Director, Property Finance Group (UK)

Bank of Ireland; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

26 days annual leave

Excellent pension contributions

Job summary

Bank of Ireland is seeking a senior leader to head its UK Property Finance Group from London. The role focuses on strengthening relationships with existing clients and pursuing new opportunities, while maintaining high credit standards and risk controls.

You will lead a London-based team and collaborate with senior stakeholders to deliver strategic growth. The position requires extensive UK real estate finance experience, strong relationship management, and proven leadership in corporate

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in UK real estate finance and relationship management.
• Proven leadership of teams and credit oversight across domestic/international markets.
• Strong business development, client networking and strategic execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead UK Property Finance Group relationships in line with regulatory standards.
• Oversee portfolio structures and risk management for key clients.
• Drive new business origination and credit oversight to deliver returns.
• Lead, develop and motivate the London-based Relationship Managers team.
• Maintain robust portfolio oversight and coordinate cross-functional projects.

Skills

Leadership

Relationship management

Credit oversight

Business development

People leadership

UK real estate finance

Strategic planning

Job description

What is the opportunity

This is an opportunity to lead Bank of Ireland's Property Finance business in the UK, managing key real estate relationships and supporting the continued growth and performance of the portfolio. Based in London, you will lead a small, experienced team and work with customers, industry contacts and senior stakeholders across the Bank.

The role combines leadership, relationship management, business development and credit oversight. You will be responsible for strengthening existing customer relationships, developing new business and maintaining high standards of risk management and commercial performance. The role reports to the Head of Property Finance.

In this role you will:

• Manage existing UK Property Finance Group relationships in line with regulatory requirements and Bank standards.
• Maintain effective relationship and portfolio structures that meet customer and business needs.
• Support the business plan while maintaining strong customer, credit and risk management standards.
• Ensure the UK business delivers an appropriate return on capital.
• Lead new business origination from existing and prospective customers with particular focus on delivering new underwrite opportunities, in line with the Group's business strategy and risk appetite.
• Build effective relationships with customers, advisers, industry contacts and internal stakeholders, and support the profile of Property Finance Group and Bank of Ireland.
• Communicate the business strategy, priorities and objectives clearly.
• Lead, develop and motivate a team of Relationship Managers in the London office, ensuring the team has the right capacity and capability.
• Maintain regular and robust oversight of the portfolio, ensuring high credit standards and effective management of operational risk.
• Contribute to business and cross-functional projects, initiatives and committees as the need arises.

What will make you stand out?

You will bring senior-level experience in UK real estate finance, together with a strong background in relationship management, credit, business development and people leadership.

• Significant experience, typically 15 years or more, in banking and commercial property finance across domestic and international markets.
• A strong track record in UK real estate finance and established relationships with UK and international customers.
• Senior leadership experience in corporate banking, including client and portfolio management, credit management, lending and business development.
• Strong relationship and networking skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers, prospective customers, industry bodies and senior internal stakeholders.
• Detailed knowledge of the UK corporate property banking market and experience in underwriting.
• Experience leading and developing engaged, high-performing teams.
• Strong communication, influencing and business development skills.
• The ability to work effectively across the Bank and coordinate with other teams and business areas.
• A practical approach to change, business improvement and efficiency.
• Personal credibility, sound judgement and the ability to present strategy, lending views and proposals clearly to Credit Committee.
• Strong commercial and financial skills, with a thorough understanding of property and financial markets.

Essential qualifications

There are no specific qualifications or minimum educational requirements needed for this role.

More about the team

Property Finance Group (PFG) is part of Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking and manages some of the Bank's largest and most complex real estate relationships and transactions. The team provides development, investment and corporate lending to property customers, including large and listed property companies.

The portfolio covers the main property sectors, including offices, retail, residential and industrial. The team's priorities are strong relationship management, active management of portfolio risk and the development of new business opportunities.

You will lead a small, high-impact team from the London office and report to the Head of Property Finance.

Why work with us

• The Bank of Ireland company culture prioritises work-life balance with a commitment to hybrid working, along with 26 days annual leave and excellent pension contributions.
• Family can mean different things to different people; we offer 6 months paid maternity leave, an innovative fertility and surrogacy policy along with working parent and carer supports.
• Your health and wellbeing is important to us; we offer a substantial health insurance contribution, Employee Assistance Programme, WebDoctor and financial wellbeing coaches.
• We also encourage and support colleagues to pursue educational and professional qualifications to grow and enhance your career.

Key Competencies

• Customer Focused - Leader
• Better together - Leader
• Be Decisive - Leader
• Take Ownership - Leader
• Manage Risk - Leader

We're on a continuous journey to build an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, lived experience, abilities and perspectives. We provide reasonable accommodations at every stage of our recruitment process for disabilities, neurodivergence or medical conditions. If you require an accommodation please complete this form and one of our recruitment team members will be in touch via email. Any information provided will be treated as confidential within the recruitment team and used only for the purpose of determining and providing appropriate accommodations for the application and recruitment process.

Where Agency assistance is required Bank of Ireland Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Bank of Ireland by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.