Credit Review Officer

Job description / Role

Our client, one of the leading financial institutions in the GCC are looking to bring on board a Credit Review Officer for one of their branches in Abu Dhabi. The role will report to both the Head of Credit Review and GM Abu Dhabi Branch>

Job Purpose/Objectives:
The incumbent will be responsible for reviewing credit facility requests for Corporate, Commercial, Retail (that fall outside applicable policy parameters), Treasury and Investment proposals forwarded by the appropriate departments/ units. The incumbent will assess the quality of the credit exposure sought to be undertaken and ensure adherence to established policies and procedures. The incumbent will keep abreast of best practices in credit risk, in accordance with Basel and other relevant guidelines

Dimensions e.g. Targets, budgets, staff numbers:
- Corporate, Commercial and Retail relationships assigned from time to time
- Accounts for which alternate review officer responsibility assigned
- Country, FI, Treasury & Investment accounts as assigned

Principle Responsibilities:
- Perform activities within the assigned Credit Risk Strategy that reflects the Bank’s tolerance for risk and the level of profitability the Bank expects to achieve for incurring various credit risks.
- Use standardized process for evaluating credit proposals ensuring that all approved credits are within our Credit Risk Strategy.
- Build and maintain strong and effective relationship with the all other related departments and units to achieve the Bank’s goals/ objectives.
- Provide timely and accurate information to the external and internal auditors and the Compliance function as and when required.
- Adhere to the Turn around Times (TAT) specified in the Service Level Agreements (SLA).
- Perform credit assessments, and comply with established/ approved credit risk policies and procedures, Abu Dhabi Central Bank guidelines and Basel.
- Coordinate with business unit Relationship Managers for the timely receipt of customer documents/ other information required to evaluate the credit worthiness of the proposed borrowers.
- Assist in the assessments on credit proposals by preparing a report which analyzes the various credit risk facets to measure a final credit risk rating including an assessment of the requested facility and guarantees provided, client management and background, industry analysis, country analysis, external agency credit rating (if applicable), financial and cash flow analysis and the risk rating from the credit risk rating tool.
- Support the Head of Credit Review in preparing a recommendation to extend, decline, or request further structuring/ guarantees/ collaterals to the deal to minimize credit risk to meet our credit risk standards.
- Coordinate activities with business units to ensure the timely processing of customer credit requests within established TATs.
- Possess an understanding of business processes and controls in all related credit/ operational areas.
- Production of quality Financial Risk Memorandum in respect of accounts assigned addressing all critical risk issues.
- Ensure credit application completeness jointly with Account Officer.
- Research industry data using tools such as the Bloomberg and Reuters services, financial publications, etc.
- Analysis of economic, political environment and forecast for countries assigned and completing country assessment statements recommending appropriate limits.
- Analysis of Banks/Financial Institutions to set up suitable limits.
- Maintain an understanding of all pertinent regulations as well as best practices pertaining to the overall credit operations
- Maintain utmost confidentiality in regard to customer information gathered in the credit assessment process.

Requirements

Responsible for credit appraisal and risk analysis of assigned accounts, and follow up to complete credit reviews of assigned accounts in time. Prior experience in credit analysis and relationship management necessary, as well as sound technical and conceptual background in banking and risk analysis.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Behaviours:
- Bachelor degree in finance, economics or related subjects. CA or MBA preferred.
- Minimum of 8 to 10 years experience in a major bank’s credit risk function.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Arabic (preferred).
- Good quantitative modelling, analytical, and research skills.
- Proficiency in risk concepts, banking products/ operations/ systems, pertinent regulatory requirements, International Accounting Standards and related pronouncements.
- Knowledge of financial markets and products.
- Self-motivated, eye for detail.

About the Company

AXIZ Consulting is based in the Dubai International Finance Centre and offers a bespoke, highly consultative recruitment service to local and international organisations across the GCC in both professional services and primary industries. Its founding two members come from a blend of executive search and contingent recruitment and they have taken some of the best practices of executive search and applied this to contingent recruitment in order to produce a service which offers maximum value to clients.

In order for us to build a successful company, we identified a core aim: to offer our clients a service that surpasses that of our competition. In order to do this, we have put into place both internal and external processes that ensure clients receive a consistent and professional service which gets the right results, in the right way.