Associate Principal, Credit Analyst at Standard Chartered Bank

The Role Responsibilities

To provide insightful, relevant, succinct and timely credit analysis of a portfolio of Standard Chartered Bank's clients (current or prospective).

Strategy

• This includes responsibility for proposing counterparty credit grades via the relevant scorecard, and ongoing monitoring for credit-material events. While the portfolio will be industry / geography specific in focus, the role extends to analysing other clients as may from time to time be required
• Insightful: Attuned to the needs of two audiences - Client Coverage and Risk - the analysis should provide a forward-looking, focused opinion on the likely development of both business and financial risk elements in their industry / geographic context together with a calibrated articulation of key risks and potential mitigants thereto.
• Relevant: As well as a holistic counterparty assessment, analysis should comment on structural elements relevant to SCB's existing or proposed exposure such as guarantee and security arrangements
• Succinct: While always providing sufficient granularity to substantiate its conclusions and observations, the analysis should present opinion in as structured and succinct a manner as is practical
• Timely: While focused on the prescribed annual review cycle, analysis will also be required where material new exposure is being considered by Client Coverage. In addition, more summary analysis should be produced and disseminated quickly, where relevant

Additionally, for any BCA submission it will involve the following:

• Critical review of Environment and Social Risk Assessments, Appropriateness and Suitability Assessments (FM Products);
• Consistency and coherence review of the Approved Account Plan, Raptor (or equivalent), Client & Group Facility Summary & Structure (including Terms and Conditions)
• Active partnership with Client Coverage in completion of Risk Profile, Compliance Details, as well as proposed Covenants and Risk Triggers
• Overall accountability for consistency and coherence of the complete BCA package submitted to Risk will rest with Credit Analysis and is a key element of the strategy.

Business

• To partner the team's two key stakeholder communities, Client Coverage and Risk, supporting the former in developing and executing their client strategies and both in respect of credit analysis-relevant matters.

Processes

Timely drafting of credit analysis as directed by the relevant Team Leader. Such analysis should be Insightful, Relevant and Succinct (see Strategy) and include the following, inter alia:

• Discussion of the dynamics and nature of the Client's industry, including key risk aspects;
• Assessment of the Client's competitive positioning within its industry;
• Discussion of management strength, experience and track record and corporate governance more broadly;
• Articulation of the Client's strategy and an assessment of its clarity and associated execution risks;
• Assessment of funding strategy, financial policy, treasury activity (hedging, cash management) and liquidity;
• Development of a current / forward year base forecast performance expectation;
• Assessment of balance sheet strength, alongside cashflow and profitability vulnerability, via ratio analysis and/or stress testing;
• Discussion of other pertinent risk aspects, including country risk, parental and/or governmental linkage/support, relative ranking of indebtedness, Fraud risk;
• Evaluation of risks associated with particular proposed transactions, where required;
• Completion of Group Mandate/BCA Part 1, Part 2, financial analysis/spreads, scorecards;
• Ensure use of appropriate calculator in alignment with Credit Policy for relevant approvals (e.g. Raptor, Group Aggregation Calculator);
• Complete ESRA (Environment and Social Risk Assessment) Checklist;
• For Cat 2 lines, complete Financial Markets Appropriateness and GWWR Attribute checklist;
• For Cat 2 lines, Credit Term Sheet updates based on RM/Risk feedback;
• Supporting business on structuring deals;
• Documentation support on credit aspects and working with IMO on BCA reworks;
• Testing and Monitoring Covenants & Risk Triggers;
• EAR & ASTAR reporting/updates to credit;
• Seek pre-approval endorsements(where applicable);
• Preparing country specific regulatory check-lists (where applicable);
• Credit stress testing
• CCC Certification
• Preparation of other analysis as directed by the relevant Team Leader, such as Industry specific reviews, portfolio reviews, assessments of new prospects etc.

People & Talent

• Support CA Team Leaders and others in the team on ad hoc projects, strategic initiatives and exercises aimed at improving or enhancing the team's activities
• Continually strive to share key relevant knowledge and learnings with others across the team
• Provide credit specific coaching to newer or less experienced members of the team

Risk Management

In respect of Clients where the role-holder is assigned as analyst:

• Proactive monitoring of key entity or industry wide events and/or developments, as well as of covenants and risk triggers where applicable
• Partnering Relationship Managers in pursuing their client strategies through proactive idea generation, support in preparing materials for client discussion and through ensuring they are always fully briefed on key risk aspects
• Partnering Risk through clear presentation of credit analysis and proposed credit grading, as well as through proactive and considered discussion of key risk aspects
• Accompanying Relationship Managers on client visits, as part of general due diligence in respect of credit analysis
• Acting as a broader point of expertise in respect of credit aspects with Product and others across SCB

Governance

• Maintaining integrity in analysis at all times is critical. This includes frequent and iterative discussion with both Client Coverage and Risk around draft analysis, key sector / geographic trends, as well as discussion of covenants, risk triggers and the like. It involves proactive idea generation and discussion with Client Coverage around potential business opportunities for SCB, assisting both Client Coverage and Risk around transaction structuring and execution, where relevant, and identifying and alerting stakeholders of emerging risk aspects on a continuous basis.

Key stakeholders

Internal Relationships:

• Risk
• Product partners
• CDD, where relevant
• Legal, Audit and Compliance, where relevant
• Physical Commodity Operations, where relevant

External Relationships:

• Clients
• Rating Agencies
• Market Data Services providers

Our Ideal Candidate

Key requirements:

• Analytical strength - to spot emerging risks, in particular forward looking industry trends.
• Gravitas - to engage with Relationship Managers and Clients alike, have the ability to challenge in a constructive manner.
• Collaborative - to work in partnership with stakeholders to 'get things done', fulfilling the Job Purpose

Experience & Skills:

• Minimum of Grade dependent years' relevant experience gained either in banking, treasury or accounting environment
• Strong analytical ability, focused on the assessment and calibration of credit risk
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (in English), with proven ability to work across cultures and within a dynamic environment
• Able to hold credible dialogue at all levels of the organisation, as well as with clients
• Well organized, able to multi-task and balance competing demands

Educational Qualifications:

• Graduates / Graduate calibre
• Sound knowledge of accounting and financial principles gained by experience or qualification
• MBA or CFA qualifications advantageous, but not required

Role Specific Technical Competencies

• Financial Statement Analysis
• Credit Analysis and Verification
• Risk Management - Internal Controls (SIF) and C&I Credit Risk
• Knowledge of Customers
• Addressing Customer Needs - Products and Processes
• Analytical Thinking
• Industry Knowledge
• Problem Management Process
• Account Management