VP, SME Lending & Embedded Finance Strategy

Rakbank; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 350,000 - 750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive rewards

Flexible wellbeing programs

Career progression

Job summary

Rakbank in the United Arab Emirates seeks a senior leader to define and drive the SME lending program strategy, partnering with Credit, Risk, Data and Tech to design underwriting, digital journeys, and ecosystem integration.

You will own targets, manage portfolio performance, and steer growth through innovative, customer-centric lending propositions while ensuring compliance with CBUAE and AML/CFT standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in SME Banking, Business Banking, Commercial Lending, or Program-Based Finance.
• Demonstrated success in developing and scaling lending products, credit programs, or financing ecosystems.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive growth while managing portfolio risk.
• Proven leadership experience managing high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Deep understanding of credit risk management, regulatory frameworks, and governance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the SME lending program strategy aligned with business growth objectives and risk appetite.
• Identify target SME segments and develop sector-specific financing programs (supplier finance, microfinance, embedded lending).
• Build strategic partnerships with anchor corporates, fintechs, government entities, and ecosystem partners.
• Partner with Credit, Risk, Data, Operations, and Technology to design underwriting frameworks and eligibility models.
• Drive digitization of end-to-end lending journeys from onboarding to servicing and collections.
• Integrate lending solutions into digital channels and ecosystem platforms to extend reach.
• Own business targets, portfolio performance, asset quality, and risk-adjusted returns.
• Monitor KPIs: approval rates, turnaround times, disbursements, delinquency, recovery ratios.
• Refine program structures and customer propositions for sustainable growth and profitability.
• Design seamless, customer-centric lending experiences that reduce friction.
• Develop flexible repayment solutions and lifecycle-based lending propositions for SMEs.
• Collaborate with Customer Experience and Distribution to improve acquisition, onboarding, and servicing.
• Lead and develop a team of program managers, product specialists, and analysts.
• Champion innovation, collaboration, accountability, and agile delivery.
• Ensure lending activities comply with internal policies and regulatory requirements (CB UAE, AML/CFT).

Skills

SME banking

Credit risk management

Lending products

Digital transformation

Stakeholder management

Job description

Rakbank in the United Arab Emirates seeks a senior leader to define and drive the SME lending program strategy, partnering with Credit, Risk, Data and Tech to design underwriting, digital journeys, and ecosystem integration.

You will own targets, manage portfolio performance, and steer growth through innovative, customer-centric lending propositions while ensuring compliance with CBUAE and AML/CFT standards.