Director, Debt Finance - Real Estate and Trading Businesses

OakNorth Analytical Intelligence; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Greater London is seeking a Director to originate high-quality deals and enhance customer relationships. The ideal candidate has a strong background in SME lending and financial analysis, ensuring transactions align with organizational policies. Key responsibilities include managing client interactions, structuring transactions, and driving innovation while adhering to credit disciplines. This role offers competitive benefits and a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Equity stake

25 days holiday

Subsidised Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Social events and wellbeing programs

Salary sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Understanding of Banking and Financial Services products.
• Skills in financial modeling and structuring credit papers.
• Experience in presenting credit cases to a committee.

Responsibilities

• Originate and execute transactions that meet lending requirements.
• Manage and develop existing customer relationships.
• Analyze financial models for assessing debt capacity.

Skills

In depth understanding of SME lending

Excellent communication skills

Strong credit analysis

Problem solving ability

Education

Degree in Finance / Commerce or equivalent

Job description

At OakNorth, we’re on a mission to empower the UK’s most ambitious businesses. Since 2015, we’ve lent over $18 billion across the UK and US, helped create more than 58,000 new homes and 36,000 new jobs, and supported hundreds of thousands of personal savers — all while fuelling the UK economy.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic, fast-growing bank known for challenging the status quo. We’re not looking for just another cog in the wheel — we want bold thinkers and proactive self-starters who are eager to shape their own careers and support the UK’s most driven business leaders.

The mission of a Director is to independently originate high quality new deals, which fit within the OakNorth thesis of supporting high quality entrepreneurs and profitable growing businesses. They are expected to take full end to end ownership, with a strong focus on credit discipline and driving customer delight. Play a key role in embracing / living OakNorth's entrepreneurial attitude.

You will:

• Originate, structure, execute transactions that meet the lending requirements of OakNorth
• Manage and further develop existing customer relationships, along with identifying new relationships and opportunities in the market
• Work as part of a team on the execution of corporate finance / real estate / property / trading business transactions
• Build the profile of Bank in the external market with, for example SMEs, KBIs, Advisors and Private Equity firms
• Assess appropriate organic and inorganic growth opportunities for OakNorth Bank in the market
• Spread financial accounts and financial modelling
• Analyse financial accounts and manage information and prepare credit memorandums
• Analyse financial models including forecasted cash flows and sensitivities to assess debt capacity and repayment
• Ensure transaction are documented in accordance with credit approved terms and credit sanctions
• Meet team and individual targets including profit, credit quality, new customers, retention and customer satisfaction
• Have an overview of ongoing relationship management and client experience
• Drive innovation in the product proposition to improve customer experience levels whilst maintaining asset quality
• Ensure high level of customer experience at all times
• Meet team and individual targets set by OakNorth ExCo, CEO and the Board
• Structure transactions appropriately, and prove full credit reports to sanctioning authority
• Maintain close relationships with customers and reporting to Credit in line with policy, in a timely manner
• Act in accordance with OakNorth Bank’s values at all times

You have:

• In depth understanding of SME lending, Real Estate and Trading Businesses
• Good understanding of Banking and Financial Services products and a strong grasp of IFRS 9
• Excellent communication and customer facing skills
• Good understanding of business processes, strategy and credit policies
• Strong credit, financial analysis and modeling skills, including the ability to write good quality, structured credit papers
• Experience in the analysis of senior, stretched senior and mezzanine cashflow unsecured transactions
• Legal documentation skills
• Experience in presenting credit case internally to a credit committee
• Strong problem solving ability
• Degree in Finance / Commerce or equivalent

Benefits & Perks

• Equity. We want people to have a stake in the business so that all our interests are aligned.
• 25 days holiday
• Personalized benefits – opt‑in to what matters to you
• Subsidised Private Medical Insurance with Bupa
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Wellbeing and social events
• In‑house Barista Bar in London office
• Support causes that matter to you – Volunteering time off
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to work, nursery, gym, electric car scheme)

About Us

We’re OakNorth Bank and we embolden entrepreneurs to realise their ambitions, understand their markets, and apply data intelligence to everyday decisions to scale successfully at pace.

Banking should be barrier‑free. It’s a belief at our very core, inspired by our entrepreneurial spirit, driven by the unmet financial needs of millions, and delivered by our data‑driven tools.

And for those who love helping businesses thrive? Our savings accounts help diversify the high street and create new jobs, all while earning savers some of the highest interest on the market.

But we go beyond finance, to empower our people, encourage professional growth and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves and succeed.

Our story

OakNorth Bank was built on the foundations of frustrations with old‑school banking. In 2005, when our founders tried to get capital for their data analytics company, the computer said ‘no’. Unfortunately, all major banks in the UK were using the same computer – and it was broken.

Why was it so difficult for a profitable business with impressive cashflow, retained clients, and clear commercial success to get a loan?

The industry was backward‑looking and too focused on historic financials, rather than future potential.

So, what if there was a bank, founded by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs? One that offered a dramatically better borrowing experience for businesses?

No more what ifs, OakNorth Bank exists.

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