Manager (Portfolio Manager) in Chelmsford, Essex

An established and growing specialist financial services business is looking for an experienced Senior Portfolio Manager to join its Loan Management team.

This is a key role for someone with a strong background in loan management, credit, risk and secured lending, who enjoys taking ownership of complex cases and making sound commercial decisions.

The successful candidate will be responsible for actively managing a portfolio of loans, with a particular focus on default and forbearance cases, credit monitoring, borrower reviews and debt recovery. They will provide insight and recommendations to senior leadership, investors and the Credit Committee, ensuring the best possible outcome for the business, its investors and its borrowers.

Reporting to the Joint Head of Portfolio, the Senior Portfolio Manager will take ownership of default cases and the ongoing review and monitoring of the live loan book.

The role combines credit and risk assessment, relationship management, commercial judgement and problem solving. It will suit someone who is comfortable dealing with sensitive or challenging situations, can assess risk quickly and is confident making recommendations based on detailed financial and commercial information.

• Manage default cases from initial contact through to resolution, including borrower communication, debt collection and investor updates.
• Deal directly with investors regarding default cases, providing clear and timely information by phone and email.
• Coordinate investor voting on proposed courses of action and implement agreed decisions.
• Prepare and present summary reports to the Quarterly Credit Committee and Senior Management Team.

Portfolio Review & Monitoring

• Undertake detailed annual and interim reviews of the active loan book.
• Monitor conditions subsequent, credit information and other indicators of potential risk.
• Review progress against the underlying project or purpose for which the loan was provided.
• Conduct detailed telephone reviews with borrowers and arrange physical project visits where appropriate.
• Present significant exposure and interim review cases to the Quarterly Credit Committee.
• Support the training and development of colleagues across the wider Loan Management team.
• Ensure all activity complies with FCA requirements, financial regulations and GDPR.

The ideal candidate will have proven loan management experience, ideally gained within a financial services, lending or credit environment. They will combine strong technical knowledge with commercial awareness and the confidence to deal directly with borrowers, investors and professional advisers.

• Good understanding of credit, risk and financial services.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

The Senior Portfolio Manager will be trusted to assess complex situations, identify risk, challenge assumptions and recommend the right course of action. The role offers the opportunity to join a specialist financial services business where people have genuine ownership of their work and where commercial judgement and initiative are valued.

The successful candidate will work across a diverse loan book, gain exposure to complex credit and recovery situations and have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to portfolio performance.

Cheltenham / Remote

Contract: Full time

For an experienced loan management or credit professional looking for a senior role with autonomy, variety and genuine commercial responsibility, this is an opportunity to take ownership of a significant portfolio and play a key role in protecting and maximising value for borrowers, investors and the business.