AVP & Manager, PBO Trade Finance Operations

Role Overview

AVP & Manager, PBO Trade Finance Operations at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), based in the UAE.

Company Overview

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is the largest bank in the UAE and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions. FAB offers a comprehensive range of personal and private banking services, including credit cards, Islamic banking, investments, loans, and mortgages. The organization is dedicated to creating value for its employees, customers, shareholders, and communities through innovation, agility, and differentiation. FAB fosters a performance-based culture and provides learning and development initiatives to support all employees through training and skill development.

Role Purpose

This role supervises and authorizes Trade Finance transactions while ensuring compliance with internal procedures and operational controls. The jobholder develops and maintains efficient processes and systems for the Trade Finance function, analyzes and addresses process-related risks, and delivers high-quality, timely service to clients. The role supports end-to-end trade products—especially letters of credit and document checking—for UAE operations and provides backup coverage for International Trade Operations including USA timing as required.

Key Responsibilities

Team Supervision

• Organize and supervise assigned team work to ensure all activities are carried out efficiently and consistently with operating procedures and policy.
• Provide on-the-job training and constructive feedback to assigned team members to support their overall development.
• Promote the organization's values and ethics in all team activities to support establishment of a value-driven culture within the bank.
• Support the line manager in developing, coaching, and monitoring staff performance and arranging remedial training where necessary.
• Support the line manager in sustaining a higher and acceptable rate of employee satisfaction in line with bank policy.
• Create a positive environment on the floor for employees and support them in achieving their respective goals.
• Ensure adherence to training man-days for team and self.
• Undertake employee productivity measures.

Transaction Processing & Authorization

• Process, check, verify, and authorize transactions as per approval matrix and delegation provided, ensuring processing is carried out in a controlled manner.
• Maintain the highest level of internal and external customer satisfaction standards.
• Minimize operational risks for the bank by ensuring all transactions processed comply fully with underlying customer or internal instructions and are properly executed.
• Maintain zero operational loss.
• Target zero complaints and minimum 95 percent adherence to turnaround time standards as agreed with business.
• Ensure nil unauthorized breaches in policy and regulatory requirements and standard operating procedures.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Effectively monitor compliance with regulatory guidelines and local and international sanctions in Trade Finance processes.
• Identify and mitigate risks through improved controls in Trade Finance operations.
• Ensure anti-money laundering, Central Bank guidelines, and other internal policies and procedures are strictly followed.
• Report any unusual transactions to levels prescribed.
• Support preparation and control testing for BIA and RCSA as per risk and audit management policy.
• Proactively highlight situations of extraordinary non-operational risks, such as market and legal risks that may arise from transactions entered into.
• Achieve satisfactory internal and external audit, OCS, and OR ratings.
• Ensure nil breaches in housekeeping, including reconciliations, tracers, and DCFCL.

Policies, Systems, Processes & Procedures

• Provide inputs and implement policies, systems, and procedures for the assigned team so that all relevant procedural and legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering quality, cost-effective service.
• Ensure self and staff adhere to standard operating procedures at all times.
• Recommend and implement changes in policies, procedures, processes, and systems in line with industry developments.
• Prepare standard operating procedures as per audit and RMU requirements for TFU products.
• Develop and introduce robust tools and processes to identify and mitigate operational risks attached to the department.
• Monitor and reconciliation of internal, income, and suspense accounts and attestation of accounts as per bank policy.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Participate in the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes, and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement, and cost reduction.
• Participate and drive collaborative efforts to advance tools, technology, and ways of working to better serve an evolving client base.
• Support the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and practices towards cost efficiency.
• Participate in and implement projects, system development, and other initiatives applicable to the department.
• Track number of process improvement proposals found fruitful by management and number of successful process improvements implemented.

Reporting & Communication

• Prepare sectional statements and reports timely and accurately to meet FAB and department requirements, policies, and quality standards.
• Prepare statistical data for internal and external relationships.
• Keep self-apprised of developments taking place in the industry and disseminate them to staff under direct and indirect reporting where applicable.
• Deal with internal customers and counterparts in other banks to respond to queries and problems.
• Conduct routine correspondence with customers and other external and internal contacts.
• Provide technical guidance to customers when needed.
• Hold records in safe custody.
• Achieve more than 90 percent satisfaction score in the internal customer survey.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate, preferably in Commerce, Financial Services, Banking and Finance, or related field.
• CDCS or equivalent certification preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in Trade Finance with at least 3 years as a supervisor.
• Working expertise and knowledge of ICC Publications, ICC Banking Commission opinions, and other compliance and trade-related rules and regulations.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent customer service skills and relationship skills with strong customer focus and interpersonal abilities.
• Proactive and self-motivated with ability to work independently with minimal supervision and under tight deadlines.
• Proven ability to meet new challenges, assimilate new information, and influence people through maturity of approach.

Additional Information

• Staff must be flexible to work on a shift basis as backup for International Trade Operations, including USA timing and as per respective country requirements.