Deputy Director Credit Risk & Portfolio Management

We are seeking a Deputy Director, Credit Risk & Portfolio Management to lead the Credit and Portfolio functions. This role involves representing the Directorate in policy and funding discussions with internal and external stakeholders, including government and the wider public. You will manage a team of 10 credit and investment specialists and 8 debt portfolio management experts, overseeing a portfolio of high-risk SME loans with mezzanine and structured finance features. The role includes personal delegation authority for credit, investment, arrears, default, and recovery decisions, as well as any devolved delegations as required.

The ideal candidate will have experience in SME lending or investment within a fund, banking, or alternative finance environment. They must demonstrate the ability to balance innovation objectives and economic impact while maintaining a risk/reward profile aligned with the organisation’s risk appetite. Experience working with senior government stakeholders, shaping policy within Subsidy Control regulations and Managing Public Money frameworks, is essential. Expertise in launching large-scale financial products across public and private sectors, assessing customer needs, and developing risk and finance strategies is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Lead a team of 10 credit and investment specialists and 8 debt portfolio management experts to build and manage a portfolio of high risk, SME loans with mezzanine / structured finance features and controls.
• Operate a personal delegation for credit, investment, arrears, default and recovery decisions, and any devolved delegation as required.
• Act as the technical expert in credit and portfolio management, as part of the wider risk, assurance and governance architecture of the organisation.
• Provide thought leadership in key public forums and expert representation in key government forums as part of the senior management team.
• Attend Credit Committee as an executive member, offering professional opinion and insight to reach decisions alongside executive and independent members.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified or demonstrating substantial equivalent experience in SME lending and/or investment decisions, in a fund, banking or alternative finance environment.
• Experience in originating and maintaining a portfolio of SME loan assets as a (stretched-) senior and/or mezzanine/structured finance lender.
• Proven track record in building, maintaining and leading a high performing team across several technical disciplines through consensus-building, empowerment and coaching.
• Willingness and ability to flex mindset to deliver a portfolio which delivers on the innovation objectives and economic impact of the programme while achieving an overall balance of risk/reward consistent with the risk appetite.
• Experience of working with senior government stakeholders, developing and implementing policy initiatives in the context of Subsidy Control regulation and Managing Public Money contexts.
• Experience in launching new financial products in the public/private sectors at scale, analysing and determining customer requirements and developing appropriate risk and finance strategies.
• Evidence of having helped UK SMEs grow through new products and/or markets.
• Understanding of fair value accounting in the context of IFRS9, including benchmarking of loan assets against industry standard models through the credit cycle.
• Experience in working directly with clients, managing expectations and providing constructive feedback on credit decisions.

Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let us know. If you consider yourself to have a disability or if you are a veteran, and you meet the essential criteria for the role, you will be put forward for the ‘Guaranteed Interview’ scheme whereby you will have the opportunity to discuss this role and your suitability with a member of the Sourcing team. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we provide the best talent and encourage all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.