Must have lending experience at or above £1m Delegated Authority
Hybrid - 1 day a week in HQ (west midlands) is required.
A specialist UK bank with a strong track record in SME and asset-backed lending is seeking an SME credit professional to take a pivotal role in underwriting.
This role is designed for someone already operating at or above £1m personal delegation, with deep experience in SME lending and asset finance, who can confidently balance commercial outcomes with disciplined risk judgement.
The Role You will act as a senior credit authority across the SME portfolio, reviewing complex, higher-value and non-standard transactions. Working closely with front-line teams, you’ll provide challenge, structure deals where appropriate, and ensure lending remains aligned to risk appetite and capital requirements.
This is a hands-on role with real influence in a tight knit team.
Key Responsibilities
- Underwrite and approve complex SME and asset finance transactions above local mandate levels
- Exercise senior personal credit authority (£1m ) and support submissions to Credit / Sanctioning Committee
- Review and challenge deal structures, security packages, cashflow assumptions, and covenant frameworks
- Provide 2nd line credit oversight to ensure consistency, quality, and adherence to risk appetite
- Chair regular SME credit review forums with origination teams
- Contribute to SME credit policy, underwriting standards, and portfolio risk initiatives
- Support periodic credit reviews of key counterparties and suppliers
- 10 years’ SME credit underwriting experience, ideally within asset finance or asset-backed lending
- Proven track record operating at senior underwriting / £1m delegated authority
- Strong understanding of SME financials, cashflow lending, asset-backed structures, and security
- Comfortable assessing complex ownership structures and corporate entities
- Commercially minded, with the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
- Clear, concise credit writer with strong judgement and attention to detail
- Able to operate autonomously while adding value across the wider business
- High-quality SME deal flow with real variety and complexity across other portoflios also (BTL, Motor, Porperty Development)
- Hybrid working model with genuine flexibility- 1 day a week in the West Midlands, with other office locations for additonal days when required.
- Strong benefits package including enhanced pension, profit-related pay, and generous leave
- A collaborative, relationship-led culture that values experience and sound judgement
