Head of Wealth and Capital Markets Platform

Job description / Role

Role purpose

To lead the strategic design, governance, and delivery of platform capabilities underpinning bank's wealth and capital markets business, enabling seamless, Shariah-compliant investment experiences across traditional and digital channels. This role will architect and deliver scalable platforms for advisory, capital markets access, portfolio management, and emerging digital asset solutions aligned with bank's innovation agenda, customer needs, and regulatory obligations.

Key accountabilities of the role

Define and drive the integrated wealth and capital markets platform roadmap to support advisory, portfolio management, capital markets, and digital asset offerings. Ensure delivery of scalable, API-enabled platforms that support omnichannel investment journeys for both RM-led and self-directed clients.

Deep understanding of wealth management workflows, financial planning, trading, billing, risk, and regulations. Define and own wealth tech platform strategy aligned with overall business objectives and digital transformation goals. Own platform architecture, driving simplification and optimization to enhance cost efficiency and operational performance. Oversee end-to-end delivery of scalable, reliable wealth tech solutions integrated with custodian, market data provider, and compliance systems. Modernize legacy platforms such as transitioning to microservices and APIs. Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies (AI/ML, robo-advisory, analytics, open banking API, etc.) into platform roadmap.

Lead platform integration for real-time trading, order management, market data, and settlements across retail and institutional clients. Oversee core platforms including bank GTN US, Murabaha Trading, and Trade Net (mobile, online, financials).

Deliver bank's digital asset platform capabilities including tokenized sukuks, Islamic-compliant digital securities, and programmable assets. Align digital asset strategies with financial inclusion goals (e.g., micro-investments), stablecoin adoption, and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) readiness. Engage with evolving regulatory frameworks across ESCA, DFSA, ADGM, and CBUAE, ensuring robust compliance and early-mover advantage.

Drive the exploration and integration of AI to unlock new customer-facing opportunities, enhance automation by reducing reliance on manual processes, and proactively define strategic and architectural responses to the transformative impact of AI on the future of banking services. Enable portfolio intelligence, decision support, and personalized advisory through advanced analytics and behavioral insights. Embed data capabilities to support performance dashboards, risk profiling, and portfolio simulations.

Partner with internal risk and compliance teams to embed aligned controls, investment suitability checks, and regulatory reporting across platforms. Lead platform readiness for regulatory shifts across wealth and capital markets.

Ensure platforms comply with internal, local, and international regulatory, risk management, data privacy, and cybersecurity standards. Implement automated compliance controls such as trade surveillance and client suitability checks.

Build and manage vendor relationships, partnerships, and potential fintech collaborations. Own technology budget ensuring ROI on investments.

Manage relationships and lifecycle strategies for:

• Trade Net (Brokerage, Mobile, Online, Financials)
• Advent Portfolio Management
• Tradex (Fund Order Management)
• Bank Wealth Investrack
• Bank Wealth Syncova
• Smart Sukuk
• TTS (IPO System)
• iBancs360, Banca Takaful

Specialist skills / technical knowledge, technical competencies required for this role

Minimum 12-15 years in wealth and capital markets technology delivery. Proven track record delivering platform architecture across investments, trading, or digital asset domains. Strong understanding of Islamic finance instruments and Shariah-compliant digital innovation. Experience managing vendor ecosystems and leading cross-functional agile squads. Familiarity with tokenization frameworks, CBDC models, stablecoin applications, and financial inclusion tech use cases. Regulatory knowledge across ESCA, DFSA, ADGM, and CBUAE.