Director, Corporate Lending

About the role

First Abu Dhabi Bank is looking for a Director, Corporate Lending for its Global Corporate Finance (GCF) team in Abu Dhabi. The role originates and supports the execution of Vanilla and Structured Finance transactions, mainly with wholesale banking clients, and works closely with senior Corporate Banking Finance members, relationship managers and other stakeholders. It focuses on identifying and structuring lending opportunities across corporate sectors in line with the bank's risk parameters and strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Evaluate, structure and execute deals together with relationship managers and the credit risk team.
• Pitch, originate, structure and execute Vanilla and Structured transactions, including Leveraged and Acquisition Finance, Project Finance, Asset-Backed Finance and Real Estate Finance, with GCF deal teams, coverage and credit teams.
• Review the existing loan portfolio and client plans to identify new lending opportunities.
• Analyse deal structures and underlying businesses, build financing models with sensitivity testing, prepare independent reports and carry out due diligence.
• Negotiate terms with borrowers and other lenders, from initial discussions through to definitive documentation.
• Contribute to department and Coverage team budgets by identifying cross-selling opportunities for debt and equity capital markets, agency, securities services, global market and transaction banking.
• Collaborate with Coverage partners to maximise revenue and deepen client relationships.
• Support departmental policies, systems and procedures, and provide inputs for sub-departmental statements and reports.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business or a related discipline; MBA and/or CFA advantageous.
• 5-10 years of experience in client relationship management and structured financing.
• Ideally, prior experience in the UAE/GCC region.
• Willingness to develop leadership capability, including mentoring and training fresh graduates and associates.

Required skills

• Credit assessment and cash flow modelling, with solid accounting knowledge.
• Corporate valuation and financial analysis.
• Understanding of legal concepts and loan agreement documentation.
• Multi-party financing and commercial negotiation experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.