Head of Credit

Location: West London

Salary: £90k – £120k

Hours: 9:30 – 17:30

Job Type: Full Time

The Company

An established, specialist bridging and short term finance company. The company is experiencing an exciting growth period and is now keen to welcome an experienced Head of Credit to join the team.

Responsibilities:

• Following the structural change within the Underwriting team this is a new role to help establish a Credit function. The role will be a second line of defence for the underwriting of cases. The company currently has a credit committee, however, there is too much reliance on executive Directors, this role will focus on developing the credit committee and freeing up the time of the Executives Board.
• Holistic oversight of a medium sized Underwriting & Credit function, including the management of administrative functions (Loan Admin/Graduates, Case Managers, Underwriters and Managers).
• Lead regular team meetings to manage the pipeline effectively and attend the monthly sales meetings.
• As a senior member of the credit team you will also be expected to add value to and influence the credit and risk committees and will take oversight of aspects such as loss event recording and reporting and root cause analysis feedback.
• Ultimately you will assist the business with ensuring that activity and loans are in line with the credit risk framework and will ensure that changes to this framework are trained across key stakeholders within the business. You will also play a key role in the preparation of credit risk strategy papers and assist with the onboarding and implementation of new funding lines and products from a credit risk perspective.
• Plan and continuously develop robust procedures, policies and guidelines as well as products by studying market trends and competition.
• Propose developments and enhancements to the lending policy and ensuring comprehensive up to date procedures/manuals are developed, evolved, documented and followed to ensure the business is developed in a controlled and measured way.
• Attend regular Senior Management meetings to ensure all departments work coherently together in all aspects of the company both pre, and post completion.
• Review complex credit papers and provide guidance from a Credit perspective.
• Collate credit responses, suggest credit committee meetings where relevant and ensure all questions have been answered prior to completion.
• Make recommendation to Credit Committee, ensuring loans are in line with the credit risk framework.
• Refer lending decisions on facilities of a minimum of £150,000 and a maximum of £75 million with service and speed being the key in this market at the same time as ensuring the interest of the company and the borrower is protected.
• Ensure that all files are detailed to show full rationale and thought process, sign off the file pre-completion and authorize completion statements for funds release.
• Maintain responsibility for the management of the valuation, monitoring surveyor and solicitor panels.
• Ensure efficient utilization of multiple existing facilities both in terms of criteria, funding restrictions and profits.
• Deliver training and guidance to other colleagues on risk matters where appropriate.
• Regularly meet with Team Leader(s) to discuss staff progression, development, performance and salary benchmarking. Carrying out regular performance reviews where required.

Education & Experience

• Previous experience as; Head of Credit, Head of Underwriting, Senior Credit Manager or similar for a short term finance company.
• Ability to manage, develop and grow a team of underwriters, cases managers and graduates.
• In depth industry knowledge, clear understanding and ability to capitalize on knowledge of competitors, market trends, standards and insights.
• Confident liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Previous experience of departmental budget management.
• Comfortable holding various staff reviews, i.e. probation, annual, performance, sickness etc.
• Ideally, educated to degree level within a relevant field.
• Holds up to date knowledge of all legislative changes, industry standards, competitors and compliance/regulatory guidance.