Senior Credit Manager - Agribusiness

Bendigo Bank; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

BEN U corporate university

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Bendigo Bank Agribusiness is seeking a Senior Credit Manager to provide high-level risk oversight within our second-line Credit & Market Risk team. Reporting to the National Manager Agri Credit, you will manage DLA decisions and partner with frontline bankers across diverse agribusiness transactions.

This role blends strategic leadership with practical risk governance, embracing digital and AI-enabled credit processes, and offers hybrid work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' agribusiness credit risk experience.
• Proven track record exercising an individual Agribusiness Credit DLA.
• Understanding of Australian agricultural production cycles.
• Ability to work with ambiguity and embrace new credit technologies.
• Strong stakeholder communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Credit Decisioning & DLA: evaluate and decide high-value agribusiness transactions.
• Early Deal Workshopping: workshop complex proposals with bankers.
• Informal Leadership & Capability Uplift: mentor lending network.
• Portfolio Oversight & Credit Evolution: governance and modernising credit processes.

Skills

Credit risk

DLA experience

Agribusiness expertise

Stakeholder influence

Financial analysis

Education

Business/Commerce degree

Agricultural Science background

Job description

• Applications Close: 30 November 2026

Join a bank with a legacy of backing Australian Farmers.

For over 160 years, Bendigo Bank has been at the heart of Australian communities, earning its place as the nation's most trusted bank. Our story is one of partnership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the people we serve. Now, as Bendigo Bank Agribusiness, we are proud to continue the specialised expertise of Rural Bank, deepening our commitment to the agricultural sector that feeds our nation.

It starts here. With Bendigo Bank… and you.

About the Opportunity

At Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, we believe that regional and rural Australia is the backbone of our economy. Our Agribusiness Credit team plays a vital role in enabling Australian farmers, producers, and agribusinesses to thrive by combining commercial agility with prudent, sustainable risk management.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Credit Manager – Agribusiness to join our second-line Credit & Market Risk team. Reporting directly to the National Manager Agri Credit, you will provide high-level risk oversight, exercise significant Delegated Lending Authority (DLA), and partner proactively with frontline relationship bankers across complex, high-value transactions.

This is not a traditional back-office credit role. We are looking for an influential credit professional with a growth mindset—someone who embraces modernisation and emerging technologies, models resilience through change, and is passionate about partnering early to achieve positive outcomes for our customers and the Bank.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Credit Manager within our Line 2 Risk framework, you will:

• Credit Decisioning & DLA: Exercise an individual Delegated Lending Authority (DLA) to evaluate, structure, and decision high-value, complex agribusiness transactions across broadacre cropping, livestock, and horticulture.
• Early Deal Workshopping: Partner early with Agribusiness Relationship Directors and Managers to workshop complex and new-to-bank proposals, driving commercial speed-to-market with robust risk mitigants.
• Informal Leadership & Capability Uplift: Provide mentorship across the lending network, setting benchmarks for credit discipline, actively challenging the status quo, and uplifting frontline credit acumen.
• Portfolio Oversight & Credit Evolution: Maintain portfolio health and risk governance while actively contributing to modernising credit policies, underwriting standards, and digital/AI-enabled credit processes.

What You'll Bring to the Table

You are a seasoned Agribusiness credit risk specialist who combines robust commercial judgment with strong relationship-building skills:

• Demonstrated Credit Risk Experience: A minimum of 5 years’ dedicated experience in Agribusiness Credit Risk within a major Australian financial institution or specialist agribusiness lender.
• Delegated Lending Authority (DLA): Proven track record holding and successfully exercising an individual Agribusiness Credit DLA on high-value, complex transactions.
• Agricultural Commodity Expertise: Sound understanding of Australian agricultural production cycles, particularly broadacre cropping and large-scale horticulture/tree crops.
• Financial & Analytical Acumen: Advanced skills in interpreting complex agricultural balance sheets, seasonal cash flows, succession plans, and commodity hedging/mitigants.
• Contemporary & Growth Mindset: Comfort working with ambiguity and change, paired with curiosity around emerging credit technologies, data-driven insights, and automation.
• Stakeholder Influence: Strong communication and negotiation capabilities with the confidence to balance commercial speed with sound risk governance.
• Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in Business, Commerce, Agricultural Science, or a related discipline are highly regarded.

Forget being just another employee. Here, you're part of a movement. We offer a career where you can achieve your professional goals without sacrificing your personal life.

• A Legacy of Trust: Represent a prestigious brand with a 160-year history of putting the community first.
• Meaningful Impact: See the direct results of your work as you help local families and businesses succeed.
• A Culture That Cares: Join a diverse and inclusive team where you are valued for who you are and what you bring.
• Flexibility That Works for You: We embrace hybrid work and offer flexible arrangements designed to fit your life.
• Unleash Your Potential: Access world-class learning and development opportunities, including our corporate university, 'BEN U,' to fast-track your career.

Ready to make better, bigger?

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!