Job Title:       Head of Commercial Banking Desk – Nigeria

Industry:        Banking

Location:        Nigeria

Salary:            Competitive Salary Package + Benefits

Job Purpose:

To lead and manage the Bank’s Commercial Banking portfolio, driving growth by deepening existing relationships and acquiring new customers. The Head of Commercial Banking Desk will own the targets for interest and fee-based income in the segment. The role involves aligning the portfolio with the Bank's strategic objectives by enhancing customer satisfaction, managing relationships, and increasing wallet share through cross-selling of products and services. The ideal candidate will possess strategic vision and the technical expertise required to meet the diverse banking needs of clients in the Commercial Banking sector.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a strategy for growing the Commercial Banking portfolio through new customer acquisition and relationship management.
• Deepen existing customer relationships while acquiring new ones, adhering to the Bank’s risk appetite and internal policy framework.
• Drive business development by creating pricing strategies, facilitating product development, and delivering innovative banking solutions.
• Understand client needs and provide tailored financial solutions in line with the Bank’s credit policies and regulatory guidelines.
• Monitor and enhance the portfolio’s quality, ensuring outstanding exceptions are minimized.
• Strengthen and expand client relationships to maximize cross-selling opportunities and wallet share.
• Provide strong leadership to Relationship Managers and Officers, offering coaching and support to achieve business objectives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including credit, trade finance, and operations, to meet client credit requirements and ensure seamless delivery of banking solutions.
• Ensure timely and effective service delivery to clients, meeting agreed turnaround times (TATs).
• Present proposals to the Management Credit Committee and Board Credit Committee.
• Represent the Bank at events, client meetings, and industry forums to build a strong corporate image.
• Conduct regular client calls and provide detailed call reports to document issues and identify future opportunities.

Risk Management:

• Develop and maintain robust risk management procedures for risk identification, assessment, monitoring, mitigation, and reporting.
• Drive adoption and utilization of risk management tools across the team.
• Address and remediate exceptions identified during audits or risk reviews.
• Foster a strong risk management culture within the team and across the portfolio.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking abilities.
• Thorough understanding of the banking regulatory framework.
• In-depth knowledge of market and macroeconomic trends.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities.
• Strong negotiation and decision-making skills.
• Ability to develop and interpret long-term business strategies.

Academic/Professional Qualifications:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably a Master’s in Business Administration (Finance or Banking).

Work Experience Required:

• A minimum of 10 years of banking experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management role managing credit portfolios and relationship management teams.