Corporate bankers wanted to bring in liquidity

With liquidity tight just about everywhere, the GCC included, banks are in need of cash. This is creating roles for sales and relationship managers in corporate banking.

The lack of liquidity is becoming a problem. Moody's recently downgraded some local banks, which "reflected mounting liquidity pressures in the short to medium term", according to John Tofarides, an analyst at the firm.

"Under the current market conditions the banking sector's focus is on garnering deposits," confirmed Yousuf Nasr, CEO of HSBC Middle East.

"Receivables are a major concern for banks in the given situation. Banks have been trying various measures to tackle tightened liquidity," said Amr Abol-Enein of ING Wholesale Banking in a research note.

Several banks are looking to bolster their corporate banking teams in order to grow and diversify their existing client base and bring in more money, reckons Barbara van Meir, director, financial services at headhunters WoodHamill Ingram.

What's more, within this space there's something that hasn't been muttered too often in the Middle East of late - skills-shortage.

Van Meir says this is largely down to a lack of regional experience: "Whilst the preference is obviously for candidates who combine product knowledge with regional experience, banks are by necessity considering bankers with strong client relationships and proven sales capability roles, and are often less concerned about specific product expertise."

She adds that both regional and international banks are looking to build their teams in the GCC, but that multinationals have the advantage of being able to transfer people across from other countries.

A relationship manager within corporate banking can expect to earn a base of $78k-$90k, according to recruiters the Charterhouse Partnership.