This is a compelling opportunity to lead Citi's Services (Transaction Banking) business in Pakistan — one of the most strategically significant and complex emerging markets within the Middle East & Pakistan (MEP) cluster — at the Director (C15) level. As a senior member of both the MEP Services subcluster leadership team and the Citi Country Management team for Pakistan, you will shape and execute a market-level strategy that drives revenue growth, deepens client relationships, and reinforces Citi's position as the premier global transaction banking partner in the country

Citi Services is a world-leading provider of cash management, trade services and custody products to Financial Institutions, Public Sector, Corporate and Commercial clients across more than 100 countries. Our global network is uniquely positioned to serve clients with local and cross-border needs through integrated reporting, digital solutions and deep institutional expertise

As Services Head for Pakistan, you will serve as the senior strategic leader and primary client engagement head for the Services business — with direct accountability over revenue outcomes, talent strategy, regulatory relationships, and the digital innovation agenda. Pakistan presents a distinctive opportunity: a large, fast-evolving banking landscape undergoing significant digital transformation, with a young population, expanding financial inclusion agenda, and growing demand for sophisticated transaction banking solutions. This is a platform for leaders who aspire to broader MEA or global leadership roles within Citi

 

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities are organized across six core leadership pillars:

1. Strategic Leadership

● Define and execute short- and long-term Services strategy for Pakistan, aligned to MEP cluster and global objectives

● Expand market and client wallet share; broaden the client solutions portfolio across all segments including Financial Institutions, Public Sector, Corporate and Commercial clients

● Navigate a complex matrix environment, aligning stakeholders across competing priorities at country, cluster and global levels

● Drive the digital transformation and innovation agenda through product partners in response to Pakistan's evolving market dynamics, regulatory priorities and fintech disruption

● Develop strategic responses to macroeconomic shifts — including currency, inflation and sovereign risk factors specific to the Pakistan market — and evolving risk profiles

● Ensure the overall business strategy is clearly articulated to all key stakeholders including the CCO, Banking, Services teams, Operations, Technology and second- and third-line partners

2. Business & Revenue Growth

● Deliver on Revenue, EBIT, Expenses and all agreed financial KPIs for Pakistan

● Lead client acquisition, retention and wallet-share expansion strategy across all Services business lines

● Oversee the end-to-end Services business in Pakistan, including sales, product, operations and technology teams

● Work closely with the Services Operations Head to advance the business agenda and drive operational efficiency

● Identify, develop and prioritize technology business cases, obtaining cluster and global buy-in

● Compete effectively against traditional domestic and global banks and non-bank transactional service providers through superior client propositions and innovative solutions

● Capitalize on Pakistan's expanding financial inclusion and digitization agenda to grow Citi's footprint in priority segments

3. Client Engagement

● Serve as the primary client engagement head for all Services business in Pakistan

● Generate active, senior-level client interactions and build strategic, long-term client relationships across the Financial Institutions, Public Sector, Corporate and Commercial segments

● Deploy optimal service solutions tailored to client needs across all segments and business lines

● Provide leadership to the Pakistan Services team in advancing advice, insights and solutions to the client base

● Drive execution of client experience initiatives aligned to Citi's "Be the Best for our Clients" vision

● Partner with Banking and Markets colleagues to deliver a balanced, country-wide client strategy

4. Risk & Governance

● Maintain full responsibility for product, operational, conduct and compliance risk management relevant to Services Pakistan.

● Ensure regulatory and statutory compliance with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and all applicable local and international regulatory requirements at all times; foster a strong controls culture within the team

● Actively participate in Internal Audit and External (Regulatory) audit processes, ensuring timely deliverables and representation of risk mitigants for optimum results

● Engage in Legal Vehicle Governance processes and proactively escalate potential franchise-level issues

● Develop deep Balance Sheet expertise; act as a strong partner in negotiating with Treasury and Markets, balancing Services priorities with franchise-wide considerations

● Participate actively in Country governance forums, ensuring decision-making inclusion across all critical elements that impact the Pakistan franchise

5. Stakeholder & External Engagement

● Articulate Services business strategy clearly to the Pakistan CCO, Banking, Operations, Technology and all control partners

● Build productive, trust-based working relationships with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), clearing houses, payment service providers and other regulatory bodies, supervisors and policy makers relevant to the Services business

● Represent Citi externally at industry associations, forums, congresses, conferences and committees within Pakistan and the broader region

● Drive Regulatory Advocacy to achieve business objectives and support Citi's franchise positioning in the market

● Maintain strong internal alignment across MEP subcluster leadership, global Services heads, and the Pakistan Country Management team

6. People & Culture

● Build and lead a high-performing, diverse and inclusive Services team in Pakistan

● Drive an effective talent strategy, ensuring appropriately skilled and experienced individuals are in critical roles

● Develop the next generation of Services leadership within the Pakistan organization

● Promote an ethical, inclusive culture embedded in Citi's highest standards of conduct

● Engage employees meaningfully in the broader business strategy and organizational direction

● Foster a strong control environment and risk-aware culture at all levels of the Pakistan team

 

What We're Looking For

Essential Requirements

Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following:

● 15+ years of work experience in the financial services industry, including 10+ years at a senior managerial level

● Deep transaction banking expertise — cash management, trade services and/or custody products

● Proven success leading country-level or cluster-level business strategy and delivering financial results (Revenue, EBIT, P&L)

● Strong risk and governance track record — product, operational, conduct and compliance risk management, ideally including experience navigating complex emerging market regulatory environments

● Excellent financial acumen, including experience preparing business plans and financial cases

● Strong Balance Sheet understanding and familiarity with risk and finance frameworks at a legal entity level

● Experience managing dynamic, diverse and cross-functional teams in a complex, fast-changing market environment

● Demonstrated ability to align global strategy with local execution, balancing front, middle and back-office resources

● Executive-level communication skills — written and verbal, for internal and external audiences including regulators, clients and senior management

● Fluency in English (both written and verbal)

● University degree (Bachelor's minimum required)

Preferred & Advantageous Experience

The following experience would strengthen a candidate's profile:

● Prior Pakistan or broader South Asia / MEA market experience in a senior Services or transaction banking leadership role

● Deep familiarity with the Pakistan regulatory landscape, including the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) framework, foreign exchange regulations, and local compliance requirements

● Master's degree in Business, Finance or a related field

● Urdu language proficiency (spoken and/or written); Arabic language skills are an additional advantage

● Digital transformation and fintech engagement experience within a financial institution, with awareness of Pakistan's fast-growing digital payments ecosystem

● Established regulatory relationships with the central bank and other regulatory bodies relevant to the Services business

● Legal Vehicle governance experience and familiarity with managing a banking legal entity in an emerging market context

● Track record of gaining Senior Management buy-in for and executing country-level growth strategies

Why This Role? Development & Career Value

Pakistan is one of the most strategically important and dynamic markets within Citi's MEP cluster. As Services Head, you will lead a full-scale country franchise across a market of over 230 million people, with a rapidly evolving financial sector, a bold national digitization agenda, and significant growth potential across all transaction banking product lines

What you will gain:

● Full country franchise leadership — Complete strategic and P&L ownership for the Pakistan Services business, a cornerstone of the MEP cluster

● Emerging market expertise at scale — Build rare, highly valued capabilities in managing a complex, high-growth emerging market with a distinctive regulatory, economic and competitive landscape

● Regulatory & governance depth — Direct engagement with the State Bank of Pakistan and other key regulatory authorities, building regulatory advocacy competencies that are transferable globally

● Innovation & digital agenda — Lead Citi's response to Pakistan's fast-growing digital payments and fintech ecosystem — one of South Asia's most exciting and rapidly evolving banking markets

● Senior leadership network — Build relationships across Citi's MEP subcluster leadership, country CCOs, global Services heads, and senior external stakeholders at the highest levels

The role may require periodic travel to Lahore, Islamabad and other key client locations within Pakistan, as well as regional travel to MEP and global Citi leadership forums

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Job Family Group:

Institutional Sales

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Job Family:

Solution Sales

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Time Type:

Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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