Equipment Leasing Assistant Vice President

CFA Institute; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 66,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Paid leave

Private medical insurance

Mental wellbeing network

Learning & development

Remuneration package

Job summary

SMBC Group EMEA seeks a curious and motivated professional to build a career in aviation finance and credit risk. You will contribute to independent risk oversight and support the review of credit assessments, while working closely with Front Office teams to balance risk and commercial priorities.

You will monitor exposures, assist in risk reporting, and collaborate across risk and control functions to protect the balance sheet and support ongoing strategic objectives within a global financial

Qualifications

• Degree or professional qualifications in finance or accounting.
• Experience in credit, risk or analytical roles is preferred.
• Understanding of aviation finance and asset finance helps.

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and review of annual credit assessments and proposals with Front Office input.
• Provide independent credit-risk oversight across new transactions and ongoing portfolio management in aviation sectors.
• Monitor exposures, risk trends and performance across the aviation credit portfolio.
• Collaborate with risk, compliance and control functions to ensure enterprise-wide risk management.

Skills

Credit risk

Financial analysis

Portfolio management

Front Office liaison

Stakeholder communication

Education

Degree

ACCA/ACA/ACT/CFA

Job description

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we'll always strive to be better, we're proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA?

We're looking for curious, motivated people who want to build a career in aviation finance and credit risk - no need to arrive as an expert, just bring the ambition and drive to grow.

• Support the preparation and review of annual credit assessments and new-business proposals, working closely with Front Office teams to develop well-reasoned recommendations for senior credit approvers.
• Operate as part of the second line of defence, providing independent credit-risk oversight across new transactions and ongoing portfolio management within designated aviation sectors, including commercial aircraft, engines, and helicopter leasing.
• Contribute to effective portfolio and client-relationship management, assisting in the monitoring of exposures, risk trends, and performance across the global aviation credit portfolio.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• A degree or relevant professional qualifications (e.g. ACA, ACCA, ACT, CFA) or a strong interest in developing a career in the aviation or financial sectors.
• Experience in credit, risk, finance, or analytical roles (around 2+ years is ideal), gained in an international bank, financial institution, or aviation leasing environment.
• A developing understanding of financial products, such as corporate lending, leasing, derivatives, capital markets, or asset finance.

The anticipated salary range for this role is £66,000.00-£99,000.00 , with the final offer determined based on the candidate's skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.

Business Area

Assist in managing a globally diversified leasing portfolio of commercial aircraft, aircraft engines, and helicopter assets, providing credit oversight across an international customer base within a Japanese-owned financial institution.

• You'll report to a Director and work as part of a specialist team of asset-finance and credit-risk professionals, collaborating with colleagues who bring deep expertise across the aviation industry.
• You'll support the lead analyst on both existing portfolio accounts and new transactions, helping to build and maintain strong working relationships with Front Office credit teams and other key stakeholders.
• You'll play an active role in managing credit exposures across the aviation portfolio, contributing to the full lifecycle of credit work - from reviewing applications and navigating the approval process to monitoring emerging risks and supporting responses to key risk events.
• As part of the wider team, you'll help ensure all portfolio-management responsibilities are completed on time, with risks identified, assessed, and escalated appropriately.
• The team structure includes a General Manager, Executive Director, Directors, Vice Presidents, and Assistant Vice Presidents, giving you exposure to senior leadership and a clear sense of progression within a global financial institution.

Position Description

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Support robust credit-risk assessment across a diversified portfolio of leased aviation assets, including commercial aircraft, engines, and helicopters, spanning multiple sectors, regions, and asset types.
• Partner closely with Front Office deal teams to balance commercial delivery with disciplined credit standards. Provide clear articulation of risk perspectives and appetite in line with internal policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate flexibility and resilience, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and adapt to changing workflow demands, ensuring timely and responsive service to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate across risk, compliance, and other control functions to ensure a comprehensive, enterprise-wide approach to risk management.
• Contribute to strategic and ad-hoc initiatives, supporting areas such as watch-list management, impairment and provisioning analysis, and credit review reporting, in alignment with departmental and institutional objectives.
• Take ownership of deliverables and personal development, working independently and collaboratively to maintain high performance and continuous improvement.

Challenges You’ll Take On (and Grow From)

• Working to tight deadlines and staying clear-headed under pressure, especially during busy credit cycles. You’ll develop the ability to prioritise, stay organised, and make sound judgements when it counts.
• Building expertise in the aviation industry, from market dynamics to asset types. We don't expect you to know it all on day one - just bring the willingness to learn and to support the team's objectives as you develop.
• Distilling key risks from large volumes of information, including credit papers, market data, and due-diligence reports. You’ll learn how to spot the signals that matter and sharpen your analytical instincts.
• Navigating constructive challenge with Front Office teams, as part of a structured first- and second-line risk process. You’ll gain confidence in managing differing viewpoints while keeping decisions balanced and professional.
• Contributing to a team responsible for protecting the organisation's balance sheet in a higher-risk, high-value global business. You’ll build a strong foundation in risk culture and financial stewardship - skills that accelerate long-term career growth

Candidate Profile - What We're Looking For

We're looking for curious, motivated people who want to build a career in aviation finance and credit risk - no need to arrive as an expert, just bring the ambition and drive to grow.

Skills & Behaviours That Make You Successful

• Strong digital and IT literacy Comfortable using modern tools, data, and systems to work smarter.
• A proactive, "can-do" approach You take ownership, look for solutions, and enjoy making progress.
• Good time-management skills Able to balance multiple tasks and deliver reliably.
• Clear, confident communication Comfortable presenting ideas and working with stakeholders across the business.
• Collaborative mindset You enjoy working in a team, sharing knowledge, and contributing to a positive culture.

Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Driving Change
• Driving Results
• Embraces Diversity
• Enterprise Leadership
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Risk Management
• Strategic and Visionary
• Trust and Integrity

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it's only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
• Ambitious remuneration package

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We'll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.

We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.

About SMBC

A trusted partner for the long term

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, we deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers, including corporate, structured and trade finance, leveraged finance, loan market and treasury products. We can also provide investment banking and advisory services and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.

Find out more about what we do and who we are at https://www.smbcgroup.com/emea/careers

Find out more