Manager Business Ethics

SUMMARY OF ROLE:

The role holder is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the Bank's ethics and conduct framework to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, Central Bank of Oman (CBO) requirements, and the Bank's policies. The role leads to the development of the Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy, oversees ethics-related governance frameworks and policies, and promotes a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior across the organization. The role is also responsible for implementing ethics training, employee disclosure and attestation processes, monitoring compliance with ethical standards, managing ethics investigations and whistleblowing mechanisms, and promoting professional conduct, customer protection, ethical sales practices, and responsible decision-making to ensure the Bank's governance framework remains aligned with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities

1. Ethics Governance, Framework and Policy Management:

• Develop, implement, and periodically review the Bank's Ethics Framework, ensuring alignment with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, Central Bank of Oman (CBO) regulations, and international best practices.

• Develop, maintain, and obtain Board approval for the Bank's Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy, ensuring regular reviews and updates.

• Develop, review, and strengthen ethics-related policies, including Conflict of Interest, Gifts and Hospitality, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, AML/CFT, Anti-Fraud, Whistleblowing, Data Protection and Confidentiality, Information Security, Insider Information, Media and Social Media Governance, and Protection of Institutional Assets.

• Ensure all ethics governance frameworks and policies comply with regulatory requirements and support effective governance across the Bank.

2. Ethics Culture, Professional Conduct and Employee Awareness

• Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, professionalism, and ethical behavior across the organization.

• Establish standards, guidance, and protocols governing employee conduct and ethical decision-making in dealings with customers, colleagues, regulators, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

• Design, implement, and deliver mandatory ethics and conduct training, awareness programmes, and communication campaigns for all employees.

• Establish and oversee employee disclosure and annual attestation processes relating to the Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, Gifts and Hospitality, and other ethics-related declarations.

• Promote customer protection, fair treatment, ethical sales practices, and customer-centric behaviors by enhancing communication, professionalism, empathy, and responsible sales conduct.

• Develop recognition initiatives that reinforce ethical behavior, accountability, and the Bank's values.

3. Ethics Monitoring, Investigations and Reporting

• Establish monitoring mechanisms to assess compliance with the Ethics Framework, Code of Conduct, and related policies.

• Conduct ethics reviews, assessments, and thematic monitoring activities to identify risks, control gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

• Develop and maintain procedures for reporting, investigating, and resolving allegations of unethical conduct, fraud, misconduct, and policy violations.

• Manage the Bank's whistleblowing programmer, ensuring confidential reporting, protection against retaliation, timely investigations, and appropriate resolution.

• Lead or coordinate ethics investigations with HR, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Information Security, and Internal Audit, and support disciplinary actions where misconduct is confirmed.

• Prepare periodic reports and presentations for Executive Management, Board Committees, and the Board on ethics compliance, investigations, emerging risks, and improvement initiatives.

4. Ethics Risk, Financial Crime and Information Governance

• Promote ethical awareness and compliance relating to AML/CFT, fraud prevention, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, financial crime, confidentiality, data protection, information security, and insider information.

• Oversee frameworks for identifying, declaring, monitoring, and managing conflicts of interest, gifts, hospitality, and other ethical disclosures.

• Strengthening controls that protect confidential information, institutional assets, and sensitive data while promoting responsible information handling across the Bank.

• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Financial Crime, and Information Security functions to strengthen governance, mitigate conduct risks, and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

5. Process Innovation, Automation & Digitalization:

• Drive continuous process improvement through innovative, automated, and digital solutions once required

6. Business Control & Governance

• Ensure adherence to the bank's policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards in all operational activities.

7. Self/People Development & Continuous Learning:

• Continually update oneself through knowledge acquisition, on-the-job training, or project involvement; advocate and support others to do the same.

Requirements

• Omani Nationality only
  
• Bachelor's degree in business, law, finance, or a related field.
  
• 8+ years proven experience in at least one areas of ethics/compliance/risk management, or a related field within the banking or financial services industry.