Equipment Leasing Assistant Vice President
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Role Summary
- Support the preparation and review of annual credit assessments and new‑business proposals, working closely with Front Office teams to develop well‑reasoned recommendations for senior credit approvers.
- Operate as part of the second line of defence, providing independent credit‑risk oversight across new transactions and ongoing portfolio management within designated aviation sectors, including commercial aircraft, engines, and helicopter leasing.
- Contribute to effective portfolio and client‑relationship management, assisting in the monitoring of exposures, risk trends, and performance across the global aviation credit portfolio.
Business Area
Facts / Scale
- Assist in managing a globally diversified leasing portfolio of commercial aircraft, aircraft engines, and helicopter assets, providing credit oversight across an international customer base within a Japanese-owned financial institution.
Background – Where This Role Fits
- You’ll report to a Director and work as part of a specialist team of asset‑finance and credit‑risk professionals, collaborating with colleagues who bring deep expertise across the aviation industry.
- You’ll support the lead analyst on both existing portfolio accounts and new transactions, helping to build and maintain strong working relationships with Front Office credit teams and other key stakeholders.
- You’ll play an active role in managing credit exposures across the aviation portfolio, contributing to the full lifecycle of credit work — from reviewing applications and navigating the approval process to monitoring emerging risks and supporting responses to key risk events.
- As part of the wider team, you’ll help ensure all portfolio‑management responsibilities are completed on time, with risks identified, assessed, and escalated appropriately.
- The team structure includes a General Manager, Executive Director, Directors, Vice Presidents, and Assistant Vice Presidents, giving you exposure to senior leadership and a clear sense of progression within a global financial institution.
Position Description
Candidate Profile – What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for curious, motivated people who want to build a career in aviation finance and credit risk — no need to arrive as an expert, just bring the ambition and drive to grow.
You’ll thrive in this role if you have:
- A degree or relevant professional qualifications (e.g. ACA, ACCA, ACT, CFA) or a strong interest in developing a career in the aviation or financial sectors.
We value potential and mindset as much as formal paths. - Experience in credit, risk, finance, or analytical roles, gained in an international bank, financial institution, or aviation leasing environment.
If you’ve worked with global teams or cross‑border clients, that’s a plus. - A developing understanding of financial products, such as corporate lending, leasing, derivatives, capital markets, or asset finance.
You don’t need to know everything — just an appetite to learn and expand your skills.
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, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- 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!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.