VP, Credit, USA

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB); Washington; On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) USA in Washington seeks a senior credit professional to oversee a portfolio of Corporate Investment and Commercial clients and provide expert recommendations on credit facilities.

You will support first and second line of defence, deputise for HoC when asked, and drive risk management, underwriting quality, and regulatory compliance across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Finance, Accounting or related discipline.
• 10–15 years of experience in major financial institutions, last 5 in credit-related function.
• Experience leading managerial responsibilities in a credit function.
• Strong understanding of credit risks for FABUSA products.
• Analytical, communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Guide and coach junior staff to sustain credit-awareness and excellence.
• Monitor adherence to credit appetite and portfolio limits.
• Uphold high standards of underwriting and presentation in credit submissions.
• Provide cover and deputise for HoC when assigned.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders (Coverage, Risk, Credit, Finance).
• Manage sensitive credit situations and mitigate risk.
• Advise RMs on risk factors for complex transactions and necessary mitigating clauses.
• Achieve service turnaround times for timely credit decisions.
• Stay updated on rules/regulations affecting FAB USA.
• Participate in client engagements and coordination with internal audit.
• Recommend amendments to credit policy based on experience and market.

Skills

Credit underwriting

Portfolio management

Risk assessment

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting

Tools

CreditLens

Job description

Prepare, review and provide appropriate recommendation of credit facilities for a portfolio of Corporate Investment, Commercial clients alongside likely structured deal requests.

Provide support towards first and second line of defence partners, CEO USA, Credit USA and Head of Credit CCB/IB Europe & Americas + deputise for HoC (when asked by HoC). Key tasks include management of a reportee, oversight and reporting of portfolio, monitoring client credit performance, ensuring that exposure remains within the portfolio and individual limits and adhering to the bank’s Policy provisions and Risk Appetite.

Comply with all credit policies and guidelines.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Guidance/training/coaching of less experienced staff (in particular towards your reportee) to sustain a strong Credit awareness culture and a commitment to excellence in execution.
• Support collaborative, “can do” and ethical behaviour at all times.
• Monitor and report adherence of credit appetite and portfolio limits.
• Uphold high standards of credit underwriting and presentation in credit submissions originated by both you and your reportee.
• Provide cover and support (and deputise when applicable and/or delegated by HoC).
• Maintain & develop relationships with all key stakeholders (incl. Coverage, Risk, Credit, Finance).
• Higher focus on managing sensitive credit situations, incl. promptly identifying & mitigating credit risk.
• Advise Relationship Managers on the risk factors associated with complex transactions, and the clauses needed in mitigating these.
• Achieve the required service TATs (turn-around-time) to the business, CEO USA & Head of Credit for timely credit decision making.
• Stay abreast of relevant changes to rules/regulations and other industry news at FAB USA.
• Participate in (large, complex) client relationships through client visits / conference calls as part of transaction initiation and monitoring.
• Interact with internal audit as and when required.
• Recommends to HoC on any amendments to the Bank’s and/or Branch’s credit policy, procedures, credit memorandum, risk criteria etc based on lending experience, market expediencies.
• Demonstrate compliance with the bank’s values and ethics at all times.
• Manage and guide reportee to support an improved overall credit performance.
• Credit Policies – Ensure that credit packages conform to the CCB/IB Credit policies and procedures. Maintain the local Policy addenda promptly updated to comply with the US regulatory requirements.
• Credit Appetite – Comment / challenge First Line of Defence that risk taking and returns are appropriately aligned balancing the commensurate risk/reward against business activity in Credit memos. Give necessary Credit inputs on Risk Appetite paper (including the Target Market and Risk Acceptance Criteria) for the US portfolio that reflects CCB/IB tolerance for credit risk.
• Credit Underwriting – Hold ownership for adhering to credit underwriting parameters (on allocated clients). Conduct credit client due diligence calls/visits and handle ad-hoc requests (such as governance ones) in line with Business and/or Credit needs. Preparation of focused credit papers clearly outlining key risks, mitigations, and recommendation for presentation to Credit Committee for prospective and existing clients under assigned portfolio. Spreading of financial statements in CreditLens; analyse and recommend appropriate ratings.
• Portfolio Management – Manage the assigned client portfolio as 2nd Line of Defence and provide credit support and/or guidance to colleagues as/if required. Ensure timely reviews of the existing obligors, including covenant monitoring, accuracy of the internal credit ratings. Promptly assess and elevate negative operating trends, recommend appropriate action to address the developing risks associated with individual counterparties, industries and adverse market movements. Monitor and report compliance of approval conditions (incl. covenants), adequacy and accuracy of IFRS9 credit data on allocated portfolio of clients.
• Loan provisioning and Watch List – Responsible for ongoing monitoring of delinquencies, including any new restructured accounts and Watch List clients on a regular basis.
• Portfolio MIS and Reporting – Prepare, review and submit credit-related reports to ensure compliance with internal and regulatory guidelines. Report periodically to HoC and/or HO on all excesses, exceptions, overdue annual reviews, covenant breaches.
• Internal and Regulatory Compliance – Ensure that Credit activities (on allocated client portfolio) are compliant with the applicable internal and regulatory guidelines.
• Stakeholder management - Develop a close working relationship with the key stakeholders and turnaround as per Service Level Agreements and Transaction timelines while maintaining quality.
• Branch Committee Member - Participate in various Branch committees (e.g. S-RC, ALCO) as an optional member and work with the committee members towards common goals.

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree preferably with specialization in Finance, Accounting or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 – 15 years of relevant experience in major financial institutions, of which the last 5 years in a credit-related function.
• Experience of increasing managerial responsibilities in a Credit function.
• Strong understanding of credit risks related to the key products offered/reviewed by FABUSA.
• An open minded, collaborative and ethical approach, willingness to learn on the job new credit skills.
• Analytical, communication, interpersonal and presentational skills.
• Ability to multi-task, handle pressure and work in a dynamic environment. This role demands a can-do attitude and a willingness to go beyond the call of duty.
• Ability to work independently and follow directions, self-driven and a good team player.