QNB- Vice President Merchant Risk; Acquiring

Job Summary

The incumbent will be responsible for driving the strategic direction of the organization’s risk management practices for Merchant Risk (Acquiring). The role will work closely with the executive leadership team, risk management teams, and key stakeholders to establish a comprehensive risk management framework that balances financial stability, compliance, and innovation.

• Shareholder & Financial:
  Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, providing strategic guidance on risk management issues and initiatives; lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive risk management strategy that aligns with the organization’s overall business goals and objectives; foster a culture of risk management and awareness, promoting the integration of risk management practices into all aspects of the organization’s operations;
  
  monitor and report on the performance of risk management practices and systems, making recommendations for improvement and leading the integration of best practices; act within the limits of the powers delegated to the incumbent, delegating authority where appropriate; demonstrate clear understanding of the important factors behind the bank’s financial and non‑financial performance; implement KPIs and best practices for Merchant Risk (Acquiring).
• Customer (Internal & External):
  Establish and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including merchants, issuers, regulators, and industry partners; ensure customer needs and expectations are considered in the development and implementation of risk management strategies; lead effective communication and engagement strategies to educate stakeholders on risk management practices and procedures; provide expert guidance and support to customers and stakeholders; liaise with domestic Group divisions, departments, zone and branch management, and international branches and subsidiaries to identify potential fraud risk exposure and minimize or remediate losses;
  
  support Group divisions and departments in maintaining and enhancing procedural knowledge and card network compliance of fraud‑reporting and chargeback processing requirements; assist customers with queries on bank products and seek solutions; maintain activities in accordance with Service Level Agreements; build and maintain strong relationships with related departments to achieve the Group’s objectives; provide timely and accurate data to auditors, compliance, financial control and risk as required.
• Internal (Processes, Products, Regulatory):
  Oversee successful implementation and maintenance of end‑to‑end Fraud Risk Self‑Assessment process; ensure timely resolution of internal audit points through coordination with relevant fraud risk functions and other internal entities; coordinate with retail processing departments to establish sound knowledge and best practice of card‑network chargeback rules; coordinate with compliance to oversee fraud‑risk awareness training for Group‑wide divisions and departments; lead continuous improvement initiatives through cross‑functional teams;
  
  identify and encourage adoption of practices better than the industry standard; provide and implement processes and systems to identify and assess risk in card and merchant services; integrate risk management practices and systems into product development processes and regulatory requirements; oversee risk management training and awareness programs; conduct regular risk management practice assessments.
• Learning & Knowledge:
  Possess a good knowledge of the risk involved in all card products (credit, debit, prepaid, contactless) and merchant payment channels (POS, eCommerce, MO/TO); identify areas for personal and team professional development; undertake development activities to remain current with professional developments; hold meetings with staff to assess performance; ensure conflict resolution and grievance handling; support staff development and coaching.
• Legal, Regulatory, and Risk Framework Responsibilities:
  Comply with all applicable legal, regulatory and internal compliance requirements, including AML & CTF, sanctions,…