Head of Service- Corporate Finance

First Abu Dhabi Bank; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank in the UAE seeks a Head of Service – Corporate Finance to drive technology transformation initiatives and manage critical banking services. The ideal candidate will possess over 12 years of experience in banking technology, with proven skills in corporate lending and capital markets. This role involves strategic planning, implementation of AI solutions, and managing vendor relationships. Join us to enhance our corporate finance offerings.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in banking technology with at least 5 years in corporate lending.
• Demonstrated success implementing or managing commercial lending platforms.
• Proven track record in AI/ML and automation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital technology transformation initiatives across Corporate Finance Services.
• Own technology service roadmap and execution for Corporate Finance department.
• Act as a senior advisor to business leadership in technology matters.

Skills

Banking technology

Corporate lending

Capital markets

AI/ML

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

MBA or business-related postgraduate degree

Tools

LoanIQ

AWS Cloud Services

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Company Description

Join the UAE’s largest bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions. Our focus is to create value for our employees, customers, shareholders and communities to grow through differentiation, agility and innovation. We are looking for top talent and your success is our success. Accelerate your growth as you help us reach our goals and advance your career. Be ready to make your mark a top company, in an exciting and dynamic industry

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE:

Head of Service – Corporate Finance

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Generic Accountability

As Head of Service you will be responsible in building trust & relationship with business and jointly define and own the Technology roadmap and execution of critical banking services. Under this role, you will cover front-to-back ownership of platforms supporting Lending, Equity Capital Markets (ECM), and Debt Capital Markets (DCM) — with a strategic focus on modernization, automation, and innovation. You will understand strategic business needs and plan for growth, explore and analyze the design of digital solutions and technical models suited to the growth of FAB’s Corporate Finance offering in the UAE and other international locations.

5. JOB CONTEXT

(Specific accountabilities unique for the role which are not covered in Section 4)

Specific Accountability

• Lead, consult and implement digital technology transformation initiatives across all Corporate Finance Services functions considering the latest technological trends.
• Owns and manages end to end Technology Service roadmap and execution, be the CTO for Corporate Finance department and their trusted technology advisor.
• Understand all service offerings and actively identify opportunities to better serve internal and external customers
• Act as a senior technology advisor to business leadership across Lending, ECM, and DCM, identifying opportunities to streamline processes and enhance client experience through technology
• Lead platform design and integration across the lending lifecycle: deal origination, structuring, credit underwriting, approvals, execution, distribution, servicing, and portfolio management.
• Oversee deployment and customization of third-party platforms such as LoanIQ, ensuring they are tightly integrated with internal workflows and compliance controls.
• Drive implementation of AI and automation in key areas such as intelligent document extraction and data capture in credit packages; machine learning models for credit scoring, early warning, and deal vetting; automated workflows in loan servicing, payment reconciliation, and covenant monitoring.
• Align business and various IT teams across organization to drive common approaches, delivering sustainable, agile and reusable solutions.
• Lead technology delivery for ECM/DCM platforms supporting deal execution, book building, investor communications, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure end-to-end integration with investment banking, finance, legal, and market infrastructure systems.
• Manage cross-functional teams across architecture, engineering, data, and business analysis in global and regional hubs.
• Drive conceptualization and ideation process, develop detailed project plans, track and monitor key project health indicators and ensure effective implementation of new services and changes.
• Manage strategic vendor relationships with vendors and oversee contract negotiations, renewals, performance SLAs, and roadmap alignment.
• Ensure high availability and operational stability of platforms through proactive monitoring and ITIL-aligned support processes.
• Manage support teams (internal or outsourced) for incident resolution and change requests, especially during peak activity (e.g., corporate actions, IPOs).
• Lead a local and offshore team of platform managers, analysts, and support staff; build local capabilities and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of service delivery, risk management, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in banking technology, with at least 5 years in corporate lending and capital markets.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. MBA or business-related postgraduate degree preferred
• Demonstrated success implementing or managing LoanIQ or similar commercial lending platforms in a global bank
• Proven track record in AI/ML and automation initiatives, particularly in credit decisioning or underwriting workflow automation, loan servicing process optimization, and predictive analytics for risk and portfolio management
• Deep understanding of credit processes, structured finance, syndicated lending, and capital markets operations.
• Solid grasp of modern enterprise technologies: cloud (AWS preferred), microservices, APIs, low-code platforms, and data engineering.
• Proven track record of owning technology decisions and managing large and complex programs/projects in Investment Banking.
• Strong team player and self-driven with strong analytical mindset plus able to manage multiple senior stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation, analytical and articulation skills.
• Strong leadership, vendor governance, and communication skills.
• Knowledge and hands on working experience in one or more of the following areas is required: AWS Cloud Services, Azure Cloud Services, AI, ML, full stack engineering practices and platforms and Open APIs.
• Deep understanding on non-functional requirements and experience developing DevOps practices including pipeline automation and monitoring solutions
• Experience in both waterfall and agile methodologies.
• Proficiency in MS product suite, Jira and Confluence is a must.

Certifications in Project Management approaches including PRINCE 2, PMI, and Agile are desired