Head of Risk Management

About the role

The Head of Risk Management keeps credit, capital, liquidity and operational risk within the Board-approved risk appetite and in line with the CBB Rulebook. The role leads the end-to-end credit risk function, combining strategic oversight with hands-on work in data analytics, credit decision engine management and model development.

Key responsibilities

• Risk framework and governance: maintain the ERM framework, risk appetite statement and risk policy suite, keep the risk register and KRIs, give independent risk sign-off on new products and advise senior management on risk implications.
• Credit risk: own the credit risk framework and policies for microfinancing, BNPL and credit cards, set loan-size and tenor grids, monitor portfolio quality metrics and concentration risk, oversee IFRS 9 ECL provisioning, and report exposures to controllers and close links.
• Decisioning, models and analytics: keep the credit decision engine and scorecards up to date, coordinate recalibration and back-testing, build and test credit risk models, run analytics and work with IT and data teams to strengthen decisioning.
• Segmentation and portfolio growth: define customer segments, set segment-specific underwriting criteria and partner with Sales, Marketing and Product on growth within approved risk parameters.
• Capital, liquidity and operational risk: oversee ICAAP and capital adequacy, monitor liquidity requirements, run stress tests and scenario analysis, own operational risk (RCSAs, incident reporting) and business continuity, and monitor fraud, outsourcing and technology risk.
• Reporting and regulatory engagement: present risk reports to the CEO, ACGC, Board Risk Committee and the Board, act as the main contact with the CBB, prepare investor reports, support audits and inspections, and work with Compliance and the MLRO on financial-crime risk indicators.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Risk Management or a related field; a Master's degree is preferred.
• A recognized risk or finance certification (FRM, PRM, CFA or ACCA/CPA) is preferred.
• At least 10 years in risk management within banking or financial services, including at least 8 years in credit risk and at least 5 years in a senior role.
• Hands-on experience in retail or consumer credit risk, ideally microfinance, BNPL or credit cards in Bahrain or the GCC.
• Proven experience with credit decision engines, scorecards and credit risk models, and experience presenting to Boards, regulators and investors.

Required skills

• Working knowledge of the CBB Rulebook, ICAAP, capital adequacy and liquidity requirements.
• Experience with IFRS 9 ECL methodology and stress testing.
• Knowledge of credit decision engines, scorecards and credit risk models.