Credit Risk Manager; Private Banking

Title:

Credit Risk Manager (Private Banking)

Location:

Dubai

Our client is a well-established regional bank with a strong and growing presence in Dubai. As it continues to expand its Private and Consumer Banking business, it is seeking a Credit Risk Manager to provide independent credit oversight across its high-net-worth, retail and SME lending portfolios. This role suits a credit professional from a private banking or wealth management background who combines rigorous risk judgement with a practical, business-focused approach that supports sustainable growth.

• Deliver independent credit risk assessments for new and existing HNWI, consumer and SME clients, covering new facilities, renewals, increases and amendments, and prepare recommendations for approvers and committees.
• Evaluate repayment capacity, facility structure and collateral strength, so that lending stays within the bank’s risk appetite, credit policies and CBUAE requirements, including market conduct standards.
• Assess a broad product range, including securities-backed and Lombard lending, real estate–backed lending, mortgages, credit cards, personal loans and SME finance, and assign internal risk ratings to borrowers.
• Support the Credit Committee process, including preparing credit packs, recording minutes and communicating decisions to the business.
• Monitor portfolio health by tracking excesses, past dues, collateral shortfalls and covenant breaches, and manage the watchlist and stressed accounts using early warning signals.
• Oversee IFRS 9 staging and ECL provisioning, and carry out grading of shares, bonds, sukuk and issuers held as collateral.
• Own the review of credit policies, procedures and lending authority frameworks, and produce portfolio MIS for senior management, Board committees, regulators and auditors.
• Contribute to credit automation, system enhancements and process improvement initiatives across the Risk function.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related discipline. CA or CFA would be advantageous.
• 5–7+ years’ credit underwriting experience within UAE banking, ideally gained in a private bank or the private/wealth division of a larger institution.
• Strong hands‑on experience in securities-backed lending, including assessment of equity and fixed‑income collateral. Exposure to mortgages, credit cards and SME cash‑flow lending is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of Private Banking, Wealth Management, Consumer Banking and SME products.
• Advanced financial statement and cash flow analysis skills.
• Sound working knowledge of CBUAE regulations, including credit risk management standards, consumer protection, mortgage lending rules and IFRS 9.
• Advanced Excel skills, strong organisational ability and the confidence to provide independent challenge to the business.