Senior Credit Manager at Standard Chartered Bank

Job Summary

• Participate and support Senior Credit Officer (SCO) in optimisation of usage of available capital resources and the creation of a desired portfolio risk profile through the application, in conjunction with the business, of Portfolio Standards and Risk Appetite principles.
• Approve Business Credit Application (BCA) under personal delegated credit authority.
• Effective management and monitoring of underwriting and control disciplines to ensure good turnaround times, a well-managed portfolio and the enforcement of credit risk policies.
• Management of all stakeholders including developing relationships with business partners and balancing the role with stakeholder expectations.
• Ensure to maintain a strong credit culture and the highest standards and apply all the credit policies
• Ensuring quick transparent escalation of important issues and providing critical and timely inputs to key risk forums.
• To ensure that quality of credit portfolio is maintained within acceptable parameters as defined by the group and local business strategy.
• Monitor and report excesses, breach of limit terms, early alert indicators and ensure that all such accounts are managed as per laid down procedures.
• Undertake regular customer visits to keep abreast of local market developments.

Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Management

• Assist with the formulation of annual Risk Appetite and Portfolio Standards in through joint sponsorship with the business.
• Influence and monitor through use of Risk view and others reporting channels the shape and composition of the portfolio against approved Standards, and escalate breaches with recommendations for remedial action.
• To proactively manage the portfolio and improve the quality of the book by growing in acceptable sectors/client segments with top quartile names, acceptable credit grade and risk/reward profile in line with business strategy.
• To continuously monitor the portfolio through Leading Indicators, 80/20 and other Tail Management initiatives so as to manage down slackening sectors/ individual names.
• To analyse the portfolio on an ongoing basis to identify exposure/ industry concentration and undertake remedial measures to rebalance the same by preparing the monthly Portfolio Standard Tracker and reporting the breaches.

Governance

• Prepare monthly reports such as Portfolio Standard Tracker.
• Regularly review audit and Credit Risk Review reports (CRR) / Key Control Indicators & Control Sample Testing and identify key trends
• Prepare all the inputs required from Credit Risk to assist the Country Chief Risk Officer .
• Prepare To stress test the respective country portfolios as appropriate to manage downside risks.
• Produce data and analysis/commentary for the Risk Information Report (“RIR”).
• Support Credit Risk Control by Monitoring and reviewing the daily excess reports / Collateral Monitoring System report (for documentation deficiencies) / monthly Risk Based reports
• Ensure timely submission of various Credit Risk reports to Finance and Compliance for Regulatory Reporting to the respective Central Banks.

Credit Process Management

• Ensuring that the quality of Credit Applications meets Group standards, particularly with regard to the completeness and depth of risk analysis.
• Approving of Credit Applications falling within own discretion and support of applications, which require approval outside the territory.
• Attending the local Credit Issues Committees for respective countries to review credit related issues.
• To instil a strong credit culture and provide leadership to Relation Manager’s.
• Assisting relationship managers in identification and managing up or out of accounts exhibiting signs of deterioration and assisting Special Assets Management, where appropriate, in managing substandard accounts to maximise recoveries and minimise losses.
• Discuss with business and approve daily transaction
• Support credit request .

Training

• Attend all credit trainings and mandatory role specific certifications.

Regulatory and Compliance Management

• Provide all data required for audit purpose.
• Liaise with internal, external and Apex Bank examiners/auditors for the provision of information and discussions on portfolio quality and management issues as and when required.

Strategy

• Support the Chief Credit Officer / Senior Credit Officer in planning the development of risk parameters for Nigeria according to Risk Appetite and Policy Frameworks and documents in the relevant Portfolio Guidelines/Risk Appetite Mandates.

Business

• Corporate and Investment Banking segment

Processes

• Control the portfolio within the set risk parameters to ensure the risk profile is within risk tolerances.
• Ensure credit approvals are within delegated authorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable internal policies, and external laws and regulations.
• Continuously improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the risk management processes.

Risk Management

• Assess the credit risk profile , maintaining alignment with risk appetite by rebalancing any risks or controls that may be required in response to internal and external factors.
• Perform stress tests as required by internal and external factors and review results and assess their implications. Ensure that effective management response plans are in place to respond to extreme but plausible scenarios.
• Uphold the integrity of risk/return decisions, by challenging the business to demonstrate that risk origination and control decisions are properly informed and consistent with strategy and risk appetite.
• Direct appropriate responses to material events or other risk issues that come to the Senior Credit Manager’s attention.
• Assist the Chief Credit Officer / Senior Credit Officer in exercising risk control responsibility for Credit Risk, for the CIB businesses in Nigeria and West Africa
• Ensure risk capabilities are objective, consistent and compliant with applicable regulations.
• Maintain clear understanding and implementation the Enterprise Risk Management Framework for Credit Risk.
• Design, maintain and effectively communicate risk control parameters across the Business, including policies, control standards, risk exposure limits and other control levers in order to maintain the risk profile in line with the Group's risk appetite.
• Maintain a good understanding of the requirements of key external stakeholders in respect of risk management and ensure these are well understood internally and reflected in internal procedures.
• Assist the Chief Credit Officer / Senior Credit Officer in obtaining assurance regarding the effectiveness of the business controls and compliance with applicable laws & regulations.
• Participate in key committees through standing membership when and where required.
• Maintain an open and cooperative relationship in dealings with regulators when and where required.
• Assist the Chief Credit Officer / Senior Credit Officer in formulating and obtaining approval of Portfolio Guidelines / Risk Appetite Mandates which are supportive (from a Credit Risk perspective) of the business strategy of various segments.
• Approve breaches of local Portfolio Guidelines/Risk Appetite Mandates, to the extent permitted by Credit Policy / delegated authority.
• Monitor compliance with Credit Policy and Portfolio Guidelines/Credit Approval Documents/Risk Appetite Mandates on a periodic basis and review any divergence thereof with the CEO, Client Coverage (CC) Head/Segment Heads to ensure credit quality targets are achieved.
• Ensure the EAR process is adhered to and participate in monthly EAR discussions as required. Assist relationship managers in identification and managing up or out of accounts exhibiting signs of deterioration and assist Group Special Assets Management where appropriate, in managing accounts to maximize recoveries and minimize losses.
• Co-ordinate with local resources to ensure that credit systems are installed in accordance with Group standard. Provide a reference point for collating and passing on to Group Technology and Operations problems and proposed enhancements. Ensure that new users are trained on all credit systems.
• Maintain Credit quality and high standards of professionalism for the risk function.

Governance

• These activities are covered under the ''risk management' section above. Not applicable.

Regulatory & Business Conduct

• Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Lead the [Cote’ D’Ivoire Credit risk to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank’s Conduct Principles
• Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate, and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

Key stakeholders
Internal

• Country CRO
• Members of Group/Country Risk Committee
• Members of Risk Management Team
• Members of the Global Business Management Group
• Group Heads of Control functions
• Group Internal Audit
• Group Operational Risk

External

• Central Bank of Nigeria
• Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
• Key Footprint regulators
• The Group's external auditors
• Economic and Industry Associations
• Counterparts in major financial institutions
• Leading Risk Consultancies
• Local governance bodies
• Regional & Country CEOs and Business Heads

Skills and Experience

• Describe how the Bank manages credit risk at the strategic level
• Independently evaluate clients’ strategic requirements; develop financial solutions and account strategy following Bank policy for companies / groups with a relatively complex risk profile
• Assess and mitigate Operational / Legal / Reputational Risk of cross border structured products
• Monitor risk and structure complex products in close collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Work closely with regulators including leading audit discussions
• Monitor large exposure and risk intensive accounts to identify changes and take necessary action

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in banking. Functional experience in Corporate Banking Credit Risk Management.
• MBA /ACA/ACCA/CFA with experience in treasury/relationship management/consultancy and risk management is preferrable.
• Good communication skills – written and oral French and English.
• Good knowledge and grasp of banking practice, financial markets, Basel Accords and ICAAP, risk appetite, and portfolio management techniques.
• Hands on knowledge of the regulatory frameworks within the region.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to influence and resolve disputes. Enjoy decision making and have sense of ownership.
• Multi-cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Command respect of cross functional peers and business heads working in open ended situations.
• Good working relations with Regulators.