The Commercial Credit Risk Manager is responsible for developing FCE's approach to originating and managing credit risk for the commercial customer base, including sole traders, SMEs, multi-vehicle fleet customers, and commercial lines of credit, across the full credit lifecycle. The role designs and implements underwriting standards, loss prevention frameworks, and fraud controls tailored to commercial lending risk, supporting sustainable growth of the commercial book.
Responsibilities
Credit Strategy & Underwriting
- Design and maintain underwriting policies, decisioning frameworks, and credit risk appetite for sole trader, SME, and fleet/multi-vehicle segments, including commercial line of credit limit-setting and utilisation management.
- Assess creditworthiness of commercial counterparties (business financials, cash flow, guarantors, external data); oversee complex credit proposals and Credit Committee participation.
Portfolio Management & Analytics
- Monitor portfolio performance and KRIs/KPIs by commercial segment; identify emerging risks (sector concentration, fleet residual value/utilisation, small business defaults) and adjust strategy accordingly.
- Design loss mitigation, collections, and recovery approaches suited to commercial relationships.
- Deliver forecasting/scenario analysis and portfolio insights to senior management and governance committees.
Wholesale (Dealer) Risk Oversight
Oversee credit risk on Ford dealer wholesale/floorplan financing, including dealer credit line setting, renewal, and ongoing exposure monitoring.
Monitor dealer financial health (stocking levels, inventory turn, curtailment triggers, out-of-trust risk) and escalate early warning indicators through established governance channels.
Maintain oversight of dealer concentration risk and floorplan portfolio quality, incorporating dealer-level risk into broader commercial portfolio reporting and risk appetite metrics.
Governance & Fraud Risk
- Maintain second line assurance and oversight of first-line commercial lending activity, including policy exceptions and controls.
- Implement fraud detection/prevention frameworks for commercial applications (e.g. business identity verification).
Regulatory Credit Classification
- Ensure commercial and dealer wholesale exposures are correctly classified per EBA/PRA rules (default, forbearance, NPE), and lead the team's capability development in this area, working with Finance to align with IFRS 9 staging and regulatory reporting.
Stakeholders & Regulatory
- Partner with marketing and sales, operations, data, and technology teams to scale digital and automated underwriting for commercial customers.
- Collaborate with Group Risk, Compliance, and control functions; contribute to ICAAP, stress testing, and capital planning for the commercial book.
Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop the commercial credit risk team; build a strong risk culture and support the Bank's commercial growth strategy through data- and analytics-led decisioning.
Qualifications
Essential:
- First line commercial credit risk experience across sole traders, SMEs, and multi-vehicle/fleet customers.
- Track record developing underwriting guidelines and credit proposal assessments, including commercial lines of credit.
- Strong financial/credit analysis skills (business financials, cash flow, guarantor assessment, external research).
- Strong working knowledge of EBA and PRA credit risk classification requirements, including definition of default, forbearance, and non-performing exposure rules.
- Analytical, data-driven mindset; excellent communication skills with senior leaders, Board members, and stakeholders.
Desirable:
- SME/sole trader credit scoring or alternative data experience.
- Fleet/automotive financing and vehicle asset risk knowledge.
The Company is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity for all and is opposed to any form of less favourable treatment or harassment on the grounds of race, religion or belief, sex, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
This position is based in Dunton, and it is expected the successful candidate will be able to attend the Dunton for typically 4 days a week and remain flexible on the days they are required to attend the office according to business requirements
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