Finance Business Partner – Lending, FX and International Markets

About the role

This newly created senior position will serve as the strategic finance partner for the Lending division of a fast‑growing digital bank operating in the UAE. You will ensure that lending products are financially sustainable, commercially viable and fully compliant with Sharia principles while supporting product launches and portfolio optimisation.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the primary finance partner to the Lending leadership team.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long‑term financial planning for the lending portfolio.
• Analyse performance, profitability, margins, customer behaviour and other commercial indicators.
• Develop financial models and business cases for new products, markets, partnerships and strategic initiatives.
• Evaluate product economics, pricing, credit performance and expected returns.
• Provide clear financial insight and recommendations to senior management.
• Monitor financial performance against budgets, forecasts and strategic objectives.
• Partner with Product, Risk, Compliance and Operations to improve performance and resource allocation.
• Ensure financial practices comply with Sharia principles, internal controls and regulatory requirements.
• Build scalable reporting, planning and performance‑management processes as the business expands.

Required profile

• Proven experience as a Finance Business Partner or in a comparable commercial finance or analytical leadership role.
• Strong banking background, preferably in retail lending, consumer finance or related credit products.
• Excellent understanding of budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and management reporting.
• Ability to translate complex financial data into practical commercial recommendations.
• Knowledge of regulatory, governance and financial‑control requirements within financial services.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with confidence to challenge constructively.

Required skills

• Advanced financial modelling
• Excel (advanced)
• Budgeting
• Forecasting