Credit Officer - Project Finance - VP

Role: Credit VP – Project Finance

Level: VP

Location: London (City) with Flexible Working

Start Date: ASAP

Essential Skills: Experience with Project Finance transactions and deals.

Are you an experienced Credit Risk professional with a deep understanding of Project Finance and a knack for identifying and mitigating complex risks? Our client, a prestigious Global Banking Group, is seeking a talented Credit Risk Officer to join their 2nd line of defense. This is an exceptional opportunity to play a pivotal role in managing a significant portfolio and influencing critical decisions within a leading Project Finance institution.

In this impactful role, you will:

• Be the Credit Authority: Take ownership of formulating high-quality credit papers that cover a broad spectrum of Project Finance transactions, including asset acquisition, lease finance, and derivatives, for presentation to Senior Approvers.
• Shape Portfolio Strategy: Proactively manage and monitor the risks within your assigned portfolio, providing expert guidance to Front Office and Portfolio colleagues to ensure consistent application of credit procedures and effective risk escalation.
• Collaborate for Success: Partner with product and coverage teams, providing your credit expertise to facilitate positive outcomes for the Bank's clients while adhering to the established risk appetite.
• Dive into Dynamic Sectors: Manage a substantial portfolio driven by increasing activity in cutting-edge areas such as Digital Infrastructure (fibers, data centers), New Energy (hydrogen, carbon storage), Transition Energy (EV, Battery), and Renewables (primarily wind).
• Contribute to Restructuring Efforts: Collaborate on Special Credits, contributing to the development of effective workout strategies, ensuring appropriate reserves, and minimizing potential credit losses.
• Master Risk Assessment: Conduct thorough credit analysis, meticulously identifying, assessing, and articulating risks to ensure their mitigation to acceptable levels in accordance with bank policies and the risk appetite framework.
• Identify Emerging Threats: Proactively monitor your portfolio for emerging risk trends, compiling, assessing, and reporting these to management to enable timely and effective mitigation strategies.
• Engage and Influence: Foster frequent and constructive dialogue with front office deal teams, providing robust challenge to achieve the best outcomes for the Bank and ensure its position as a reliable partner for its customers.

What you bring to the table:

• Extensive experience of 5 years +, in the detailed analysis of project finance credits across a variety of sectors, ideally with exposure to multiple credit cycles.
• Exceptional numerical and financial analysis skills, with a proven ability to interpret complex and dynamic information from diverse sources.
• Demonstrated proficiency in utilizing financial models and conducting sensitivity analysis.
• Strong working knowledge of capital markets products, derivatives (including ISDA), and other relevant trading agreements.
• Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and command respect across all levels of the organization.
• A proven ability to independently solve complex problems and provide leadership during discussions and negotiations with the front office.
• Experience in contributing to the strategic direction of the business and effectively implementing change, demonstrating a passion for excellence.