Senior Credit Officer, Specialized Finance Risk in London

As the Senior Credit Officer ("SCO"), Specialized Finance (“SF”) Risk, the role holder will be responsible for the second line of defence responsibilities related to Credit Risk, which involves oversight and challenge of risk management actions from the First Line, including the following:

• The Group’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework (“ERMF”) with regards to Credit Risk, which sets out the Group’s approach to risk management and the control framework within which risks are managed and risk-return trade-offs are made.
• Ensure that the relevant first and second line owners understand and accept their risk management responsibilities.
• The Group’s Risk Appetite Framework, with regards to Credit Risk, which sets out the Group’s appetite to material risk types that it is exposed to.
• As SCO, SF Risk, monitor compliance to Board approved risk appetite; and highlight significant matters to the attention of senior management and senior risk committees.
• Ensure a robust effectiveness review process for the ERMF with regards to Credit Risk and escape significant matters and/or gaps in ERMF implementations to senior management and the relevant Board level committees as relevant.
• Building a culture of good conduct in the Risk function and embedding the Risk Culture statement as described in the ERMF.
• Final credit decisions for wholesale lending facilities.

Role Responsibilities

• This role’s responsibilities would encompass governance and management of exposures to/for Private Equity and Other Investment Funds, (“Financial Sponsors”) primarily for the APAC region but also supporting other regions as needed:
• Approval, management and ongoing monitoring of Subscription Finance exposures for Commercial & Investment Banking ("CIB") within the Bank (including the SMA related Subscription Finance exposures).
• Approval, management and ongoing monitoring of NAV / Hybrid / GP / Bespoke Credit Solutions exposures for CIB.
• Approval, management and ongoing monitoring of any exposures (including Cat 1, 2, 3 and 5 facilities) with its credit base reliant primarily or partially on Financial Sponsors, Financial Sponsor owned entities (excluding non-recourse Portfolio Companies exposure as detailed below), General Partners, or Management Companies.
• In case of partial reliance, responsibility would be in partnership with Credit Officers covering the remaining credit base.
• Approval, management and ongoing monitoring of CRE Loan on Loans.
• Oversight of overall Financing exposures (including Portfolio Companies and other non-recourse exposures) across Financial Sponsors within CIB with a view to manage Sponsor concentrations and providing Risk review and challenge to the business strategy related to Financial Sponsors.
• The responsibility includes assets originated by the 1LoD across both the Banking and Trading Book.
• Governance for the above portfolios including, but not limited to timely and relevant updates / renewals of Credit Underwriting Principles for the various products, engaging with Audit / CRR on audit requirements, engagement on regulatory deliverables, engagement on models, stress testing, leading and driving any Projects in the space, etc.

Risk Governance & Frameworks and Regulatory & Control Responsibilities

• Lead and enhance the risk governance framework for Specialized Finance exposures to Private Equity and other Financial Sponsors.
• Ensure alignment of sponsor-related risk management with the bank’s overall risk appetite, credit policies and regulatory expectations.
• Contribute to the design and periodic review of policies, standards and procedures for sponsor finance, leveraged finance and related structured lending.
• Participate in local and global risk committees, providing clear, well‑reasoned recommendations and challenge.
• Ensure all sponsor-related activities within scope adhere to internal policies, regulatory requirements and relevant prudential standards.
• Contribute to the identification, escalation and remediation of control issues or policy breaches.
• Support audits, regulatory reviews and internal assurance activities related to Specialized Finance risk.

Portfolio Management & Monitoring

• Oversee the risk profile of the Private Equity and Financial Sponsor-related portfolio across Europe, and support oversight of portfolios in other regions.
• Monitor portfolio performance, concentrations, early warning indicators and emerging risks, proposing proactive management actions where needed.
• Support periodic portfolio reviews, stress testing, scenario analysis and capital discussions related to Specialized Finance exposures.
• Ensure appropriate risk grading and ongoing monitoring standards are applied consistently.

Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership

• Build strong working relationships with front office teams, global and regional risk colleagues, Legal, Compliance and other control functions.
• Provide constructive, independent challenge to the business, balancing risk and return while supporting sustainable growth.
• Offer guidance and coaching on risk-related matters to colleagues across Risk and the business.
• Represent SF Risk in internal forums and, where appropriate, with external stakeholders (e.g. auditors, regulators).

Role Requirements

• Degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business, or a related discipline; a relevant postgraduate qualification or professional certification (e.g. CFA, FRM, ACA) would be beneficial.
• Substantial experience in credit risk management within corporate, leveraged or structured finance, ideally with direct exposure to Private Equity, Financial Sponsors and Fund Finance.
• Proven track record acting as a credit decision maker or senior credit approver on complex transactions.
• Deep understanding of:

• Fund financing structures and products (subscription finance, NAV, hybrid and GP, and related derivative / hedging products)
• Financial modelling, cashflow analysis and capital structures
• Security, covenant and documentation frameworks

What we offer

• Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits available in some locations.
• Time-off including annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum) and volunteering leave (3 days), along with minimum global standards for annual and public holiday, which is combined to 30 days minimum.
• Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
• Proactive wellbeing support through Unmind, a market-leading digital wellbeing platform, development courses for resilience and other human skills, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first-aiders and all sorts of self-help toolkits.
• A continuous learning culture to support your growth, with opportunities to reskill and upskill and access to physical, virtual and digital learning.
• Being part of an inclusive and values driven organisation, one that embraces and celebrates our unique diversity, across our teams, business functions and geographies - everyone feels respected and can realise their full potential.