Head of Credit and Country Risk (2nd Line of Defence)

Crown Agents Bank is a vastly growing and regulated UK bank that connects emerging and frontier markets to the rest of the world, using FX and payments technology. We are transforming the way payments and FX move through emerging markets, reducing friction so that more money gets to those who need it. Emerging markets payments are usually challenging, expensive, unreliable and opaque. Our solutions help fix these pain points. Ultimately, we connect traditionally hard-to-reach regions to global financial infrastructure, giving access to the best prices and the fastest, most reliable settlement.

FX and cross-border payments are often complex and expensive, especially when operating in emerging markets. Crown Agents Bank (CAB) wraps its deep and trusted relationships and strength of network around innovative digital capabilities, and cross-border transaction banking solutions to enable fintech, corporates, governments, development organisations and banks to move money to, from, and across often hard-to-reach markets.

You'll play a critical part in shaping our 2nd line of defence Credit and Country risk strategies, enhancing our risk frameworks, tools and analytics, and ensuring we maintain a healthy balance between risk and growth as we scale operations across multiple regions and support core commercial activities in emerging and frontier markets across the globe.

Credit Risk Oversight:

• Lead the further development and execution of the company’s Credit risk framework, policies, and processes.
• Own Credit risk appetite settings and monitor portfolio performance against these thresholds.
• Drive improvements in Credit risk assessment tools, models, and decisioning processes.
• Further evolve portfolio, concentration and optimization analytics to proactively manage Credit risk across multiple products, services and geographies
• Partner with Commercial and Finance teams to ensure lending decisions align with overall business strategy and risk appetite
• Review and approve high-value or non-standard credit applications.
• Input into important strategic and regulatory processes including preparation of annual and interim financial reports including IFRS9, Pillar 3 Disclosures, ICAAP, ILAAP, Recovery and Resolution Planning, TCFD and other sustainability disclosures, etc

Country Risk Analysis:

• Provide 2nd line oversight and guidance in deep-dive risk assessments of economic, political, regulatory, legal and social factors impacting countries where we operate or plan to enter.
• Further develop and evolve a dynamic Country risk rating model and risk assessment approaches to support portfolio management and strategic decision-making.
• Prepare regular Country risk reports, exposure and concentration analysis and briefings for senior management and the board.
• Act as an internal expert on macro and sovereign risk, advising teams on current and potential risks and market developments.

Leadership & Governance:

• Lead and develop a high-performing Credit and Country risk analysis team.
• Work in partnership with other 2nd line Risk and Compliance colleagues as well as business and commercial stakeholders and ExCo members
• Represent Credit and Country Risk in relevant governance forums, including risk committees.
• Stay ahead of global trends and best practices in Credit and Country risk.

• Degree in Economics, Finance, Risk Management or related field.  A relevant postgraduate qualification or CFA would be an advantage.

Experience:

• Proven track record in leading Credit risk management teams, ideally in a lending, banking, or financial services environment.
• Experience of diverse emerging and frontier markets preferred
• Strong background in sovereign or Country risk analysis.
• In-depth understanding of Credit principles, financial statement analysis, and macroeconomic indicators, regulatory requirements, IFRS9
• Experience building and improving risk frameworks, tools, analytics and credit policies.
• Experience of taking the lead and proactively managing and navigating through severe market disruption and escalation of key synthesized Credit / Country exposure and risk information to the ExCo and Board
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Able to make confident, data-driven decisions under pressure.

• Hybrid working
• Contributory personal pension plan: - Minimum: Employee 2% and Employer 7%. Employer matches contributions in 1% increments to a maximum of: Employee 5% and Employer 10%
• Life Assurance – 4 times annual salary
• Group Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance – this may include cover for partner and or children at company cost. Cover includes Optical, Dental and Audiology
• Discretionary Bonus
• Competitive Annual Leave
• 2 Volunteering Days
• Benefit Hub