Unit Head, Corporate Banking

Kuwait Finance House (DIFC Branch) is looking for an experienced Unit Head, Corporate Banking who will be responsible for driving business growth, client acquisition, relationship development, portfolio profitability and credit quality within the assigned portfolio. As a branch of Kuwait Finance House Bahrain, and working in close cooperation with fellow KFH Group entities across the region, we are well positioned to leverage the Group’s combined resources and expertise to fully meet the cross-border funding needs of its clients as well as serve regional and international customers doing business in the UAE.The Unit Head, Corporate Banking will combine strong commercial and origination capabilities with sound credit judgement and effective team leadership, while developing long-term relationships with leading corporates and business groups.

Key Responsibilities

Drive new-to-bank client acquisition and develop a strong pipeline of opportunities across a diversified range of industries.Build and maintain senior-level relationships with leading GCC & UAE corporates, business groups and key decision makers.Deepen existing client relationships by increasing wallet share and identifying cross-selling opportunities across financing, trade finance, cash management, treasury and other banking products.Lead the origination, structuring and execution of corporate credit transactions, ensuring appropriate commercial terms, pricing, risk mitigation and transaction quality.Review and guide credit proposals prepared by the team, ensuring robust financial and credit analysis and appropriate transaction structuring.Maintain close oversight of the assigned portfolio, including profitability, utilization, financial performance, repayment capacity, covenant compliance and emerging risks.Proactively identify and escalate early-warning indicators and work closely with Credit and Risk on appropriate portfolio management actions.Coach, mentor and develop team members, setting clear objectives and maintaining high standards of performance, accountability and client service.Work closely with Credit, Risk, Treasury, Transaction Banking, Legal, Compliance, Operations and other internal stakeholders to facilitate effective transaction execution and client delivery.Ensure adherence to the Bank's credit policies, risk appetite, delegated authorities, regulatory requirements, KYC/AML standards and internal governance.Monitor the unit's performance against agreed business and financial targets and provide regular updates to the Head of Corporate Banking.Represent the Bank in senior client discussions and relevant business and market engagements.Qualifications & Experience:Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting or a related discipline. A relevant postgraduate or professional qualifications would be an advantage.Minimum 10–12 years of corporate banking experience, including experience in a senior relationship management and/or team leadership capacity.Strong UAE corporate banking experience with a well-developed understanding of the local corporate market.Proven track record in business origination, new client acquisition, relationship management, credit structuring and portfolio management.Established relationships within the UAE corporate market.Strong understanding of corporate banking, working capital, trade finance, cash management and treasury solutions. Experience of Sharia compliant structures is desirable.Strong financial analysis, credit assessment, transaction structuring and negotiation capabilities.Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop relationship management teams.Strong commercial orientation combined with disciplined credit and risk judgement.Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.High standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability.