State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is looking for an adept Islamic Finance professional to head the Islamic Finance Policy Department (IFPD) as its Director and steer the Islamic finance policy function in the SBP. This is a senior management position based in Karachi.

Director (OG7) - Islamic Finance Policy Department

Director IFPD will be reporting to the Executive Director - Islamic Finance Group and will be responsible to:

Review, develop and fortify the Islamic finance legal, regulatory and policy framework in line with Shariah principles. Collaborate and partner with the Islamic finance industry for development of innovative Islamic finance products including participatory and risk sharing products for meeting the financial services needs of the industry, businesses with particular focus on agriculture and rural sector. Collaborate and partner with the Islamic finance industry for development of robust risk management strategies to identify, assess and mitigate the risks associated with Islamic finance products and services particularly the risk sharing products. Lead and oversee the development of asset light, Musharakah and other risk sharing Sukuk of different maturities including short term Sukuk. Develop, coach and counsel the Islamic Finance professionals’ teams to steer the development of Islamic finance industry in conformity with Shariah principles in letter and spirit. Collaborate and partner with the Islamic finance industry for developing innovative products and rollout strategies to increase the outreach of Islamic finance to underserved segments of the economy. Initiate meaningful and objective research projects on Islamic finance trends and global market developments to effect policy adjustments and enhance competitiveness. Foster relationships with key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and Shariah scholars, to garner support and input for effective policy formulation and implementation. Collaborate and partner with Islamic Finance Development Department and other SBP Departments to lead and steer transformation of conventional banking into Islamic banking. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly monitor the performance of Islamic banking operations against set targets. Promote a culture of ethical governance within the Islamic Banking industry emphasizing transparency, fairness, and integrity in all dealings. Identify opportunities for expanding the Islamic Banking market, both domestically and internationally, while considering regulatory and cultural nuances. Develop framework for adoption of prudential, Shariah, accounting, governance, financial reporting standards, etc. issued by the leading international and domestic standard setting bodies like Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), etc. Stay abreast of technological advancements and promote the integration of modern technologies in Islamic banking operations to enhance efficiency and customer experience.

 Eligibility Criteria:

Education:	Master’s or Bachelor’s degree (with a minimum of 16 years of education) in Finance/ Islamic Finance/Banking from a HEC recognized university or foreign university. Professional qualification or Diploma in Islamic banking/ Shariah/ Fiqh ul Muamlat would be preferred.
Age:	Maximum 50 years, as on the date of advertisement. Age relaxation may be allowed in case of outstanding experience and achievements at national and international level.
Experience:	At least 15 years of experience including at least 5 years in senior management position in Islamic Banking.

 Compensation:

Competitive market based compensation package backed by attractive salary and well-rounded benefits structure as per State Bank’s rules.

 Application Procedure

Interested candidates fulfilling the stated eligibility criteria may submit their applications online on https://www.sbp.org.pk/careers/status.asp. Last date to apply is March 20, 2024.

Applications, which are not in accordance with defined requirements in the advertisement, will not be entertained. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Females, candidates from minorities, transgender persons and persons with disability are encouraged to apply

Any candidate who misinforms, attempts to influence the recruitment process in any manner, tries to obtain support for his/her candidature by inappropriate means or tampers with evidence of his/her age, educational and other certificates, shall be disqualified from the current and any future recruitment process at the Bank; even if he/she is otherwise eligible.