Credit Risk Manager (Private Banking)

Aventus; Dubai; On-site; AED 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

Aventus is seeking a Credit Risk Manager to provide independent credit oversight across HNWI, consumer and SME lending portfolios in Dubai. The role requires rigorous risk judgment and a private banking/wealth management background, aligned with UAE regulations and best practice.

You will assess facilities and collateral, support the Credit Committee, monitor portfolio health, oversee IFRS 9 staging and ECL, and contribute to policies, MIS and process improvements within the Risk function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting; professional certifications preferred.
• 5–7+ years’ credit underwriting experience within UAE banking, private bank or wealth division.
• Experience with securities-backed lending and real estate–backed lending is desirable.
• Strong understanding of Private Banking, Wealth Management, and SME products.

Responsibilities

• Deliver independent credit risk assessments for HNWI, consumer and SME clients including new facilities, renewals and amendments.
• Evaluate repayment capacity, facility structure and collateral strength in line with risk appetite and policies.
• Assess diverse product ranges (securities-backed, mortgages, credit cards, SME lending) and assign internal risk ratings.
• Support Credit Committee processes, prepare credit packs and communicate decisions to the business.
• Monitor portfolio health, watchlist, and covenant breaches; oversee IFRS 9 staging and ECL provisioning.
• Oversee policy reviews, lending authority frameworks, and portfolio MIS for senior management and regulators.
• Contribute to automation, system enhancements and process improvements across Risk.

Skills

Credit underwriting

IFRS 9

Private Banking / Wealth Management

Financial statement analysis

Cash flow analysis

Advanced Excel

Regulatory knowledge (CB UAE)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or related discipline

CA or CFA advantageous

Tools

Excel

Job description

Location: Dubai

About the Client

Our client is a well-established regional bank with a strong and growing presence in Dubai. As it continues to expand its Private and Consumer Banking business, it is seeking a Credit Risk Manager to provide independent credit oversight across its high-net-worth, retail and SME lending portfolios. This role suits a credit professional from a private banking or wealth management background who combines rigorous risk judgement with a practical, business-focused approach that supports sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver independent credit risk assessments for new and existing HNWI, consumer and SME clients, covering new facilities, renewals, increases and amendments, and prepare recommendations for approvers and committees.
• Evaluate repayment capacity, facility structure and collateral strength, so that lending stays within the bank’s risk appetite, credit policies and CBUAE requirements, including market conduct standards.
• Assess a broad product range, including securities-backed and Lombard lending, real estate–backed lending, mortgages, credit cards, personal loans and SME finance, and assign internal risk ratings to borrowers.
• Support the Credit Committee process, including preparing credit packs, recording minutes and communicating decisions to the business.
• Monitor portfolio health by tracking excesses, past dues, collateral shortfalls and covenant breaches, and manage the watchlist and stressed accounts using early warning signals.
• Oversee IFRS 9 staging and ECL provisioning, and carry out grading of shares, bonds, sukuk and issuers held as collateral.
• Own the review of credit policies, procedures and lending authority frameworks, and produce portfolio MIS for senior management, Board committees, regulators and auditors.
• Contribute to credit automation, system enhancements and process improvement initiatives across the Risk function.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related discipline. CA or CFA would be advantageous.
• 5–7+ years’ credit underwriting experience within UAE banking, ideally gained in a private bank or the private/wealth division of a larger institution.
• Strong hands-on experience in securities-backed lending, including assessment of equity and fixed-income collateral. Exposure to mortgages, credit cards and SME cash-flow lending is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of Private Banking, Wealth Management, Consumer Banking and SME products.
• Advanced financial statement and cash flow analysis skills.
• Sound working knowledge of CBUAE regulations, including credit risk management standards, consumer protection, mortgage lending rules and IFRS 9.
• Advanced Excel skills, strong organisational ability and the confidence to provide independent challenge to the business.