Business Development Manager (Banking) – Arabic Speaker Required – London - Job Ref: 26009

Overview

Sector: Banking

Salary: up to £120,000

Role Type: Permanent

Location: London (West End)

Language: Must be Arabic-speaking

Branch Summary: The Branch is seeking a results-driven Relationship Manager to spearhead the growth of its Private Banking portfolio in the UK, with a specific focus on property loans and deposits. The role will be the primary driver for acquiring New-to-Bank (NTB) High Net Worth (HNW) clients with sizeable investable assets. Expertise in acquisition and coverage of clients with a strong MENA and GCC nexus is essential.

Core Objective: To drive the Branch’s strategic expansion by leading NTB origination and the acquisition of high value client relationships. Secondary to new acquisition, the role is responsible for monitoring and managing the retention and further development of the existing credit portfolio, ensuring all initiatives remain within the Bank’s established risk appetite and profitability targets.

Responsibilities

• Business Development & NTB Acquisition (Primary Focus)

• Target Acquisition: Identify and source NTB opportunities within the Levant region (specifically Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, UAE and KSA) to expand the client base in line with the strategic plan.
• Hospitality Sector Focus: Proactively identify and secure new lending opportunities for hotel assets within the UK for MENA-based investors.
• Syndicated Lending: Explore and develop opportunities for syndicated lending by collaborating with other MENA-focused financial institutions and banks based in London.
• Strategy Implementation: Develop and execute commercial goals and business development strategies as approved by the Country Manager.
• External Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the Bank at industry events and networking forums to build a high-quality referral pipeline among MENA HNW/UHNW communities.

• Portfolio Management: Manage and grow existing client relationships, focusing on risk evaluation, profitability, and the efficient use of financial resources.
• Wallet Share Expansion: Identify opportunities to introduce existing clients to Treasury and Trade Finance products to deepen the banking relationship.
• Retention Strategy: Conduct regular briefings on the status of the portfolio to ensure alignment with the Bank’s long-term objectives.

• Lending Pipeline: Drive new lending business opportunities specifically aligned with the Bank’s established risk appetite and criteria.
• Pre-Screening: Perform initial risk evaluations on all NTB leads and structured finance proposals to ensure they fit the Bank’s profile.
• Credit Applications: Assist in the preparation of credit files and conduct regular reviews of the portfolio.
• KYC & Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD): Lead the account opening and KYC process, ensuring robust due diligence for clients from the Levant and MENA regions per UK Law and FCA/PRA regulations.
• Regulatory Accuracy: Monitor and manage KYC figures to ensure they consistently meet or exceed internal and regulatory benchmarks for completeness and accuracy.

• Credit Committee: Be a member of the Local Credit Committee, contributing to the assessment of credit proposals and adherence to lending policies.
• Compliance Committee: Provide input on new products and client matters that have compliance relevance.

Key Requirements

• Native or professional fluency in Levant Arabic (spoken and written) is mandatory to engage effectively with clients from Lebanon.
• Proven experience in the UK and wealth management.
• A good understanding of the Consumer Duty and Conduct Rules under the SM&CR framework, ensuring all business development activities prioritise positive customer outcomes and market integrity.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the UK real estate market and extensive experience with structured finance techniques as they apply to property transactions.
• Proficiency in LMA (Loan Market Association) documentation and a thorough understanding of the legal and operational frameworks for syndicated lending.
• Ability to communicate through verbal and written channels to influence and engage clients across diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Awareness and understanding of the main risks of the business (Credit, Operational, and Regulatory) and the role of management mitigations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage teams effectively in a collaborative environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• NTB Volume: Total value and number of new clients onboarded to be reported periodically.
• Syndication Participation: Number of successfully executed syndicated loan deals involving peer Levant/MENA banks.
• KYC/EDD Accuracy: 100% adherence to regulatory benchmarks for all new and existing accounts.
• Credit Quality: Maintaining the portfolio within the established risk appetite.