Corporate Credit Director - London Area, United Kingdom - Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation – SMBC Group

Description

Director

Credit Department, Corporate Credit

Purpose of Job

• A second line of defence role providing credit risk management / oversight of existing and new Corporate credit transactions in the EMEA Corporate Credit portfolio with a focus on cross-over and sub investment grade borrowers.
• Critical challenge and detailed review of credit submissions from Front Office providing recommendations to approvers within CD, EMEA or Tokyo HQ.
• Act as a credit expert, collaborating with coverage and product teams to facilitate positive outcomes for SMBC customers while remaining within the bank's risk appetite.
• Use of delegated Credit Officer approval authority.

Background

• Report to MD within a team of specialist corporate credit risk professionals.
• Act as primary analyst on a specified portfolio of clients with a focus on cross-over and sub investment grade borrowers and related transactions, with oversight of a secondary portfolio where required.
• Manage credit portfolio including applications and approval process, and emerging credit developments in conjunction with Front Office (first line of defence).
• Engage with Front Office professionals and provide appropriate challenge on risk issues / develop workable solutions to mitigate risk issues where appropriate.

Facts / Scale

• Assist in credit risk management of a c.US$80bn portfolio of Corporate credit exposure in EMEA with primary responsibility for a portfolio of [50] customers within the cross-over and sub investment grade range.
• Corporate credit risk team of 14 members in London handles c.1,500 transaction related applications pa and c.3,000 total applications pa.
• Assessment of new transactions and portfolio monitoring with involvement in under-performing / deteriorating credit situations.
• High complexity of territories covering the entire EMEA geography raising complex non-credit risk issues such as geo-political, sovereign risk, sanctions risk and reputational risk.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Credit Transactions

• Analyse Front Office credit applications in a structured manner for clear identification and articulation of credit risk issues and how these may be mitigated.
• Provide appropriate challenge to Front Office on risk issues of a borrower / transaction and develop suitable workable solutions. Collaborate with 2nd line risk colleagues as required on ESG risk assessment.
• Manage workflow independently and efficiently to achieve transaction deadlines, with early escalation to team management of material risk issues.
• Oversight of credit work undertaken by any team members being mentored and/ or as direct reports.
• Presentation with recommendation of deals to team management and EMEA senior management e.g. Director Approval Meeting (CEO, COO, CRO).
• Utilise Credit Officer delegated authority.

Credit Portfolio Management

• Ensure obligor grade ratings are accurate and reflect a current forward-looking view of the obligors in the assigned portfolio.
• Within assigned portfolio, review quarterly self-assessment submissions and credit cost provisioning for Special Credits.
• Articulate risk trends and "lessons learnt" within assigned portfolio to support the possible revision of Origination Guidelines subject to semi-annual review.

Training and development

• Support the team in the development and provision of ongoing training to credit colleagues in the team and Front Office colleagues on credit analysis.

Internal discipline, Compliance

• Comply with all regulatory and internal policies and procedures, regulations, and guidelines.
• Serve as a role model for high personal and corporate ethical values and standards of integrity.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Degree level education and / or relevant professional qualifications (eg: ACA, ACCA, ACT, CFA), and a track record of continued learning and development.
• Significant experience in a credit management role within a major international bank with meaningful exposure to cross- over and sub investment grade borrowers gained through several credit cycles involving a broad range of products / transaction types.
• Strong working knowledge of corporate loan products, trade finance and derivative products, including detailed knowledge of documentation and market trends.
• High level of IT literacy, strong written and verbal communication skills supporting preparation of succinct and focused credit risk opinions, and strong interpersonal skills supporting collaboration / teamwork.
• Some experience of problem asset management / work-outs is desirable.
• Have a network of professional relationships within the financial services sector and up to date knowledge of trends in the corporate credit markets across EMEA.

Challenges

• Short deadlines and ability to think clearly whilst working under pressure.
• Identification of key risk issues from a large volume of information in credit papers, markets data, and due diligence reports.
• Conflict management between Front Office and Credit Department as part of a rigorous 'propose and challenge' process between first and second lines of defence
• Protecting the balance sheet in a higher risk business.