Relationship Manager

time left to apply End Date: January 12, 2025 (22 days left to apply)

job requisition id JR3924

Applications must be submitted by: 12-01-2025

Relationship Manager – Credit x 2

The Innovate UK Loans Portfolio Management team is responsible for the ongoing credit and operational oversight of the IUK loan book. The portfolio is made up of highly innovative, growth-oriented businesses at the cutting edge of new technologies in the UK.

Title: Relationship Manager – Credit x 2

Band: UKRI Band E (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary: £45,272 gross per annum

Reports to: Head of Portfolio

Location: Field based

Contract: Permanent

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

Job Purpose:

The role will require a highly proactive and partnership approach with both internal and external stakeholders to protect the existing exposures. A key aspect of the role is to grow and develop relationships with existing Customers while successfully onboarding new customers into the portfolio.

Given the early-stage nature of companies in the portfolio there is a significantly higher risk profile than that of a commercial lender. As a result, there is an expectation that a number of borrowers will default on their loan obligations and the appropriate recoveries process will need to be managed by the Relationship Manager.

You will benefit from the support of Portfolio Analysts to support day to day activities, and as a Relationship Manager, you will be expected to help develop the Analysts within the team to foster a culture in which opportunities for continual improvement and innovation are welcomed.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Manage and develop sustainable relationships with an allocated Innovate UK Loans portfolio
• Complete periodic assessments of portfolio risk profile, reviewing quarterly management information and reporting any changes required to customer credit grading
• Work in conjunction with external Monitoring Officers to ensure loan funds are being appropriately utilised on designated projects, facilitating any Project or Drawdown Change Requests required
• Manage default and recovery scenarios, working with third party professional services firms as appropriate, including lawyers, accountants, and administrators
• Responsible for ongoing reporting to the Head of Portfolio on performance, progress, and issues
• Work collaboratively across the wider IUK Loans function including Credit, Portfolio and Lending Operations teams
• Contributing to the continuous improvement cycle for all portfolio management activities, exemplifying a culture of self-reflection, critical analysis and action
• Undertake training and development to support your personal growth within Innovate UK

This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

Shortlisting criteria

Person Specification:

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

• Educated to degree-level and/or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
• Experience in the financial services sector, with an understanding of both operational processes and the delivery of lending/investment activities
• Experience of managing effective client relationships
• Understanding of key financial metrics and ability to analyse financial statements including balance sheets, P&L and cash flow statements, preferably from a credit risk perspective
• Experience in managing to KPIs within in a tightly controlled environment
• A team player, with the ability to lead by example and collaborate effectively

Skills:

• Spotting and mitigating credit risks
• Implementing appropriate arrears and forbearance approaches
• Generating and presenting reports at Board level
• Sound judgement, knowing when to make clear decisions and when to seek advice from those around you
• Financially minded and risk aware
• Ability and willingness to thrive in a changing environment, taking a flexible approach to working

Competencies:

All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:

Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management

Travel Requirements:

Field-based: There will a requirement to travel, mostly national, and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary travel.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

UK Research and Innovation:

Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/ .

Employee Benefits:

We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.

Pre-employment Screening:

To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

Applications must be submitted by: 12-01-2025