ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT, CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT, CORPORATE FINANCING AND SYNDICATION

Business Development Bank of Canada; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Wellness and health care spending

Paid vacation

Personal days

Sick days

Hybrid work model

Learning and development

Job summary

Business Development Bank of Canada seeks an AVP, Credit Risk Management, Corporate Financing and Syndication to review loan applications, assess risk, and ensure compliance with terms. The role involves monitoring credit quality and forging strong relationships across lines of defense, while guiding staff on credit due diligence and risk policies.

The position emphasizes coaching, proactive risk management, and alignment with BDC’s risk appetite.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in business unit management or loan underwriting, with 5+ years in Credit Risk Management.
• Experience in corporate financing, syndication, or complex commercial lending.
• Strong coaching and risk management skills.

Responsibilities

• Review loan applications and make informed decisions on approval or recommendation.
• Monitor credit quality and compliance with loan terms.
• Oversee credit matters and strengthen the first line of defence.
• Coach management and staff on credit competency and due diligence.
• Lead or participate in projects to improve lending procedures.

Skills

Coaching

Communication skills

Bilingual (French & English)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or business administration

Job description

We are banking at another level. Choosing BDC as your employer means working in a healthy, inclusive, and skilled workplace that puts forward the best conditions to bring together unique teams where employees are empowered to act. It also means being at the centre of ambitious economic and financial projects to see further and to do things differently, to fuel the success of Canadian entrepreneurs. Choosing BDC as your employer also means:

Benefits

• Flexible and competitive benefits, including an Employee Savings and Investment Plan where BDC matches part of your voluntary contributions
• a Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• a $750 wellness and health care spending account
• paid vacation each year
• five personal days
• sick days as necessary
• our offices are closed from December 25 to January 1
• A hybrid work model that truly balances work and personal life
• Opportunities for learning, training and development
• and much more

Explore the BDC Way in our Culture Book

This position requires bilingualism (English & French)

Position Overview

The Assistant Vice-President (AVP), Credit Risk Management, Corporate Financing and Syndication, reviews loan applications and makes informed decisions regarding their approval or recommendation. The incumbent also monitors credit quality and compliance with loan terms and conditions, ensuring that authorizations, disbursements, and loan amendments are aligned with BDC’s risk appetite. The AVP will play a key role in assessing and managing the credit risk of this portfolio. In addition to overseeing credit matters, the incumbent will build a close working relationship with the first line of defence and help strengthen its expertise through proactive coaching, clear communication, and the strategic alignment of transactions. The incumbent will also work with partners to effectively assess, monitor, and manage risk while ensuring compliance with BDC’s overall risk appetite.

Challenges to Be Met

Ensure that loan authorization, disbursements, and amendments comply with established authorization limits and guidelines, as well as BDC’s risk appetite. Maintain and enhance the quality of client service by providing prompt, effective, and professional support to front-line staff while safeguarding portfolio integrity through adherence to administrative and due diligence processes. Focus on building a close relationship between the first and second lines of defence, with particular emphasis on improving the first line’s risk management practices. Coach, guide, and develop management and staff on all aspects of credit competency, and contribute to their performance assessments by thoughtfully recognizing strengths and areas for improvement and helping identify training and development solutions. Contribute to the execution of the business unit’s business plan and profitable growth strategies by ensuring that sound credit due diligence processes are in place and by developing and maintaining strong communication with the unit’s management and staff to closely monitor the key variables required for the successful delivery of financial services. Actively participate in business unit meetings and conduct regular visits to support transaction structuring and write-ups, while providing development opportunities for members of the first-line team. Proactively identify improvements to lending policies, processes, and products; provide leadership in their implementation; and help staff apply and interpret them, particularly with respect to current credit risk issues and industry direction. Maintain and enhance the quality of BDC’s portfolio by approving, recommending, or declining loans, disbursements, and amendments in accordance with established authorization limits and guidelines. Lead or participate in various corporate- or regional-level projects to support the continuous improvement of existing procedures and processes while maximizing efficiency in accordance with the risk management framework.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or business administration
• At least 10 years of experience at BDC or another financial institution in business unit management, business development, or loan underwriting, including at least five years in a Credit Risk Management role, with strong experience in corporate financing, syndication, or complex commercial lending
• Experience coaching team members, using demonstrated and effective coaching techniques, and improving risk management practices across the lines of defence
• Ability to make recommendations and decisions based on key issues, broad business considerations, and context
• Self-directed, detail-oriented, and skilled at managing priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English
• Ability to quickly identify the business context and key issues
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and partners
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to gather information effectively and communicate issues clearly
• Strong coaching skills
• Bilingualism required (French and English)

Proudly one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible environment where all employees can thrive and feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work.

If you require an accommodation to complete your application, please do not hesitate to contact us at [e-mail].

While we appreciate all applications, we advise that only the candidates selected to participate in the recruitment process will be contacted. BDC is a bank unlike any other. We are the only bank dedicated exclusively to the development of Canadian businesses. The only institution whose purpose is to promote the growth of the Canadian economy by focusing on the success of small and medium‑size businesses, with a human touch and a genuine presence. At BDC, we’re changing people’s and businesses’ lives for the better. That’s what makes us unique as a bank. That’s why we are banking at another level.