Credit Officer UK

Who is HSBC Innovation Banking?

HSBC Innovation Banking is the power behind the UK’s forward-thinkers, future-makers, and leap-takers, helping them ignite the bold ideas that reshape our world. We offer flexible banking solutions for start-ups, scale-ups, growth businesses, investors and those working towards IPO typically within the technology and life science sectors. Whether it’s comprehensive banking, managing cashflow, plans for buyouts or Strategic Fund Solutions, we power ideas at every stage of their journey. From the first-time founders to the funds that back them, and everything in between. We're proud to accelerate growth for our clients, create meaningful connections and communities, and open a world of global opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Here’s to never standing still. Come and join us!

The Role

HSBC Innovation Banking UK is looking for a Credit Officer (“CO”) with front-line experience in having led execution and portfolio management of lending to innovation companies, ideally VC-backed innovation companies, to support the growth of the business.

The role encompasses and has the following principal responsibilities:

• Credit risk management: Credit quality and management of assigned loan portfolio, credit oversight of new loan business, credit approvals within delegated authority and sponsorship of credits for approval outside of delegated authority, credit underwriting guidance, and collaboration with Relationship Management and Portfolio Management Leadership on broader strategic goals, risk appetite, credit strategy, and credit quality goals. A Credit Officer is responsible for enabling loan growth and maintaining good credit quality.
• Review of credit approval memoranda: Assess risk rating, and assure risk ratings are appropriate, accuracy of terms and conditions, risk/return, analyze adequacy of repayment sources, ensure that key risks are highlighted and rationale for approving the loan is sound.
• Meeting with Relationship Management and Portfolio Management to evaluate new loan opportunities and changes to existing loans: assess whether opportunity makes strategic and economic sense for HSBC Innovation Banking, understand qualitative and quantitative factors, decide if risk is acceptable and identify areas for additional due diligence.
• Quarterly portfolio reviews with each assigned team: Review every loan relationship in your assigned portfolios, with emphasis on risk rating, trends, and compliance with loan covenants and reporting requirements. Identify areas of weakness in the portfolio and provide guidance as to their remediation. Work closely with lending to ensure that portfolio management disciplines/practices are consistently applied.

Other responsibilities include:

• Mentorship: Coach RM and PM professionals in underwriting, portfolio management, negotiation, and positioning of solutions. Provide advice, mentoring, and/or training to lending staff and credit support staff regarding loan structuring, loan documentation and legal issues.
• Attend and participate in internal meetings with various groups, including the line of business.
• Participate in and/or lead discussions with credit review and third parties as assigned.
• Lead or participate in key initiatives (lending strategy, product strategy), projects (Controls, process improvements, etc.) and committees focused on achieving business unit objectives for Risk, or in partnership/support of other business units as appropriate.

Requirements (Skills/experience):

• You should be an experienced credit practitioner/lender – ideally with Venture & Growth experience who is comfortable and competent in product knowledge, analysis and modelling skills, credit process knowledge and execution. A proven track record in the assessment of credit solutions to clients and portfolio management and ability to manage internal and external stakeholders is essential.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage and debate credit with internal stakeholders effectively and independently.
• Excellent knowledge and application of credit policies, risk ratings and aspects of loan documentation.
• Proven ability to lead due diligence, structuring, underwriting and documentation processes independently for all types of debt transactions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple deal processes at the same time.
• Proven portfolio management expertise, while exercising proper judgment.
• Able to work independently and drive projects and workflow forward.
• Able to manage multiple stakeholders, including senior management, multiple Credit Solutions teams, Investor Coverage and multiple RM.
• Able to assess and challenge creative debt solutions to client needs.
• Able to provide guidance and feedback to less experienced staff members, enabling them to show improved efficiency and effectiveness.
• Able to effectively manage resources to optimize process and outcomes.

Where you’ll be based:

Our home office in Finsbury Square, London. We offer hybrid working to our employees, so you can flex between home and the office, with a current requirement

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk via [email protected].