Portfolio Manager in Chelmsford

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.

The role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to work across a varied portfolio, dealing directly with borrowers, investors, solicitors, valuers, estate agents, receivers and other professional advisers.

Key responsibilities

• Default & Forbearance
  • 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.
  • Liaise with and instruct solicitors, estate agents, receivers, valuers and other third parties to progress investigation and debt recovery.
  • Work directly with borrowers to reduce exposure and achieve the best possible outcome.
  • 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.
  • Prepare detailed review reports on individual loans, identifying concerns, opportunities and potential additional lending.
  • Assess the validity and adequacy of security and relevant insurance arrangements.
  • Monitor interest payments and management fees.
  • 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.
  • Recommend and schedule additional reviews where required.
  • Present significant exposure and interim review cases to the Quarterly Credit Committee.
  • Manage partial redemptions where security needs to be released, working with solicitors, valuers and other professional advisers.
  • Assess borrower consent requests, including leases, licences, easements and similar matters.
• Wider team support
  • Support the management of the maturing loan book when required, ensuring loans are redeemed or renewed in a timely manner.
  • Support the training and development of colleagues across the wider Loan Management team.
  • Maintain accurate case records and ensure appropriate filing across internal systems.
  • Ensure all activity complies with FCA requirements, financial regulations and GDPR.

What they are looking for

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.

Key experience and skills will include:

• Strong experience in loan management.
• Good understanding of credit, risk and financial services.
• Knowledge of secured lending and associated documentation.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience dealing directly with customers or borrowers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience with loan management or case management systems would be advantageous.

This is a role where judgement matters. The Senior Portfolio Manager will be trusted to assess complex situations, identify risk, challenge assumptions and recommend the right course of action. They will have regular exposure to investors and senior decision-makers and will play an important role in protecting the interests of all parties involved.

The business has a clear set of values that shape how it operates: fairness, openness, loyalty, kinship and taking initiative. It is looking for someone who shares those principles — someone who is transparent and dependable, takes ownership, treats people fairly and isn't afraid to make things happen.

Why join?

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.

Location: Cheltenham / Remote

Contract: Full time

Reporting to: Joint Head of Portfolio

Direct reports: None

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.

Interested? Confidential conversations are welcomed with candidates who would like to find out more.