Associate Director, Education Sector - Emiratized Role

Role Overview

Associate Director, Education Sector at First Abu Dhabi Bank. This is an Emiratized role based in Abu Dhabi.

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 committed to excellence and innovation, delivering top-tier financial solutions to clients globally. FAB has structured plans for the recruitment and career progression of Emirati talent to enable them to make a mark in the financial and banking sector both regionally and globally.

Role Purpose

To drive financial analysis, structural execution, and day-to-day management of an account portfolio within the Education sector. The Associate Director acts as the execution engine for the department, collaborating with product partners to structure credit facilities, manage KYC reviews and STRs, navigate internal risk and compliance frameworks, and identify cross-sell opportunities. While supporting the Director on mega-mandates, the Associate Director is independently responsible for managing mid-market client relationships and delivering targeted revenue and New-to-Bank growth.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Analysis & Underwriting

• Lead detailed financial analysis of clients and their respective sub-sectors (K-12, Higher Ed, Nurseries) to identify commercial opportunities and mitigate structural risks.
• Serve as the primary financial modeler and technical underwriting writer for the education book to accelerate decision-making turnarounds.
• Assess and address credit, market, and operational risks in active collaboration with risk and product enablement teams.

Transaction Execution & Documentation

• Prepare end-to-end transaction documentation including complex credit applications, term sheets, information memoranda, and mandate letters.
• Own the day-to-day transaction administration, client communications, onboarding pipelines, and account opening procedures.

Credit & Compliance Management

• Take ownership of coordinating with the KYC team to ensure timely completion of periodic KYC reviews for all clients within the portfolio.
• Ensure all credit reviews and annual renewals are submitted promptly and comply with agreed covenant conditions.
• Maintain excellent credit quality, compliance and AML approvals across the assigned portfolio in strict compliance with bank standards and regulatory targets.
• Ensure full execution compliance with mandatory KYC, AML, and regulatory frameworks.
• Maintain satisfactory internal and external audit outcomes for the assigned portfolio by keeping pristine client documentation.

Business Development

• Identify and secure New-to-Bank (NTB) business with targeted educational corporate clients.
• Drive maximum cross-selling velocity across WBG products, heavily focusing on Global Transaction Banking (tuition collection infrastructure, cash management, liquidity) and Treasury/FX.
• Construct and maintain proactive client account plans to map institutional wallet share.

Internal Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as the primary liaison navigating the internal bank matrix (Risk, Legal, Compliance) to clear transactional bottlenecks and fast-track deal approvals.
• Function within the framework and boundaries of Group policies as well as overall organizational and governance frameworks.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Management, or a related quantitative discipline.
• 5–7 years of experience in Corporate Banking Coverage, Structured Finance, or Investment Banking.
• Direct Sector Experience: Proven track record handling corporate clients in the Education sector with understanding of their seasonal enrollment cash flows, Capex needs, and regulatory limits.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Finance is highly preferred.
• Formal bank credit training or CFA certification is highly advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of Wholesale Banking credit structures, market solutions, and corporate strategies.
• Deep proficiency in financial modeling, corporate risk analysis, and Treasury/FX hedging concepts.
• Exceptional communication and internal diplomacy skills to influence internal committees.