Head of Credit Research | Sandton

Our client is looking for an individual to join their company as the Head of Credit Research. Our client provides investors access to a range of specialist funds and investment opportunities in global markets.

Responsibilities:

Management:

• All existing functions performed by the Head of Credit Research. The candidate must take full responsibility for the Credit Research function
• Propose and oversee credit research strategy and framework for the company’s business
• The successful candidate will be required to manage a team of credit analysts and their submissions to the relevant investment committees and report to governance committees within the company’s investments related to Credit risk.
• Management of all credit exposures throughout the company’s portfolios.
• Responsible for assessment of new transactions where Credit risk is undertaken.
• Interaction with relevant Legal Advisor to ensure that Legal agreements are concluded for all transactions where credit risk is taken.
• Management of the company’s Credit Committee and the company’s Credit Governance Committee to ensure smooth running of the committees.
• Chairing of the company’s Delegated Credit Committee
• Management of exposure limits, ratings and systems for Credit exposures.
• Work closely with the Risk department and report directly any breaches in terms of concentrations and risk limits
• Attendance, input and interaction at relevant forums, committees etc. related to Credit Risk.
• Ad hoc requests related to credit research function

Client Engagement:

• Providing key stakeholders with pro-active research insights into trends, market risk appetite, issues, threats, and opportunities in all credit portfolios
• Be proactive in sharing insights across the company’s business and risk cluster in respect of counterparties where Credit exposure is taken.
• Partnering with business clusters to maintain credit losses, profitability and other credit risk exposures
• Work in collaboration with the Head of Credit, to ensure alignment in thinking about credit exposures.

Asset Class Knowledge:

• Provide insight and optimise problem management processes with risk prone investments on the surveillance and watchlist
• Facilitate the understanding for the suitability of instruments for specific portfolios in accordance with their mandates.
• Propose strategies for managing identified risks in credit

Analysis:

• Creation of appropriate credit risk models used for performance monitoring oversight
• Proactively manage credit risk metrics that are identified via risk dashboards and reporting
• Implement a credit limit monitoring system with Risk.

Qualifications & experience:

• A recognised Mcom/MSc Hons degree in finance, investment management and/or mathematics – other qualifications can be considered
• CA(SA), CFA considered favourable
• Minimum 10 years relevant experience in an asset management environment and exposure to credit portfolio risk
• Exposure to credit risk modelling
• Knowledge of factors affecting national and global companies and their impact on investors
• Thorough understanding of the investment process and the risks therein

Personal attributes

• Self-starter
• Strong people skills needed in order to build trust and confidence within the company’s business
• Prior experience in managing a team of credit analysts and in maintaining a high performing and motivated team
• Good communication and presentation skills
• Must conform to the values of the client and the principles by which the company operates
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy within expected timelines
• Advanced excel skills

Formal behavioural competencies required:

• Analysis And Attention to Detail
• Monitoring and Measuring
• Building Strategic Relationships
• Business Insight and Risk Awareness
• Judgment and Decision making
• Commercial and Financial Acumen
• Influencing and Impact
• Consulting and Advising
• Environmental Scanning (In-depth market knowledge)