AVP Product Owner_Agile Squad Mgmt Reporting.Corporate Affairs-Head at Mashreq Careers

, , India -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

17 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

18 Apr, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Product Ownership, Agile Methodology, Management Reporting, Banking Finance, Profitability Analysis, Data Automation, Backlog Management, Stakeholder Management, Funds Transfer Pricing, Cost Allocation, AI/ML in Finance, Scrum, Kanban, Business Analysis, Financial Reporting, Cross-functional Leadership

Industry

Banking

Description

1 JOB TITLE: AVP - PRODUCT OWNER, AGILE SQUAD - MANAGEMENT REPORTING (L) DEPARTMENT: CORPORATE AFFAIRS - AGILE SQUADS DIRECT SUPERVISOR: PRIMARY REPORTING TO THE TRIBE LEAD, WITH A SECONDARY (DOTTED LINE) REPORTING RELATIONSHIP TO THE BUSINESS UNIT HEAD JOB NUMBER: 2 JOB PURPOSE The Product Owner is the person who decides what the squad builds, in what order, and why it matters. They own the product backlog and are fully accountable for making sure the squad’s work delivers real value to the business. This is not a coordination role — it is a decision-making role. The Product Owner sets priorities, makes trade-offs, and says no when something does not fit the plan. Reporting directly to the Tribe Lead, the Product Owner manages the squad’s day-to-day delivery while keeping it aligned to the Bank’s bigger picture. They work hand-in-hand with Finance, Technology, and Business teams to make sure what gets built is what the Bank actually needs. They also guide and develop the Proxy Product Owner who supports them within the squad. Each Product Owner is assigned to single or multiple reporting domains — such as Retail Banking Group, Wholesale Banking, or Daily Balance Sheet Reporting — and is expected to be the recognised authority on that domain’s reporting needs. 3 DIMENSIONS Operating Budget NA Number of Staff 1 Capital Exp. Budget NA Other Dedicated to single Agile Squad 4 KEY RESULT AREAS Management Reporting and Finance Expertise The Product Owner is the squad’s subject-matter expert on management reporting for Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and ALM. They do not just pass along what Finance asks for — they question it, improve it, and fill in the gaps. When the squad produces reports or analytical outputs, the Product Owner is the one who checks whether the numbers tell the right story and whether Finance leadership can rely on them. Where there are opportunities to use AI or advanced analytics to improve how reporting works, the Product Owner shapes these into clear, practical use cases. This means understanding what AI can realistically do in a finance setting, not just following the trend. They decide which of these opportunities make it onto the roadmap and in what order. Reporting Automation and Process Improvement The Product Owner owns the plan for automating manual reporting work. They look across the reporting landscape, identify where the most time and effort is being wasted, and turn those into concrete automation projects for the squad. They think beyond the current sprint and keep a clear view of where the automation journey is heading over the next several quarters. None of this happens at the expense of control. Every automation initiative must meet the Bank’s standards for reporting governance, data traceability, and audit readiness. The Product Owner makes sure the squad moves fast without cutting corners on compliance. Profitability and Performance Reporting A major part of this role is owning the squad’s work on profitability reporting — at the product, customer, and segment level. The Product Owner needs to understand how funds transfer pricing works, how costs get allocated, and how margins are calculated. They sit across the table from Finance and ALM teams as an equal, not a note-taker, and they resolve disagreements about methodology and assumptions directly. When the squad delivers profitability numbers, the Product Owner stands behind them. They are accountable for accuracy, consistency, and making sure everything can be traced back and audited. If something looks off, they have the knowledge to dig into why and the confidence to raise it. Product Ownership and Squad Delivery The Product Owner runs the squad’s delivery on a daily basis. They own the backlog, lead prioritisation, and make sure every story that enters a sprint is properly written, clearly scoped, and has acceptance criteria the squad can test against. They lead sprint planning, drive story clarification, and give the final sign-off on whether delivered work meets the mark. Beyond their own squad, the Product Owner connects the dots with other squads where reporting work overlaps. They manage dependencies across Finance, Technology, Business, and Data teams — not occasionally, but as a core part of how they operate. They also mentor and develop their Proxy Product Owner, building capability within the team for the long term. 5 Operating Environment, Framework and Boundaries, Working Relationships This role sits within a regulated banking environment and uses Agile ways of working such as Scrum or Kanban. The Product Owner is part of a cross-functional squad that includes Technology, QA, UX, Data, and Architecture colleagues. They report to the Tribe Lead and operate within the Bank’s governance framework, making sure all delivery aligns with enterprise architecture, security, data governance, and risk policies. 6 PROBLEM SOLVING Business requirements rarely arrive in a clean, ready-to-build format. The Product Owner takes messy, overlapping, and sometimes conflicting inputs and turns them into a clear plan the squad can execute. They resolve ambiguity quickly so the squad is never waiting around, and they spot risks early — whether those risks come from data quality, system dependencies, regulatory changes, or competing stakeholder demands. They make judgement calls daily, knowing that waiting for perfect information is not an option. 7 DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY & RESPONSIBILITY The Product Owner has full authority over what goes into the backlog and in what order. They confirm acceptance criteria, approve or reject completed work, and make functional decisions on the spot to keep the squad moving. When bigger trade-offs are needed — changing scope, shifting timelines, or re-prioritising across competing demands — the Product Owner makes a recommendation and works with the Tribe Lead to finalise it. Their default approach is to resolve issues themselves and escalate only when something genuinely exceeds their remit. 8 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Technical and Functional: Deep understanding of banking finance, management reporting, and what drives P&L across business lines. Proven hands-on experience in automating reports, building data-driven workflows, and improving reporting systems. Strong knowledge of profitability concepts — funds transfer pricing, cost allocation, and how segment-level returns are calculated. Practical understanding of AI and machine learning in a finance context, enough to shape realistic use cases and judge whether outputs make sense. Experience with finance platforms such as OFSAA, data models, or BI tools is a plus. Agile and Product Ownership: Proven track record owning a product backlog and driving delivery in an Agile environment. Strong skills in backlog management, sprint planning, prioritisation, and release planning. Able to turn complex business needs into clear user stories and drive the squad to deliver incrementally. Experience bringing AI or digital initiatives into Agile delivery. Comfortable working in cross-functional squads across technology, data, and business. Skilled in Scrum or Kanban; CSPO or PSPO certification preferred. Able to balance what needs to happen now with what matters over the longer term. Leadership and Interpersonal: Confident communicator who can engage senior stakeholders, push back when needed, and bring people along. Strong analytical thinking with a sharp eye for detail. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and get results without relying on formal authority. Well-organised, resilient, and comfortable managing several competing priorities at once. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, Finance, or a related field. At least eight years of experience in Business Analysis, Product Ownership, or a similar Agile delivery role. Prior experience in banking or financial services is strongly preferred The leading financial institution in MENA While more than half a century old, we proudly think like a challenger, startup, and innovator in banking and finance, powered by a diverse and dynamic team who put customers first. Together, we pioneer key innovations and developments in banking and financial services. Our mandate? To help customers find their way to Rise Every Day, partnering with them through the highs and lows to help them reach their goals and unlock their unique vision of success. Delivering superior service to clients by leading with innovation, treating colleagues with dignity and fairness while pursuing opportunities that grow shareholders value. We actively contribute to the community through responsible banking in our mission to inspire more people to Rise.

Responsibilities

The Product Owner is responsible for managing the squad's product backlog, setting priorities, and ensuring the delivery of high-value management reporting solutions. They act as the subject-matter expert, bridging the gap between Finance, Technology, and Business teams to drive automation and profitability reporting.