AVP & Lead, Credit Management, Education & Healthcare

Role Overview

AVP & Lead, Credit Management, Education & Healthcare at First Abu Dhabi Bank – FAB. This role manages credit ownership across the Healthcare and Education segment within Wholesale Banking.

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role is to take credit ownership from underwriting to obtaining necessary approvals for the assigned portfolio of clients across the Healthcare & Education segment within Wholesale Banking. The role ensures all propositions are in compliance with Group Credit Policy and guidelines, and provides guidance and expertise across the full spectrum of product offerings by working with Coverage & Product teams and engaging with clients, where necessary, in structuring and propositioning to meet both client needs and Bank requirements in a swift and expeditious manner.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Relationship Management

• Actively participate in client relationships through client visits and conference calls as part of transaction origination and structuring.
• Undertake periodic meetings and conference calls with clients along with Relationship Managers for prospective and existing clients.
• Coordinate with Relationship Managers well in advance of due dates of annual reviews to obtain necessary information from the borrower to facilitate a comprehensive review of credit facilities.

Credit Analysis & Structuring

• Provide ongoing feedback and expert inputs into deal structure intermittently and as required based on Bank Risk Appetite for products, industry, sector, geography, and counterparty.
• Advise Relationship Managers on risk factors associated with complex transactions and the clauses imperative in mitigating these risks.
• Conduct and, where appropriate, guide a team of analyst(s) to conduct robust credit analysis and obtain appropriate approvals.
• Prepare comprehensive credit papers clearly outlining key risks, mitigations, and recommendations for presentation to the Approving Authority for prospective and existing clients under assigned portfolio.
• Guide Coverage and Product teams on credit appetite and ways and means to optimize the same to achieve optimal risk-reward balance as per established guidelines.
• Provide senior level advisory support on credit policies, lending structures, documentations, and guidance to business heads and units in managing complex credit risks and providing practical solutions.

Due Diligence & Compliance

• Participate and represent credit in the due diligence process for prospective deals in collaboration with Coverage and Product teams, and ensure that emerging risk factors are identified and suitably addressed with appropriate mitigants.
• Ensure that appropriate Target Market Risk Acceptance Criteria and Credit Policy guidelines are followed as part of the approval process.
• Coordinate with internal counterparties (CAD, Legal, etc.) to provide guidance on risk assessment, risk rating, and documentation.
• Monitor accounts regularly and follow up with Business units on terms and conditions to ensure compliance with approval conditions.

Portfolio Management & Monitoring

• Ensure timely availability of required information to Head of Credit and Unit Head for credit decision making.
• Oversee the mark-to-market revaluation and margin monitoring process and liaise with respective Relationship Managers to rectify any margin call situations.
• Review exception and portfolio reports as applicable and keep abreast of client account conduct, financial standing, and latest developments occurring in their respective segment and market in order to provide appropriate recommendations regarding changes in risk appetite, ratings, and classification.
• Monitor early warning indicators in order to identify potential problem accounts and liaise with Business Units to ensure suitable action plans are in place to rectify the situation at an early stage.
• Manage problem credits closely and recommend appropriate strategies and remedial action plans. Identify defaulters and recommend immediate remedial arrangements for maintaining a quality credit portfolio.
• Ensure all excesses, exceptions, overdue annual reviews, covenant deficiencies, current collateral valuations, and deficiencies in terms and conditions vis-à-vis lending portfolio are monitored, controlled, and addressed.
• Ensure asset classification and provisioning is in line with statutory and policy guidelines including any risk downgrades.

Risk Management & Governance

• Obtain accurate and current information and update Risk systems (Risk rating models, collateral management system, etc.) that allow for accurate identification of risk profiles and ratings in all asset categories.
• Ensure accuracy of data being presented to various stakeholders including senior management.
• Recommend amendments to the Bank's credit policy, procedures, Risk Rating models, credit memorandums, and risk criteria based on lending experience and market expediencies, ensuring alignment with the overall Bank's risk strategy and policy.
• Ensure satisfactory rating in audits through proactive actions and ensure all recommendations are implemented.

Execution & Delivery

• Ensure credit processing and approval turnaround times as per agreed SLAs with Business Segment.

Knowledge Sharing & Development

• Contribute to enhancement of knowledge and expertise of other team members by participating in training and development initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree (required)
• Desirable: Chartered Accountant, Masters in Business Administration (MBA), or any other relevant finance degree, professional certification charter (CFA/FRM, etc.) or diploma
• Minimum 10 years relevant experience in the banking sector with at least 4–5 years in Large Corporate or Wholesale Credit function
• Proven experience in Corporate Credit underwriting, preferably across Healthcare and/or Education sectors regionally or globally, including analysis of underlying business fundamentals, cash flows, and sustainability of the business
• Expert knowledge and experience of products and structures across trade and working capital, syndicated and bilateral loans, and structured finance, including knowledge of documentation specific to such facilities
• Solid understanding of Investment and Global Markets and Treasury products
• Good understanding of legal and regulatory framework

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong communication skills – written and spoken