Head of Commercial Banking

First Abu Dhabi Bank; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

First Abu Dhabi Bank is seeking a senior CIB leader in the UAE to translate strategy into actionable department plans and oversee risk, governance, and client growth. You will drive cross-functional collaboration, manage P&L, and lead talent development to support business expansion across the bank's corporate client base.

In this role, you will supervise complex portfolios, engage with product partners, and guide teams through market opportunities, while ensuring high-quality client service and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or related discipline.
• Master's degree in Business Administration is preferred.
• 10 years' relevant experience in banking with at least 4 years in progressively responsible managerial roles in CIB.
• Preference for UAE Nationals.
• Remote Work: No; Employment Type: Full-time.

Responsibilities

• Cascade the functional strategy into department plans to align with other strategies.
• Develop departmental strategy and plan to increase wallet share via needs-based segmentation.
• Lead the department by setting objectives, managing performance, and developing staff.
• Drive talent development to ensure availability of required skills.
• Manage department budget and monitor performance versus plan; oversee P&L.
• Ensure implementation of CIB policies, procedures and controls.
• Supervise client portfolio health and mitigate risks to minimise losses.
• Lead market analysis and growth recommendations to improve competitiveness.
• Originate and manage a portfolio of Commercial Banking clients, growing wallet share.
• Coordinate cross-department activities to cross-sell treasury, investment banking, and other products.
• Lead pitches to win major mandates and support wider client pitches.
• Review and implement account plans to capitalize opportunities.
• Maintain credit quality within the client group.

Skills

Business Development

Compliance

Revenue Growth

Customer Services

Account Management

CRM

Client Relationships

Market Research

Project Management

Contract Management

Daily Operations

Logistics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance

Master's degree in Business Administration (preferred)

Job description

Strategic Contribution

• Ensure effective cascading of the functional strategy into department business plans to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing departmental strategies.
• Develop the departmental strategy and business plan with the aim of increasing the Banks share of the target clients wallet by following a needs-based segmentation.

People Management

• Manage the effective achievement of assigned objectives through the leadership of the department by setting of individual objectives managing performance developing and motivating staff to maximise departmental performance.
• Lead the talent development initiatives for the assigned department collaborating with technical/discipline experts and thereby ensure the availability of talent to fit business requirements.
• Act as a role model and drive adherence to organisational values and ethics by employees of the assigned department to foster a value driven culture within the Group.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

• Manage the preparation and recommend the department budget and monitor financial performance versus the budget while ensuring all departmental activities are conducted in line with the approved guidelines.
• Manage P&L responsibility of the department achieving targets within defined budget levels.

Policies Systems Processes & Procedures

• Manage and ensure effective implementation of the CIB functional policies procedures and controls covering all areas of assigned department activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements fulfilled while delivering a quality cost-effective service.

Client Relationship Management

• Supervise the ongoing analysis of clients financial health and the detection of any potential defaults to formulate and implement the appropriate risk mitigation tactics and minimise any potential losses.
• Lead market and opportunity analysis mandates (competitiveness trends interest rates asset and liability positions trade volumes credit facilities etc.) and provide recommendations on growth strategies to improve the Banks competitiveness and grow its share in the market.
• Originate and manage a portfolio of Commercial Banking clients providing ongoing assistance and advisory to same to increase the number of new clients and the wallet shares of existing ones.
• Manage key clients existing client portfolios relationships and expectations ensuring the provision of superior client service to improve clients experiences increase wallet shares and maximise revenues for the Bank.
• Discuss all the CIB products with clients on an ongoing basis to increase the client exposure to the banks full suite of products and services.
• Structure financial transactions and ensure the proper coordination with other departments/ sub-departments to achieve effective cross-selling of treasury investment banking derivatives Islamic banking cash management and consumer finance products and services.
• Lead pitches to win major mandates and support the wider team in their customer pitches.
• Review the account plans developed by the team to swiftly follow-up on identified business opportunities and provide necessary strategies.
• Assign newly acquired clients and revenue targets to the TLs SRMs and RMs based on the level and existing portfolio and monitor performance against these targets to highlight to the Head of CIB on any variances and discrepancies thus ensuring realization of defined departmental targets.
• Maintain the credit quality of the clients relationships within client group to an acceptable level set by the banks leadership team.

Other Activities

• Participate in negotiations of the proposals credit structures and documentations with the client and other departments/ sub-departments at the Bank to ensure these activities are completed on time and the process is completed appropriately.
• Ensure that high credit quality inputs are maintained always within the Corporate Banking credit portfolio.
• Participate in various CBG wide initiatives on process improvements new products etc. as and when nominated by the Head of CIB.

Internal Collaboration

• Maintain strong internal relations and collaborate with Product partners to maximize cross-selling opportunities.
• Develop service level targets and manage the coordination with other departments to meet client service expectations.

Product Maintenance and Enhancement

• Report client feedback and identified service needs to the Head of CIB and assist the latter in improving the departments value proposition to maintain the Banks competitive status and meet client needs.
• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement of products systems processes and practices while considering client needs and market developments.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems processes and practices considering global standards productivity improvement and cost reduction.

Reporting

• Ensure that all department reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet Group requirements policies and quality standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelors degree in Finance or related discipline.
• Masters degree in Business Administration is preferred.

Minimum Experience

10 years relevant experience in the banking sector with at least 4 years in similar positions of progressively increasing managerial responsibilities in the CIB function.

Preference for UAE Nationals

Remote Work

No

Employment Type

Full-time

Key Skills

Business Development, Compliance, Revenue Growth, Customer Services, Account Management, Staff Meetings, Communication, CRM, Client Relationships, Market Research, Project Management, Contract Management, Business Units, daily operation, Logistics

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1