Senior Credit Officer (Director) - Financial Sponsors

Title: Senior Credit Officer (Director) - Financial Sponsors

LOCATION(S): London or Birmingham

HOURS: Full-time

WORKING PATTERN: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of our time, at one of our office sites.

Lead the independent assessment, approval and ongoing management of credit risk across a portfolio of Financial Sponsor clients, covering subscription finance, NAV lending, derivatives, liquidity and other related products. Shape sector strategy, risk appetite, policy and portfolio management practices, providing robust challenge to business stakeholders while supporting sustainable growth. Operate as a senior leader within Financial Sponsors, exercising delegated credit authority and deputising for the Sector Head when required.

About this Opportunity:

Your primary focus will be on managing a portfolio within the Financial Sponsors Credit team, enabling sustainable growth as part of our North Star strategy. As a Senior Credit Officer, you'll also be expected to have a broad understanding across our other Financial Institutions (FI) disciplines too, ensuring that risk is managed coherently as 'One FI Credit' team.

You will act as a senior credit decision-maker, providing independent assessment and approval of lending, trading limits and internal ratings, whilst influencing sector strategy, risk appetite, policy development and portfolio management practices. You will be expected to provide thought leadership, support senior governance forums and act as a recognised subject matter expert within Financial Sponsors.

You will exercise significant delegated credit authority across multiple portfolios, providing independent challenge, sound judgement and timely decision-making on complex transactions and relationships. The ability to balance commercial objectives with disciplined risk management, while acting in the best interests of the wider Group and its stakeholders, is essential.

Here's where you'll make a difference:

• Lead the management of a portfolio of Financial Sponsor relationships, incorporating forward-looking analysis of market, sector and idiosyncratic risks into credit decisions and portfolio strategy.
• Drive the development of sector strategy, risk appetite, mandates, policies and portfolio management practices in Financial Sponsors Credit portfolio.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Coverage, Product, Risk and Credit functions, becoming a recognised adviser on Financial Sponsors risk, market developments and transaction structuring.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across data quality, controls, management information and credit processes, ensuring robust governance, efficient execution and effective use of management information.

What you'll need:

• Expert credit underwriting and approval skills, with the ability to assess, structure and approve complex transactions and relationships.
• Deep understanding of Financial Sponsors, Fund Finance structures, lending products, counterparty credit risk and associated legal frameworks.
• Self-motivation with a strong willingness to learn - able to quickly up-skill in relation to new products, sectors and changes in the external environment.
• Strong written and oral communications skills - able to present complexity in an understandable way.
• Expert with numerical analysis.
• A coach for other members of the department and a commitment to help upskill individuals in areas you are expert in.
• Curiosity - the desire to know what is happening around us and how it might affect our clients and colleagues. Ensure senior management is kept apprised of horizon risks and any issues which might impact our portfolio and suggest potential mitigations.
• Proven ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders while balancing commercial objectives and risk discipline.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to drive decision-making, build consensus and deliver strategic outcomes.

Experience & Skills Required

• Significant experience in Fund Finance and/or Financial Sponsors credit risk management gained within 1LOD and/or 2LOD environments
• Extensive experience in credit underwriting, transaction structuring, delegated credit approval and portfolio management.
• Strong understanding of lending products, derivative products and associated legal documentation, including their application within Financial Sponsors and Fund Finance structures.
• Exceptional organisation skills with the ability to juggle multiple requests, prioritise workloads, meet deadlines, as well as having the confidence to flag when you might need help.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team player in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment, including ability to coordinate multiple work streams and deliver against tight timelines.
• Ability to seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

Qualifications and Education;

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Professional qualifications such as CFA, ACA, ACCA, FRM or equivalent are desirable.
• Strong understanding of banking products, credit approval processes and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrable expertise in Financial Sponsors, Fund Finance and associated market developments.
• Previous experience in a senior Credit, Underwriting, Portfolio Management or Coverage role.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers. Just let us know what you need.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual performance-related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• 30 days' holiday, with bank holidays on top
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

Our focus is to ensure we're inclusive every day, building an organisation that reflects modern society and celebrates diversity in all its forms.

We want our people to feel that they belong and can be their best, regardless of background, identity or culture.

If you'd like reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, just let us know.

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