Principal Architect - Payment Hub

Join the UAE’s largest bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions. Our focus is to create value for our employees, customers, shareholders and communities to grow through differentiation, agility and innovation. We are looking for top talent and your success is our success. Accelerate your growth as you help us reach our goals and advance your career. Be ready to make your mark a top company, in an exciting & dynamic industry. 

Job Purpose

A seasoned Payment Hub SME within the IT department to lead our transformative payment processing capabilities initiative. This vital techno-functional role requires an expert with a proven track record in Payment Hub implementations, including specific experience in a landscape where T24 , Intellect and Murex are implemented. The successful candidate will embody the nexus of technical prowess and strategic business insight, championing operational excellence and innovation across our global operations.

Key Accountability:

• Seamless System Integration: Ensure the Payment Hub's flawless integration with the T24 core banking system enhances operational capabilities without disrupting existing processes.
• Architectural Excellence: Architect a robust and scalable payment system infrastructure that supports critical financial standards (ISO20022), ensures smooth MT to MX migration, and enables efficient straight-through processing.
• Agile Delivery and Responsiveness: Implement agile methodologies to manage the Payment Hub project, ensuring flexible and timely delivery of project milestones while adapting to emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Risk and Compliance Management: Directly manage the identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial, operational, and security risks associated with the Payment Hub, ensuring full compliance with global and local regulatory standards.
• Strategic Implementation & Leadership: Drive the Payment Hub program's strategic execution, integrating technical solutions with comprehensive business perspectives to fulfil the bank's wide-ranging operational and strategic ambitions.
• Service Integration: Leverage deep experience with critical banking systems, including T24,/Intellect and Murex, to ensure seamless integration and optimization of the Payment Hub within our existing banking infrastructure.
• APIs and Interface Expertise: Develop robust interfaces and APIs, including expertise in ISO20022 standards and MT to MX migration, to facilitate efficient straight-through processing and interoperability across banking systems.
• Agile Methodology Adoption: Implement agile methodologies within the project's lifecycle, ensuring flexible, iterative development and quick adaptation to emerging needs and challenges.
• Stakeholder & Vendor Collaboration: I will act as the chief liaison, harmonizing efforts and managing partnerships to guarantee the program's success across our international footprint.

Generic Accountability:

• Strategic Leadership: Guide the Payment Hub initiative in alignment with the bank's overarching strategic objectives, ensuring it contributes to long-term financial success and operational efficiency.
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain transparent and effective communication with all internal and external stakeholders, managing expectations, and fostering strong partnerships to support project success.
• Compliance Oversight: Oversee adherence to regulatory and compliance standards across all aspects of the Payment Hub project, proactively addressing legal and security requirements to mitigate risks.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Champion the integration of innovative technologies and methodologies within the Payment Hub, continuously seeking opportunities for improvement and staying ahead of industry trends.

• Proven Experience: Over 10 years in payment system implementations, with specific involvement in projects utilizing T24 core banking systems and demonstrated leadership in at least two primary Payment Hub projects and with any of the top-tier Payment Hub solutions.
• Techno-Functional Proficiency: Solid understanding of payment technologies, operational processes, ISO20022, MT to MX migration, APIs, straight-through processing, and regulatory landscapes, especially relevant in the UAE and other key markets.
• Strategic Project Leadership: Demonstrated ability to steer techno-functional teams towards project success, nurturing team development and driving strategic initiatives.
• Advanced Communication Skills: I have an exceptional ability to communicate with the Head of Payments and senior executives and foster consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Educational Background: Holds a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, or a related field. Professional certifications in project management, payment systems, or Agile methodologies are highly valued.

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