ME Regulatory Manager

Description

At PwC, we measure success by our ability to create the value that our clients and our people are looking for. Our reputation lies in building lasting relationships with our clients and a focus on delivering value in all we do. We’re a network of firms in 158 countries with more than 236,000 people who are committed to delivering world-class capabilities and quality in assurance, tax and advisory services.

Established in the region for 40 years, PwC Middle East employs over 4,200 people across 12 countries. Complementing our depth of industry expertise and breadth of skills is our sound knowledge of local business environments across the Middle East region. Our tailored solutions help our clients meet the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the Middle East market and beyond.

Job description & summary

The ME Regulatory team operates across all lines of service and across the region to provide advice, support and updates on a regular basis to ME Leadership and other relevant stakeholders, with the goal of supporting the operation and growth of the business whilst prioritising actions based on the applicable regulations and taking appropriate risk decisions.

There are dedicated subject matter experts in each of the sub functions within the ME Regulatory team who are available to support and consult with Partners and engagement teams on all regulatory matters relevant to their areas.

The regulatory role covers the 12 countries across which the Firm operates, with some countries having multiple regulatory jurisdictions and free zones.

The role requires oversight of regulatory developments across the ME region to provide early intelligence of upcoming changes to laws and regulations and co-ordinate the Firm’s response to such changes. These changes can potentially impact both the Firm (i.e. the services it provides, regulatory reporting requirements and obligations and its legal structure) and its clients (impacting their services, regulatory compliance requirements and business model). For the changes identified, appropriate actions need to be highlighted and escalated to the ME Regulatory leader and to concerned individuals across our firm after appropriate consultations with the firm’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) to ensure that the requirements are appropriately considered and complied with.

The regulatory manager hired for this position must operate with a pragmatic mindset and be solution oriented. He or she must demonstrate an ability to keep up to date with key regulatory developments in the region, to timely update the ME Regulatory leader and to prioritise actions to be taken by the different stakeholders to comply with the applicable laws and regulations. The role is more than just following policy or processes and includes good organisational and project management skills. The ME Regulatory manager should build sustainable relationships with Partners and other senior engagement team members within the business and the wider Risk and Quality team.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Support ME Regulatory Leader, Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and other members of the Regulatory Governance Committee on regulatory matters in consultation with the ME Office of General Counsel (OGC).
• Schedule and organise regular meetings with the different parties involved in regulatory matters including the quarterly regulatory governance committee meetings, prepare the minutes of the meetings and circulate clear summary and agreed actions to the different stakeholders to ensure all regulatory developments are captured and prioritised as needed.
• Act as a ME regulatory project manager, providing timely updates to ME Regulatory leaders and other relevant parties, escalating potential issues or key regulatory developments needing prompt actions. The main duties include planning, designing, executing, supervising and monitoring every aspect of a specific regulatory project to meet ME Leadership strategic objectives and to ensure timely project execution and delivery.
• As a Project Manager, the role will involve meeting with the different stakeholders to identify proactively project requirements and delivery timelines, developing detailed project plans to guide all parties and revising based on changing needs and requirements, identifying and assigning project tasks based on the skill sets and experience of the different parties involved, monitoring project performance to ensure timely delivery, compiling and submitting project status reports to the ME Regualory leader and other stakeholders, working effectively with relevant stakeholders for efficient project implementation, developing excellent leadership, customer relations and communication skills to liaise effectively with all project stakeholders.
• Provide initial advice and support in relation to regulatory matters, including providing initial interpretations on the subject and scope of the new laws and regulations to the ME Regulatory leader and consider further consultations with the OGC to assess how regulations apply to the firm and to client engagements.
• Liaise with other R&Q functions and other stakeholders such as Independence, Compliance, AML etc, for specialist advice.
• Build relationships with the relevant LoS R&Q Leader, other R&Q Leaders, and LoS / IFS Partners and engagement teams.
• Consult and escalate to the LoS R&Q Leader / OGC ME General Counsel as necessary.
• Conduct several regulatory and compliance activities/processes and ensure overall firm compliance with PwC Network on Regulatory Compliance.
• Support the ME Regulatory Leader with the preparation of a regulatory plan for the region, monitor and coordinate responses of various stakeholders to ensure compliance with the regulatory plan.
• Monitor and identify new regulatory developments that can impact the firm and its clients.
• Monthly regulatory update to leadership to flag key regulatory developments across the region.
• Attendance at Middle East, EU and Global regulatory calls to monitor global regulatory developments.
• Consult with OGC on how to process regular monitoring or subscription to legal databases that will provide us access to the latest laws and regulations as they become available.
• Establish a monitoring mechanism that tracks and ensures regular regulatory interactions between the relationship owners and regulators, to ensure improved dialogue at the senior level.
• Develop appropriate checklists and guidance based on changing regulatory and global firm requirements.
• Monitor changes to local regulations and monitor implementation of the requirements into the firm’s approach.

PwC Network risk management standards

• Assist with understanding the Middle East regulatory requirements for the Network Standard on Regulatory Compliance.

Internal Process

• Review and redesign processes if needed
• Provide support to OGC projects as needed
• Ensure compliance with the relevant PwC Network standards, policies and procedures and particularly Network Standard on Regulatory Compliance.

Learning & growth

• Meets with relevant business stakeholders and where needed LoS R&Q Partners regularly to ensure optimal relationships.
• Responsible for the continuing professional development of self and team members.
• Contribute to an environment of teamwork within the R&Q team.
• Act as a key resource and liaise with other functional areas of the business, building cross-functional relationships.

Education:

• A professional or academic regulatory qualification (degree level or equivalent), or extensive relevant and practical experience.

Language:

• Fluency in English required, proficiency in Arabic is advantageous but not a requirement.

Specific experience:

• Relevant regulatory experience in the Professional Services industry in a top tier firm, relevant experience at a top law firm, or relevant experience at a regulator required.
• Prior people management and teamwork experience.

Knowledge and skills:

• Good understanding of the legal environment across the region.
• Good regulatory knowledge.
• Strong project management skills.
• Strong networking and capacity to build strong connections with different stakeholders
• Strong decision making skills.
• Strong people management skills.
• Process oriented and strong internal control skills.
• Organisation skills and eye for detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ethical conduct.

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.