Senior Credit Manager - Agribusiness

Bendigo And Adelaide Bank; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Legacy of trust

Meaningful impact

Culture that cares

Hybrid work arrangements

BEN U learning program

Job summary

Bendigo Bank Agribusiness is hiring a Senior Credit Manager to lead risk oversight for high-value agribusiness transactions. You will exercise Delegated Lending Authority, mentor lending teams, and partner early with relationship managers to accelerate speed-to-market with strong risk mitigants.

We value a growth mindset, modernisation of credit processes, and proactive collaboration to support Australian farmers and agribusinesses.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ Agribusiness Credit Risk experience.
• Proven track record with Delegated Lending Authority on high-value transactions.
• Understanding of Australian agricultural production cycles.
• Strong financial and analytical skills for balance sheets and cash flows.
• Growth mindset with interest in new credit technologies and automation.
• Excellent communication and negotiation with stakeholders.
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Commerce, Agricultural Science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Credit decisioning and exercising DLA for high-value agribusiness deals.
• Early deal workshopping with relationship directors to move proposals to market.
• Provide informal leadership and uplift frontline credit capability.
• Oversee portfolio health and contribute to modernising credit policies and processes.

Skills

Credit risk experience

DLA experience

Agricultural knowledge

Financial analysis

Growth mindset

Stakeholder influence

Relevant degree

Education

Business / Commerce / Agricultural Science degree

Job description

• Location: Adelaide, Melbourne or Perth
• Employment Type: Permanent
• Division: Group Risk | Credit & Market Risk (Line 2)
• 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.

Why Choose Bendigo Bank?

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.

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!