SENIOR CREDIT OFFICER/DIRECTOR - CORPORATE BANKING, TORONTO
Our client, a leading global bank, is seeking to appoint a Senior Credit Officer/Director, Mid-Corp & Corporate Banking Credit for its Canadian office.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished credit adjudication professional with deep expertise in corporate lending, sponsor-backed transactions, and portfolio risk management within the Canadian mid-market landscape.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the independent adjudication, underwriting, and ongoing risk oversight of a designated portfolio of corporate lending relationships, with a particular focus on North American private equity / sponsor-backed transactions.
This mandate requires a highly experienced credit professional who can effectively balance new transaction execution and adjudication with proactive portfolio management, while acting as a key advisor to the business on structuring, risk mitigation, and credit decisioning.
The role offers significant visibility across senior leadership, product teams, and Credit Committee, and is ideally suited to an individual with a strong track record in credit approval authority, leveraged lending, and complex corporate credit underwriting.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Portfolio Management & Credit Adjudication
- Evaluate and analyze the creditworthiness of corporate clients, with responsibility for ongoing monitoring and management of the Canadian corporate lending portfolio in the capacity of Credit Officer
- Conduct independent credit adjudication and approval analysis for both new and existing transactions
- Maintain an in-depth understanding of portfolio companies and sectors through detailed financial statement analysis, industry assessments, and market trend evaluation
- Ensure timely and accurate risk ratings, as well as the completion of all transaction memoranda and regularly scheduled credit reviews
- Coordinate regular portfolio reviews to identify, assess, and mitigate potential credit risks
- Collaborate proactively with the business line, product groups, and other internal stakeholders to develop strategies for portfolio diversification and risk mitigation
- Participate in special assignments and projects as required
- Represent the Group Head in meetings and other duties as required
Deal Support / Underwriting
- Work closely with the business line, product groups, and related parties to identify and mitigate structural and other risks in prospective transactions
- Advise the business line on credit risk issues, terms, and conditions to structure optimal transactions, with a focus on risk-adjusted return and minimizing potential credit costs
- Evaluate credit opportunities and either directly prepare, or oversee the preparation of, detailed credit applications and approval memoranda in accordance with established policies and procedures
- Assess borrower industry, business, legal, and financial risks as part of the credit underwriting and adjudication process
- Prepare and present credit proposals to the Credit Committee, providing well-supported recommendations to senior management
- Independently communicate with the Credit Division and ensure all relevant information and analysis required for informed adjudication decisions is provided with minimal management oversight
- Oversee the underwriting function within the designated portfolio, ensuring all deadlines are met and all underwriting policies and procedures are adhered to
- Manage a team of junior credit officers, including workload allocation, career development, mentorship, and recruitment, as required
Policy Compliance
- Ensure all lending activities are conducted in full compliance with external regulatory requirements and internal policies and procedures
- Participate in ad hoc policy meetings to strengthen the organization-wide credit risk framework
- Remain current on regulatory developments and industry best practices
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:
- Extensive experience in corporate credit adjudication, underwriting, and risk management
- Proven ability to independently assess and adjudicate complex corporate and sponsor-backed lending transactions
- Ideally 10+ years of financial services experience within credit and risk-related functions focused on corporate borrowers
- Preferably 5–7 years of direct PE / sponsor finance experience, with emphasis on middle-market and leveraged transactions
- Deep knowledge of corporate credit analysis, leveraged lending, valuation methodologies, underwriting, and formal credit approval processes
- Strong financial modelling capabilities, including repayment and downside risk analysis
- Thorough understanding of loan documentation, covenant structures, and structural risks in corporate finance
- Experience engaging with regulators and addressing regulatory findings
- Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and mentorship capabilities
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex