Credit Risk Associate

The Opportunity

Shawbrook provides finance to a wide range of customer segments that value the premium experience, flexibility and certainly we deliver. We are a purpose-led organisation, with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

We have a diversified offering, with our innovative lending propositions tailored to meet specific customer needs in carefully selected markets across SME, Real Estate and Personal. Our products range from complex structured credit facilities for growth-focused businesses to mortgages for professional landlords and property investors, as well as simple loans for consumers delivered digitally. We fuel our lending through customer deposits, which we attract by delivering a premium experience, choice and consistently great value to smart savers.

The business model we have created is unique and difficult to replicate, with our ‘best of both’ approach combining deep human expertise with advanced digital, tech and data capabilities. This combination not only allows us to deliver excellent customer experiences, but to do so efficiently and at scale. We are proud of our innovative and agile culture, which drives consistently high employee engagement scores and makes Shawbrook an attractive destination for the best talent. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, contribute new ideas and believe anything is possible, you’re our kind of person.

Work with us because you:

• Want to be part of a bank built for the dynamics of the modern world

• Relish a challenge and enjoy a fast-paced, innovative and hardworking culture

• Enjoy finding new and better ways to solve complexity and make things happen

• Want to belong to a diverse culture that stands shoulder to shoulder with minority and underrepresented groups

• Care about society and the environment and want to be part of a business that cares too

• Want to continue to grow professionally and be the best version of yourself

The Role & Responsibilities

The role is part of the Credit Risk Function which sits in the 2nd Line of Defence and is tasked with supporting the Chief Credit Officer “CCO” with credit risk decision making activities, the ongoing development, embedding and monitoring of the Bank’s Credit Risk Management Framework and to ensure Credit Risk activities remain effective and relevant to the Bank’s strategic objectives and the prevailing external economic environment.

The role holder will report into the Deputy Chief Credit Office and will be a point of technical reference primarily for Real Estate Development Finance lending activities undertaken by the Commercial Banking Franchise. However, the role holder will have the opportunity to also support on other asset classes, including Real Estate investment and SME unsecured cashflow lending as and when required. The role will also involve being afforded a delegated authority at the appropriate time.

In addition to performing credit risk sanctioning decision making for specific transactions, the role holder will be responsible for supporting the oversight of the ongoing credit risk performance of the lending portfolio, whilst supporting the ongoing evolution and development of the quality of credit risk analysis and presentation undertaken by both 1st Line and 2nd Line. Furthermore, the role holder will support the continued development and evolution of credit risk processes and systems.

Key Responsibilities

Credit Sanctioning

• Responsibility for the analysis and assessment of credit risk for new money lending proposals with a primary focus on Real Estate and Development Finance, whilst supporting SME lending when appropriate.

• Analyse, review and comment on the performance of individual transactions for the purpose of annual and interim reviews.

• Review and monitor action plans for Watchlist cases, together with any proposed change to respect impairment levels.

• Monitoring and reporting on compliance with credit risk appetite and concentration risk limits.

• Responsibility for ensuring all credit risk sanctioning recommendations and decisions as and when a personal delegated authority is afforded are appropriately considered in a consistently balanced and duly informed manner.

Credit Approval Committees

• Direct involvement with the preparation of any supporting papers relating to individual transactions submitted for discussion and approval.

• Articulate a balanced and decisive credit risk recommendation in accordance with 2nd Line responsibilities.

• Take ownership for the successful follow up of any outstanding Action Points from the respective Committee.

Quality Control & Assurance

• Ensure each transaction is aligned to the respective Asset Class Policy, together with the overarching Credit Risk Policies, identifying and reporting Credit Policy Exceptions as appropriate.

• As and when required, participate in ad-hoc projects such as reviews of the potential impact on lending portfolios of one-off credit or macro-economic events.

People and Culture

• Actively participate in a supportive and collaborative working environment, inspiring and motivating others.

• Encourage and drive your own personal development, with a view to optimise your own ability and career aspirations where appropriate.

• Assist the team in delivering a consistently highly effective performance, whilst ensuring this is not detriment to people’s wellbeing.

The Person

• An understanding of the financial services sector, with minimum 3 years experience in the industry.

• Previous experience of Real Estate, Development Finance lending or Corporate lending.

• An understanding of compliance and banking regulations and Conduct Risk and how to deliver fair customer outcomes.

• Demonstrating frankness, openness and transparency.

• Ability to develop strong and collaborative working relationships with all stakeholders.

• Demonstrates sound business/professional judgement through strength of character, independence of thought risk awareness and good values and behaviours.

• Works well under pressure with the ability to prioritise and manage several tasks simultaneously.

• High levels of drive, energy and personal commitment to success.

• Creativity and innovation

Reward

Your Wellbeing - We take your health and well-being very seriously by providing a range of benefits to give you and your family peace of mind. These include:

• Market leading family friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment

• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness & meditation digital health app

• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment becoming a parent or menopause

• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Offering you support on a wide range of subjects including financial concerns, mental wellbeing and more general queries around family, work, housing, and health

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounts on gym membership

• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - It’s important you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. We provide benefits to support you when at work and when you’re enjoying your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year

• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme

• Discounts on gym membership nationwide

• Access to discounts on a range of high street and online brands

• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We’re focused on rewarding those that go the extra mile in helping us achieve our goals.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contribution to our success

• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognising our role models and thanking our colleagues for a job well done