Vice President - Wholesale Banking Credit

At RAKBANK, we believe in fostering a culture of innovation, growth, and excellence. We are not just a bank – we are a community that thrives on teamwork, cutting-edge solutions, and the highest standards of governance.

About the Role

As a Vice President – Wholesale Banking Credit, you will play a critical leadership role within the Credit Management function, overseeing credit analysis, underwriting, portfolio monitoring, loan review, and credit risk governance across Wholesale Banking Group, Business Banking Commercial, Treasury, and related portfolios.

Working closely with Business, Risk Management, Treasury, and Remedial teams, you will help safeguard portfolio quality while supporting sustainable business growth through robust credit assessment, risk mitigation, policy governance, and regulatory compliance.

What You'll Be Doing:

Credit Risk Assessment & Portfolio Management

• Conduct in-depth assessment of new and existing credit proposals across Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, Treasury, Financial Institutions, Sovereigns, Asset Backed Finance, Factoring, and other specialized lending portfolios.
• Provide independent recommendations based on detailed analysis of financial, industry, business, and risk factors.
• Ensure appropriate identification, measurement, mitigation, and monitoring of credit risks.
• Support portfolio growth while maintaining strong asset quality and risk discipline.

Portfolio Monitoring & Credit Oversight

• Monitor portfolio performance, industry concentrations, credit risk grades, and economic trends.
• Identify emerging risks, adverse trends, and early warning signals within the portfolio.
• Review irregular accounts, problem credits, substandard exposures, and covenant compliance.
• Monitor excesses and work with Business and Treasury teams to ensure timely regularization.

Credit Policy & Governance

• Support the development, enhancement, and implementation of Wholesale Banking credit policies, procedures, and credit circulars.
• Ensure lending decisions are aligned with approved credit policies, regulatory requirements, and risk appetite.
• Recommend policy enhancements based on portfolio reviews, compliance findings, and emerging risk trends.
• Contribute to the continuous strengthening of governance and credit control frameworks.

Stakeholder Management & Committee Support

• Prepare and present portfolio reviews, risk assessments, and management reports to senior management and committees.
• Support Credit Policy and Portfolio Review Committee meetings and other governance forums.
• Liaise with Internal Audit, External Audit, and regulatory authorities on credit-related matters.
• Build strong partnerships across Business, Risk, Treasury, Collections, and Remedial functions.

Credit Operations & Regulatory Reporting

• Review and oversee temporary excess requests and related follow-up activities.
• Ensure compliance with all Central Bank regulations, internal operating procedures, and audit requirements.
• Oversee timely and accurate submission of regulatory and management reporting.
• Maintain robust documentation standards and ensure regulatory compliance across the portfolio.

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Drive process enhancements, workflow improvements, and automation initiatives within the credit function.
• Contribute to improving turnaround times, efficiency, and service delivery.
• Support business strategy by enhancing portfolio quality and optimizing risk-adjusted returns.
• Mentor and develop team members while promoting a culture of continuous learning and excellence.

What We're Looking For:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent qualification.
• MBA, CA, ACCA, CFA, Associate of Institute of Bankers, or other Risk Management-related professional qualifications are highly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of extensive experience in Corporate Banking or Mid-Corporate Credit Underwriting.
• Proven experience in wholesale banking credit, risk assessment, portfolio management, and credit governance.
• Strong exposure to corporate lending, treasury credit, structured lending, and commercial banking portfolios.

Industry Exposure

• Deep understanding of corporate credit analysis, risk grading, portfolio monitoring, and credit underwriting.
• Strong knowledge of UAE banking regulations and CBUAE requirements.
• Working knowledge of accounting standards, financial analysis, and credit risk management practices.
• Understanding of legal documentation, lending structures, and debt recovery processes.

What’s In It For You:

• Competitive, performance-linked compensation.
• Medical coverage for you and your family.
• Comprehensive life insurance.
• Opportunity to influence credit strategy and portfolio quality across the Bank's wholesale lending portfolio.
• Exposure to complex corporate, commercial, treasury, and structured finance transactions.
• Career growth within a leading UAE banking institution.
• Collaborative and high-performance environment with strong leadership exposure.

Skills:

• Credit Analysis & Underwriting: Strong corporate and commercial credit assessment capabilities.
• Risk Management: Deep understanding of credit risk identification, mitigation, and portfolio monitoring.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance growth objectives with prudent risk management.
• Leadership & Influence: Strong stakeholder management and decision-making capabilities.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Sound understanding of CBUAE regulations, governance, and compliance requirements.
• Financial Acumen: Strong knowledge of financial statements, accounting standards, and industry analysis.