Director, Loan Portfolio Management

Key Responsibilities: 

Loan Portfolio Management – Existing Book 

• Lead and coordinate waiver and amendment processes in conjunction with Coverage, Credit, Legal and Agents/clients as applicable. 

• Oversee covenant monitoring, including covenant tracking and timely escalation of issues. 

• Act as a lead contributor from Loan Portfolio Management in Annual Reviews and Annual Credit Reviews, including preparation, analysis and challenge. 

• Ensure effective ongoing monitoring of the loan book, including early warning indicators, watchlists and risk grading. 

• Be responsible for the timely and accurate preparation of portfolio and credit reports for senior management and governance forums. 

• For loans against credit risk insurance, manage monitoring and coordination with the risk insurance provider for waivers, amendments and adverse risk events. 

• Attend client meetings / calls / site visits as appropriate. 

Portfolio Ownership and Optimization 

• Personally manage a defined loan portfolio, maintaining name-level understanding of material exposures, returns, concentrations and risk profile. 

• Review and recommend portfolio actions including reductions, exits, restructurings, amendments and secondary loan transactions. 

• Identify and manage deteriorating or low-return exposures, taking timely and decisive mitigating action. 

• Evaluate the ongoing performance of existing loans and ensure alignment with portfolio and balance sheet objectives. 

• Manage concentrated exposures, anticipate and mitigate credit deterioration, and maximize risk-adjusted returns within economic and regulatory constraints. 

• Monitor deal / loan portfolio returns and flag low returning transactions / groups / sectors 

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with key internal stakeholders, including Coverage, Origination, Credit Risk, Credit Admin, Loan Agency, Legal and Compliance. 

• Support the Head of Loan Portfolio Management on portfolio-wide initiatives, KPI delivery, budgeting, reporting and business planning. 

• Monitor industry and sector developments and communicate implications for portfolio exposures. 

Portfolio Transformation, Systems & Strategic Initiatives 

• Actively contribute to the transformation of the Loan Portfolio Management function, including enhancement of portfolio processes, analytics, systems and controls. 

• Generate practical ideas and proposals to improve portfolio oversight, risk management, reporting and decision-making, drawing on hands-on portfolio experience. 

• Support the design, testing and implementation of enhancements to the Loan Portfolio Management system and related tools, ensuring solutions are fit for purpose and embedded in day-to-day portfolio management. 

• Participate in project workstreams, initiatives and change programs sponsored by the Head of Loan Portfolio Management and senior management. 

• Act as a key delivery partner, helping translate strategic objectives into executable changes across the portfolio management framework. 

• Act as a role model for best in class Loan Portfolio Management practices, helping uplift capability, discipline and execution standards across the wider LPM team. 

• Support the development of the broader team through knowledge sharing, coaching and leadership by example, ensuring consistent application of portfolio management frameworks and risk discipline. 

• Act as a change agent, helping embed new processes, tools and ways of working into day-to-day portfolio management activities across the team. 

Frameworks, Boundaries, & Decision-Making Authority 

• Functions within the framework and boundaries of Group policies as well as overall organizational and governance frameworks. 

• Authorized to take decisions as per the approved authorization matrix. 

• Significant experience in loan portfolio management, credit risk or active asset management within wholesale banking or private credit. 

• Demonstrated experience managing existing loan portfolios, including waivers, amendments, covenants, annual reviews and credit monitoring. 

• Proven track record of executing portfolio actions and managing deteriorating or problem credits. 

• Strong understanding of loan structures, credit risk, capital usage and portfolio trade-offs. 

• Sound understanding of corporate financials, legal concepts and loan mechanics, with first-hand experience of documenting loan transactions. 

• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to present clear, well-reasoned recommendations to senior stakeholders. 

• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality output to tight deadlines. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business or a related discipline 

• 12+ years’ relevant experience in the banking sector, including at least 5 years in corporate loan markets with portfolio management responsibilities. 

• Fluent in English with strong written and verbal communication skills 

• Strong awareness of UAE, regional and international markets. 

• P&L responsibility. 

Preferred / Beneficial 

• MBA and/or professional qualification (e.g. CFA) advantageous. 

• Arabic language skills advantageous.