Head of Underwriting

The main purpose is to lead a specialist team responsible for collaborating with front-office to undertake initial credit risk assessment and structuring of new business opportunities and owning second line in-life credit risk management. The individual will oversee credit risk evaluation and recommendations to credit risk committee as well as approve under their own credit authority. The role holder will continually look at how credit risk policy and processes can be optimised, and additional tools adopted.

• Proactively collaborate with the business to prioritise and manage the pipeline of new opportunities and in-life activity (incl. increase, renewals, heightened monitoring) in support of delivering the business strategy within board approved risk appetite.
• Regularly review an implement enhancement to credit policy, processes, and procedures to improve credit assessment and decision-making cycle time.
• Ensure that credit analysis and recommendations are delivered to a consistently high standard in support of the credit decisioning process.
• Co-ordinate the timely preparation on credit committee agenda, circulation of packs, preparation of minutes and the follow-up of actions.
• Ongoing monitoring of market, regulatory, macro-economic and political developments to ensure credit related assessments reflect current and emerging information.
• Provide strategic, subject matter expertise, to the Head of Credit Risk Management regarding the portfolio and individual credit characteristics. This includes providing input into the credit risk policy and risk appetite setting.
• Participation in client meetings/calls/visits and transaction/client-related discussions as required.
• Regularly review the portfolio credit characteristics, including the building of new reports and analyses to assist in the early identification of potential thematic or individual issues for remediation.
• Participate in Credit projects and initiatives, including audit related activities, as well as other duties as assigned by the Head of Credit Risk Management
• Supervise and develop the credit analysis team to ensure the delivery of consistent, high quality credit analysis to the organisation.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders across the organisation.
• Work with the Head of Credit Risk Management .to determine the optimal provision of credit and market data in support of credit risk management.