Credit Manager - Director (f/m/d)

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

ECB Direct Supervision Compliance
• Develop, maintain, and enhance credit risk management frameworks and processes to ensure compliance with ECB direct supervision standards and BaFin requirements.
• Act as primary liaison with ECB and BaFin on credit risk matters, including supervisory reviews, inspections, and inquiries.
• Ensure all credit risk submissions comply with ECB and BaFin requirements and are delivered within regulatory timelines.
• Monitor supervisory trends and regulatory developments and advise senior management on implications for credit risk strategy, governance, and operating frameworks.
Strategic Credit Risk Framework Development
• Design and implement a comprehensive credit risk management framework aligned with ECB and BaFin supervisory expectations, SMBC’s global risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with UK and Tokyo headquarters to tailor global credit risk policies to local regulatory requirements under ECB supervision.
• Enhance the Risk Appetite Framework, Underwriting Guidelines, and Risk Acceptance Criteria to reflect sector exposures and risk profiles in collaboration with global and regional risk teams.
Regulatory Engagement & Audits
• Prepare for and manage ECB and BaFin inspections, audits, and thematic reviews, ensuring compliant credit risk frameworks, processes, and documentation.
• Lead responses to ECB and BaFin findings and recommendations, ensuring timely remediation, particularly relating to credit risk governance and ESG integration.
• Manage internal communication of regulatory requirements and develop action plans to address identified gaps.
Project Management & Coordination
• Oversee strategic credit risk initiatives across regional offices, ensuring alignment with ECB and BaFin requirements and delivery of agreed milestones.
• Collaborate with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Lines of Defence to ensure regulatory alignment.
• Manage cross‑functional projects to enhance credit risk frameworks and processes across regions.
System & Data Management
• Work with IT and risk data teams to ensure credit risk systems support effective monitoring, reporting, and compliance with ECB and BaFin guidelines.
• Oversee system enhancements aligned with the Risk Appetite Framework, underwriting policies, and risk acceptance criteria.
• Ensure compliance with BCBS 239 requirements for risk data aggregation and reporting.
ESG Risk Integration
• Integrate ESG risks into credit risk assessment processes to ensure decisions reflect ESG‑related risks.
• Coordinate with global and regional risk teams to capture, assess, and report ESG risks within credit risk management processes.
Stakeholder & Regulatory Communications
• Build and maintain strong relationships with ECB and BaFin regulators through transparent communication.
• Engage senior management and internal risk committees to ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and credit risk practices.
• Lead internal training on ECB and BaFin frameworks, Risk Appetite Frameworks, Underwriting Guidelines, and Risk Acceptance Criteria.

Position Description

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Credit & Underwriting Transactions

• Review & authorise transactions in accordance with the Credit Officer Approval Authority Policy and Portfolio Management Rules, subject to the approval limits delegated from the General Manager of Credit Department.
• Analyse Credit Applications through provision of a challenge function to FO assumptions and requests. 
  - Utilise credit knowledge in assessment of transactions and assistance of FO in focussing on key issues and analysis of key risks.
  - Engage constructively with FO team in analysis of credit issues through interaction with FO, review of key due diligence and appraisal of Credit Applications.
  - Evaluate and challenge risks in legal documentation.
• Assessment of Underwrite request including evaluation of risks and propose credit strategy towards Net Take and Underwrite requests.
• Lead CD team in provision of a credit assessment of transaction with presentation to SMBC senior management/ approvers.
• Enable CD to be a reliable business partner to the Bank’s chosen client set.

Credit Portfolio Management

• Manage requests and approvals arising from the leveraged loan portfolio.
• Review credit strategy towards individual customers through assessment and challenge of annual reviews, and Special Credit Review meetings.
• Provide additional focus on all Warning and Special Credit obligors.
• Review the obligor grade, facility grade, self-assessment result proposed by SPD.
• Review of files selected for Self-assessment and provisioning for individual customers or credits.

Training and development

• Develop and provide training to FO and CD on Grading, Legal documentation and Credit Analysis.
• Support and develop more junior team members including identification of development needs and on the job training. 

Internal discipline, Compliance

• Comply with all regulatory and internal policies and procedures, regulations and guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

•    Seasoned credit professional with extensive credit markets experiences leading and negotiating deals in a front office or credit role, likely to have been gained from market leading institutions, and over more than one credit cycle.
•    Degree level education and / or equivalent professional qualifications (ACA, ACCA, ACT, CFA) with extensive and experience at a senior level in the financial sector.
•    Strong people performance management skills, allied to a demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective teams.
•    Ability to interact with and operate with the trust and respect of deal team at all levels and senior management of FO.
•    Very strong numerical and financial skills with the ability to interpret financial information and review and interpret financial models including identification of drivers and potential errors.
•    Ability to consider a broad enterprise-wide risk, beyond the specific credit risk issues, in assessing transaction, client and portfolio risks. 

Competencies

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working 
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services  
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities 
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!