Credit and Risk Manager

Job Title: Credit & Risk Manager
Department: Risk Management Department
Location: Head Office - Kingdom of Bahrain
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Job Purpose

To lead and manage the company’s enterprise risk and credit risk framework, ensuring prudent lending practices, portfolio quality, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the requirements of CBB.
The role is responsible for safeguarding asset quality, optimizing risk-adjusted returns, and maintaining a strong risk culture across the company.

Responsibilities

• Risk Management Framework

· Develop, implement, and maintain enterprise-wide risk management policies and frameworks.

· Identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate key risks including credit, liquidity, operational, compliance, and reputational risks.

· Maintain risk appetite statements and risk tolerance limits approved by the Board.

· Prepare periodic risk reports to Management and Board Committees.

• Credit Risk Management

· Oversee underwriting standards, credit approval processes, and lending controls.

· Review and approve credit proposals within delegated authority.

· Ensure sound borrower assessment, affordability checks, collateral coverage, and covenant monitoring.

· Monitor concentration risk, sector exposure, and large obligor limits.

• Portfolio Monitoring & Collections Oversight

· Track portfolio performance including arrears, delinquency, NPLs, restructuring, and recoveries.

· Recommend corrective actions to improve collections and reduce defaults.

· Conduct stress testing and scenario analysis on loan portfolio.

• Regulatory Compliance & Governance

· Ensure compliance with CBB rules, prudential requirements, and governance standards.

· Coordinate risk-related regulatory returns, ICAAP/Capital assessments, and audit responses.

· Liaise with Internal Audit, Compliance, and External Auditors.

• Strategic Support

· Provide independent risk opinions on new products, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.

· Support growth while maintaining acceptable risk-adjusted profitability.

Requirements
· Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Banking, Accounting, Risk Management, or related field.

· Master’s degree / MBA preferred.

· Professional certifications desirable: FRM, PRM, CFA, ACCA, CPA.

· Minimum 7-10 years’ experience in risk management / credit risk within banks or financing companies.

· Strong knowledge of CBB regulations, especially Volume 5.

· Experience in SME, corporate, consumer, and secured lending preferred.

Work Location: In person