Description
- The key goal of the Credit Analyst team is to ensure that the bank is able to develop client relationships whilst managing credit risk and meeting regulatory requirements. They do this by working closely with various stakeholders, notably the Relationship Managers ("RMs") and the Risk function of the bank.
- The Credit Analysts add value through producing high-quality recommendations, managing the credit process and its stakeholders, sharing knowledge across the bank (eg sector knowledge) and by identifying opportunities and threats (eg early warning signs).
Business Overview
- The Credit Analyst team includes c.20 staff in London and is supported by a team of c.5-6 staff in Lisbon. The team reports to the Head of UK Credit Analysts.
- The client base includes UK corporates and UK subsidiaries of overseas corporates, and ranges in size from small-caps to FTSE 100.
- The Credit Analysts are each responsible for an allocated portfolio of existing clients and prospect clients, and work together with the respective RMs for these. Where possible, the Credit Analysts are allocated specific sectors to focus on, and they are expected to develop an in-depth knowledge of these.
Key Accountabilities
Provide a critical contribution to facilitate well-informed decisions in credit committees:
- Collect and analyse client information in order to properly present and mitigate risks (annual reports, web site info, broker notes, rating agency analysis, sector research, due diligence with RM etc).
- Deliver counterparty, transaction and credit risk analysis. This includes analysis of the business, sector, peer analysis as well as the financial risk profile (financial statement analysis, developing financial forecasts where appropriate). The analysis should include an objective recommendation on the counterparty rating and recovery rate, in line with the bank's rating methodology.
- Produce high-quality, objective, concise credit proposals that are compliant with the bank's guidelines, enabling credit committee to take an informed decision. These proposals should balance the commercial and risk aspects of the client relationship/transaction, and include analysis of the facilities (eg analysis of relevant legal documentation) as well as a clear recommendation on why the proposal is acceptable.
- The Credit Analyst is also responsible for planning ahead, to ensure that all annual reviews are completed by deadlines, and any urgent transactions are prioritised.
Bring added-value to the business:
- Deliver timely high-quality credit proposals that lay the ground for an efficient discussion in credit committee. The Credit Analyst is responsible for routing requests to the appropriate decision-makers. In the credit committee, the Credit Analyst presents jointly with the RM.
- From the credit analysis, derive intelligence helping to identify client solutions/business opportunities.
- Help the RM to identify the credit points that need to be discussed with the client (with direct client interactions in some cases).
Contribute to strong risk monitoring:
- The Credit Analyst has joint responsibility with the RM to monitor exposures for early warning signals (including covenant monitoring) and to keep up to date with developments that could materially impact credit quality, strategy and financing opportunities.
- Disseminate the appropriate updates on clients and in case of material changes that could impact the client's risk profile, alert all the main stakeholders.
- Guarantee the quality of client data inputs that are under the responsibility of the Credit Analyst team (such as updating the relevant systems with the counterparty's financial statements).
- Keep up to date with knowledge of the bank's credit policies.
Share information and develop intelligence, notably sector knowledge:
- Efficiently disseminate sector knowledge to relevant teams.
- Actively participate in the credit risk community across the bank.
- The Credit Analyst should participate in the continuous improvement of the credit process by proposing solutions or areas for improvement when necessary.
Person Specification
Skills and Qualifications Required
- Applicants should have a minimum of 3 years of experience in producing and presenting credit analysis in a Commercial, Corporate or Investment Banking environment. However, applicants with a similar background (eg rating agencies) will also be considered. Ideally the applicant will be experienced in analysing companies from a range of different sectors.
- Strong understanding of the UK banking market, key banking products and related legal loan documentation.
- Excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written). Additional language skills advantageous.
- Excellent attention to detail, ability to work under time pressure and show persistence in following up key matters.
- Team player, with strong stakeholder management skills (influencing/negotiation/persuasion).
- Eager to improve his/her own performance (as well as that of the team) and take initiative.
- Educated to degree standard. Formal credit or accounting qualifications would be advantageous.
Core Competencies
- Strong technical credit analysis skills (including financial statements analysis, sector research, and financial modelling skills).
- Knowledge of banking products from a credit risk perspective, including:
- Plain vanilla commercial and corporate banking products (overdrafts, syndicated lending, term loans, cash management, guarantees and performance bond lines).
- Global markets products (including swaps, currency, commodities and other derivatives).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.