Portfolio Manager-SME Lending

Astra Tech; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services firm is seeking a Portfolio Manager to manage and expand portfolios of SME clients. The role requires relationship management, sales skills, and compliance oversight. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in Business or Finance, strong financial analysis abilities, and proven skills in negotiation and sales. This position offers the chance to work in a dynamic environment focused on client satisfaction and portfolio profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Proven relationship management and communication skills.
• Strong financial analysis ability including interpretation of SME financial statements.
• Solid sales and negotiation skills with a track record of closing lending deals.
• In-depth knowledge of the local SME market and lending dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Manage and expand a portfolio of SME clients.
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned clients.
• Monitor performance of the SME loan portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
• Promote complementary financial products to existing clients.

Skills

Relationship management

Financial analysis

Sales skills

Negotiation

Risk management

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Finance

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Job description

Role Summary

The Portfolio Manager will be responsible for managing, monitoring, and expanding a portfolio of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients. This role combines relationship management, sales, and credit oversight to ensure portfolio profitability, client satisfaction, and strong credit quality. The ideal candidate will possess deep knowledge of SME lending, a data-driven approach, and strong familiarity with digital lending systems and regulatory frameworks within the UAE market.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sales & Client Acquisition

• Identify and onboard small and medium-sized business clients seeking loans or credit facilities.
• Pitch lending products tailored to SME needs (term loans, working capital, trade finance, invoice discounting, etc.).
• Achieve revenue and portfolio growth targets through proactive client engagement and acquisition.

2. Account Management

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned SME clients.
• Manage client requests, repayments, renewals, and facility modifications.
• Ensure high levels of client satisfaction and long-term retention.

3. Portfolio Monitoring

• Monitor performance of the SME loan portfolio, including repayment trends, delinquency rates, and utilization.
• Identify early warning signs of credit deterioration and coordinate with risk or collections teams as necessary.
• Maintain portfolio quality while delivering on growth and profitability objectives.

4. Reporting

• Prepare and present SME performance reports, portfolio analytics, and insights to management.
• Support reporting requirements for external stakeholders such as regulators or auditors.
• Leverage data analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the portfolio.

5. Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all credit applications and disbursements comply with internal credit policies, regulatory requirements, and prudential guidelines.
• Maintain proper documentation and audit readiness across all client files and transactions.

6. Cross-Selling & Relationship Expansion

• Promote complementary financial products (insurance, treasury, payments, FX, etc.) to existing clients.
• Build a deep understanding of client business models and future financing needs to drive wallet share.

7. Internal Coordination

• Collaborate with credit and risk teams on loan assessments, credit proposals, and approval processes.
• Coordinate with operations for efficient loan disbursement and servicing.
• Provide regular portfolio performance insights to senior management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Proven relationship management and communication skills.
• Strong financial analysis ability, including interpretation of SME financial statements.
• Solid sales and negotiation skills with a track record of closing lending deals.
• Sound understanding of risk management principles and ability to balance growth with credit quality.
• In-depth knowledge of the local SME market and lending dynamics.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data from multiple digital sources and systems.
• Experience with automated credit workflows and digital lending platforms.
• Strong knowledge of SME lending products, credit processes, and market trends.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, or similar analytical/reporting tools.