Head Credit Approvals - Retail Credit

National Bank of Fujairah; Fujairah; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

National Bank of Fujairah Head Credit Approvals - Retail Credit will oversee the Retail Credit approvers to ensure applications conform to policy, authority matrix and SLA. The role also governs governance, MIS, and staff development across branches.

You will lead digitalization efforts, explore AI-led solutions for the approval process, and drive end-to-end automation to improve customer experience and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree from a recognised university.
• 15 years of banking experience with at least 10 years in Retail Credit.
• Fluent in English and Arabic, strong leadership and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Process and assure timely processing of all applications per SLA and policy.
• Lead RCIT staff, distribute workloads to meet SLA targets.
• Drive digitalization and automation, including AI-led retail approvals.
• Governance over policy, scorecards, MIS, and audit findings.
• Respond to sales channels and maintain target market lists.

Skills

Leadership

Analytics

Attention to detail

Automation mindset

Communication (Arabic/English)

Education

Graduate degree

Job description

Job Title: Head Credit Approvals - Retail Credit

Posting Start Date: 28/09/2026

Job Purpose

To manage the Retail Credit approvers to ensure all credit applications are processed as per Retail Credit policy, authority matrix & to agreed SLA’s / TAT’s. Ensure that all RCIT staff are fully aware of the bank’s credit policy. Review / monitor Retail credit portfolio through dashboards to ensure that exposure is within agreed limits.

• Train staff and ensure that critical Emiratization roles increase. Keep the team motivated and engaged as measured by engagement surveys.
• To lead the transformation towards digitalization and automation, including exploring AI led solutions for a retail approval system. End to end automation for improved customer experience is a critical responsibility.
• Take ownership of governance including central bank’s policies, application and behaviour scorecards, MIS of the portfolio and resolution of findings by internal audit.

Key Accountabilities

• Processing
• Assure processing of all applications received from the sales channels as per SLA.
• Manage distribution of applications within RCIT team to ensure SLA’s are met.
• Assure all applications are processed as per Retail Credit policy & authority levels.
• Attend all issues related to the special packages offered to the company as well as the promotion offered to different organizations.
• To advise sales channels accordingly of declined applications (& request for further documentation) including decline reason as per TAT.
• Identify exceptions to policy & prepare documentation for higher approval as per authority policy & matrix.
• Manage retail assets portfolio and consolidating the achievements to retail management.
• Review, confirm & process applicable invoices from vendors via Pacman system (Valuators, AECB etc.)
• To prepare yearly /monthly / weekly and daily MIS reports related to retail portfolio to show approved / declined applications & status of portfolio.
• Responding to queries raised by sales channels regarding retail products.
• Maintain & distribute to sales channels the Target Market list (TML) and approve list of company for lending retail product.
• Receive and summarize recommendation from the branches and collecting all the required documentation related to company's information for approval as listed company.

Compliance

• Ensure that local regulatory compliance functions are in place and monitored properly.
• Ensure that business risks and controls are well managed.
• Compliance with code of conduct.
• Complying with the policies of the Bank while performing in the role.
• Monitor portfolio performance to identify potential PD / NPL & conduct regular reviews with Remedial team to minimise.
• Monitor and follow‑up with the branches regarding the overdrawn and past dues accounts.
• Risk & Compliance training, closure of high and medium risk IA items within agreed timelines, compliance towards the Bank's Risk & Compliance Policies, ORMF and Information Security policies within the Department. Achievement of Well managed KPIs

Other Accountabilities

• Service Quality

To provide high quality service to sale channels /customers.

• To achieve set targets in terms of SLA’s for sales channels / customer transactions.
• Early identification of VIP customer issues to enable quick resolution & approval via authority matrix to ensure high level of customer service to VIP customers.
• Monitoring the prompt service have been provided to the sales channels /customer and any complaints will be dealt with utmost importance & within TAT.
• Provide concise & one‑time responses to sales channels with reference to applications declined or requiring re‑work.
• To ensure full documentation provided to Operations to enable efficient disbursement.
• Conduct regular meetings with Sales, Operations & Remedial to identify & resolve issues.
• Conduct regular meetings with RCIT staff to resolve issues, improve efficiency & create professional working environment.
• To provide high quality service to branches, Priority team & DST.
• To achieve set targets in terms of service standards for branches transactions
• Responding to queries raised by branches/DST regarding retail products.
• To ensure unit capacity / availability to process applications as per TAT / SLA

CRM Objectives

• Create and maintain a compliance culture through maintenance of the Compliance Risk Management framework within the business.
• Coordinate and assist in regulatory and other audits, sample testing of compliance monitoring undertaken by the Compliance Representatives.
• Ensure timely completion of compliance management actions and timely submission of accurate compliance reports, including the execution of monitoring actions.

Internal & External Training

• Organize training for RCIT staff based on training gaps identified, Minimum three trainings to be completed per staff per year.
• Should be organized and conducting for self as well as RCIT also emphasize on UAE national training with HR coordination.
• Handle career planning and professional performance management.
• Weekly /monthly meetings related to RCIT issues/front line / OPS
• Retail credit eLearning, trainings and awareness sessions.
• Ensure IDP, & capacity plans are updated.

Branch Visits

RCIT representative to visit all branches a minimum of 2 times per annum to highlight any process change, understand issue faced at frontline & take necessary action to resolve

Financials

• Staff capacity of RCIT as per budget. Continuous process enhancement to handle higher volumes.
• Variance on Budget (cost, staff, NPL) not to exceed 10%.

Innovation

• Introduce at least one idea to improve process or reduce cost

Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

• Responsible for ensuring proper Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is in place. All laid down processes in the plan are followed in case of a disaster situation.

Job Context

To review Retail Credit applications through to approval of the products as per Retail Credit policy & authority matrix & to ensure VIP customer application issues are identified & resolved immediately.

• Participate in PWC’s or other committee forums to enhance RCIT processes / policy reviews & recommendations.

Education

Graduate degree from a recognised university

Experience and Skills

Skills

• Leadership skills to lead and motivate a team of underwriters.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Creativity in terms of meeting customer demands with existing products.
• Excellent communication skills in Arabic & English (write, speak & read)
• Understanding of technology to automate the approval process

Education level

Graduate degree from a recognised university

Work Experience

• 15 years’ experience in Banking & minimum 10 years’ in a Retail Credit role.
• Ability to speak fluent English / Arabic
• Good knowledge of local banking regulations.
• Good knowledge of all retail credit products
• Should have advanced PC skills (MS Office & spread sheet)

Technical Competencies

Regulatory Compliance and Fraud- Risk Management- Proficient Operational Risk Management -Risk Management- Proficient Market and Liquidity Risk Management- Risk Management- Proficient Credit Risk Management- Risk Management- Expert Risk Analytics and Basel - Risk Management- Expert Cyber & Information Security - Risk Management- Proficient Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) & Governance - Risk Management-Advanced

Behavioural Competencies

Change and Innovation - Expert Communication - Expert Working and collaborating with others - Expert Vision and Strategy - Expert Results Orientation - Expert Evaluating and Solving Challenges - Expert Empowering and developing self and others - Expert Delivering Value - Expert