Credit Manager - Small Business Lending

Bendigobank; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellbeing support

Learning and development (BEN U)

Job summary

Bendigo Bank is seeking a Credit Manager Direct to balance traditional credit disciplines with innovative risk approaches. You will support Business Direct, servicing customers with borrowings up to $1.5m, and provide expert guidance to frontline bankers.

The role emphasizes credit risk policy, relationship building with senior leaders, and ongoing portfolio stewardship in a permanent, full-time, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Proven success in a Business credit risk or Business lending role with Delegated Lending Authority experience.
• Deep understanding of credit risk management, bank policies and regulatory environment.
• Ability to work decisively in a high pace, high volume role.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication with stakeholders.
• Interest in emerging technologies like automation and AI in credit risk.

Responsibilities

• Assess Escalated Lending Applications: Evaluate and decision credit applications outside frontline authority using DLA.
• Provide Expert Credit Support & Mentorship: Coach bankers on structuring deals and credit conversations.
• Shape Credit Practices: Monitor DLA usage and contribute to DL A assessment framework.
• Drive Policy & Strategy: Maintain Credit Policy and contribute to risk strategies.
• Build Core Relationships: Collaborate with head of Direct, business leaders and risk leaders.
• Manage Portfolios: Ensure non-performing loans are re-graded and managed within timeframes.

Skills

Business lending expertise

Risk & regulatory knowledge

Decision making

Stakeholder engagement

Forward thinking mindset

Job description

Employment Type: Permanent

Employee Class: Full Time

Closing Date: 18/10/2026

We’ve never been ‘just a bank’. Just like you should never be ‘just an employee’. We’re united in our belief that in banking, better can be bigger, and together we’re making it happen.

It starts here. With Bendigo Bank… and you.

About the opportunity

Known internally as a Credit Manager Direct you will exercise sound commercial judgment consistent with our credit risk policy framework, balancing traditional credit disciplines with innovative, contemporary approaches to credit risk and portfolio management to support our Business Direct team which services Business customers with business borrowings up to $1.5m. In this role you’ll get to…

• Assess Escalated Lending Applications: Evaluate and decision credit applications that sit outside the lending authority of our frontline bankers, utilising your own Delegated Lending Authority (DLA).
• Provide Expert Credit Support & Mentorship: Act as a key technical reference point for our bankers. You will help them structure deals, interpret policy, and coach them on how to have high-quality credit conversations with customers regarding specific businesses or industries.
• Shape Credit Practices: Monitor the usage of DLAs by frontline lenders and actively contribute to the development and uplift of our DLA assessment framework.
• Drive Policy & Strategy: Support the maintenance of Credit Policy, address emerging credit risk issues, and contribute to the design of credit risk strategies that streamline and improve the customer experience.
• Build Core Relationships: Collaborate closely with the Head of Direct, Business & Agribusiness Leaders, and Group Risk Leaders to introduce changes and champion a contemporary risk management framework.
• Manage Portfolios:Work alongside specialised business units to ensure non-performing loans and portfolios are appropriately re-graded and managed within required timeframes.

What you’ll bring to the role

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Business Lending Expertise:Proven success in a Business credit risk or Business lending role, preferably with experience exercising a Delegated Lending Authority. Experience with Agribusiness and business lending above 1.5 mil an advantage.
• Risk & Regulatory Knowledge:A deep understanding of credit risk management strategies, bank policies, and the overall regulatory and lending environment that banks operate within.
• Decision making and problem solving:Ability to work decisively and efficiently in a high pace, high volume role.
• Stakeholder Engagement:Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with a proven track record of influencing stakeholders, coaching others and building strong, collaborative relationships.
• Forward-Thinking Mindset:A keen interest in emerging technologies, including automation and AI in credit risk, to actively challenge the status quo.

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity. For the right candidate, we are open to this role being based out of any of our major Head Office locations. We offer hybrid working arrangements, with a minimum local Head Office attendance requirement determined collaboratively with your leader, ensuring you find a rhythm that works best for you and your team.

So, why work for us?

Want big impact that matters? Here, you’ll know your work directly benefits the customers and communities we all serve. You’ll also get access to a great range of benefits, including:

• Health and wellbeing support, including discounted gym memberships, private health insurance options, and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your immediate family members
• Opportunities to take your learning to the next level through our corporate university ‘BEN U’ or at an external provider of your choice

We believe a diverse workforce supported by an inclusive culture is central to our success and we actively encourage applications from those who bring diversity of thought to our business. We support candidate requests for adjustment to accommodate an illness, injury, or disability to equitably participate in the selection process.

Still in two minds? Research suggests 60% of women and underrepresented groups might stop here, even after getting as far as drafting an application. We believe that diversity makes every team stronger, so even if you don’t tick every box, we still want to see your application!

We’re making better, bigger. And we’ll get there with you.

Now’s the time to set your sights even higher – on the future you and the future career you deserve.