Head of Portfolio Management London UK Export Finance Full time

UK Export Finance; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government department seeks a Head of Portfolio Management to oversee credit risk portfolios and lead a team of 18. This role involves managing post-approval processes, engaging with stakeholders, and enhancing risk management practices, especially in ESG. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and a background in risk management.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading teams and managing credit risk portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of ESG practices and risk environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Portfolio Management Division overseeing credit and sovereign risk.
• Manage activities from post-approval to repayment.
• Develop and integrate ESG factors into risk assessments.

Skills

Leadership

Risk Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

Head of Portfolio Management

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF), founded in 1919 as the world’s first export credit agency, is the UK’s export credit agency with over 100 years of supporting UK exports. Our mission is to "advance prosperity by ensuring no viable UK export fails for lack of finance and insurance, doing that sustainably and at no net cost to the taxpayer." We provide loans, guarantees, and insurance to help UK companies win overseas sales, fulfill export contracts, and ensure payment. We operate as a government department, reporting to the Secretary of State for International Trade, and work alongside the Department for Business and Trade.

About the Role

The Division

The department supports UK companies exporting to foreign markets by providing insurance, loans, and guarantees against non-payment or non-performance by UK exporters and overseas buyers. The financial success of the department depends on sound credit risk assessment, especially given the elevated default risks in emerging markets. The Portfolio Management Division (PMD) handles credit reviews for all non-sovereign risks, creating probability of default (PD) ratings and loss given default (LGD) for each risk.

The Role

• Lead the Portfolio Management Division within the Risk Management Group, overseeing a significant portion of UKEF’s credit and sovereign risk portfolio.
• Manage activities from post-approval to repayment, including three main functions: post-issue management, ongoing credit reviews, and ESG/stress testing.
• Enhance the risk management team's intellectual capacity and provide leadership at a senior level, especially in evolving ESG practices and risk environments.

Main Activities

Leadership and Management

• Lead and motivate approximately 18 FTEs across three teams, including managers at Grade 6/7 and a deputy at SCS 1 level.
• Participate in key committees such as the UKEF Enterprise Risk and Credit Committee (ERiCC).
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders, including government departments, industry partners, insurers, and banks.
• Mentor and develop team members, contributing to the People Agenda for the Risk Management group.

Post Issue Management

• Oversee activities such as tracking post-approval conditions, monitoring financial statements, covenant compliance, and managing breaches and waivers.
• Monitor credit profiles, report deterioration, and coordinate with the portfolio management team on risk mitigation.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Risk Development

• Develop and integrate ESG factors into credit ratings and risk assessments.
• Stay abreast of industry and ECA developments, and refine decision-making tools and stress testing models.
• Collaborate with business teams to review and develop UKEF’s risk appetite and coverage opportunities.

Additional Responsibilities

• Contribute to risk policies and strategic projects.
• Represent UKEF at seminars, workshops, and industry events as a risk subject matter expert.
• Deputize for the CRO and other senior risk leaders in meetings and external engagements.
• Manage budget responsibilities.

This list is not exhaustive and additional duties may be assigned as needed.

For further information, please contact Nick Irow at 07715 210286.

Boost Your Career

Find thousands of job opportunities by signing up to eFinancialCareers today.