCD functions as and when required.

Specialist Skills / Technical Knowledge, Technical Competencies Required for this role:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Shari’a/Islamic banking or equivalent.
2. Strong academic skills or experience in Shari’a compliance.
3. AAOIFI CSAA and/or CIPA certifications (or equivalent certifications).
4. Expert knowledge of banking and Islamic banking products.
5. Expert knowledge about principles of Islamic Commercial Jurisprudence, Shari’ah standards, products and Islamic banking operations
6. Expert knowledge of AAOIFI Shari’a Standards.
7. Excellent communication and presentation Skills.
8. Reasonable legal and compliance background.
9. Ability to balance between compliance requirements & business needs.
10. Fluent/proficiency in Arabic and English.

Previous experience:

5+ years of experience in Shari’a related functions in Islamic banking, preferably in Shari’a Compliance, Shari’a Consultation and/or Shari’a Audit.