Head of Credit — Risk Management

SWIFT SEARCH GLOBAL PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Swift Search Global Pte Ltd seeks an experienced Head of Credit to lead its independent credit risk function within a financial institution. You will oversee credit assessments, lending policies, and portfolio monitoring, reporting to the Head of Risk Management.

The role requires at least 10 years in credit analysis or risk management, leadership of credit teams, strong knowledge of property and construction financing, and familiarity with MAS Notice 811.

Qualifications

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Responsibilities

• Develop and review credit strategies, lending criteria and exposure limits.
• Lead annual reviews of credit policies and implement approved changes.
• Improve credit assessment, renewal and monitoring processes through standardisation and automation.
• Maintain effective independent challenge and credit controls.
• Lead independent assessments of new applications, annual reviews and facility renewals.
• Evaluate borrowers’ creditworthiness, repayment capacity, collateral, covenants and financing structures.
• Review cash flow projections and conduct sensitivity and scenario analyses.
• Assess property development financing risks, including construction costs, completion timelines and sales assumptions.
• Monitor portfolio quality, concentrations, arrears, risk migration, and limit utilisation.
• Oversee watchlist accounts and challenge remediation plans.
• Lead borrower and portfolio stress testing, incorporating PD, LGD, and EAD.
• Conduct sector and thematic reviews, including quarterly updates on property and vehicle financing.
• Recommend changes to exposures, lending standards, and risk mitigation measures.
• Oversee credit grading and provide independent input into Expected Credit Loss assessments.
• Support compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including MAS Notice 811.
• Coordinate regulatory and audit enquiries and follow up on findings.
• Present credit risks, portfolio trends, watchlist developments and policy exceptions to management and relevant committees.
• Coach and develop the credit analyst team.

Skills

Credit risk management

Team leadership

Financial analysis

Cash flow modelling

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or related

Tools

Excel

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an established financial institution, is seeking an experienced Head of Credit to lead its independent credit risk function.

Reporting to the Head of Risk Management, you will manage a team of credit analysts and oversee credit assessments, lending policies and portfolio monitoring. You will help maintain prudent lending standards aligned with the organisation’s risk appetite, business objectives and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Credit Strategy & Governance

• Develop and review credit strategies, lending criteria and exposure limits.
• Lead annual reviews of credit policies and implement approved changes.
• Improve credit assessment, renewal and monitoring processes through standardisation and automation.
• Maintain effective independent challenge and credit controls.

Credit Assessment & Financial Analysis

• Lead independent assessments of new applications, annual reviews and facility renewals.
• Evaluate borrowers’ creditworthiness, repayment capacity, collateral, covenants and financing structures.
• Review cash flow projections and conduct sensitivity and scenario analyses.
• Assess property development financing risks, including construction costs, completion timelines and sales assumptions.

Portfolio Monitoring & Risk Management

• Monitor portfolio quality, concentrations, arrears, risk migration, and limit utilisation.
• Oversee watchlist accounts and challenge remediation plans.
• Lead borrower and portfolio stress testing, incorporating PD, LGD, and EAD.
• Conduct sector and thematic reviews, including quarterly updates on property and vehicle financing.
• Recommend changes to exposures, lending standards, and risk mitigation measures.

Compliance, Reporting & Audit

• Oversee credit grading and provide independent input into Expected Credit Loss assessments.
• Support compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including MAS Notice 811.
• Coordinate regulatory and audit enquiries and follow up on findings.
• Present credit risks, portfolio trends, watchlist developments and policy exceptions to management and relevant committees.
• Coach and develop the credit analyst team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related quantitative discipline.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in credit analysis, credit risk management or real estate financing within a bank or financial institution.
• Proven experience leading and developing credit teams.
• Strong knowledge of property and construction financing, mortgage lending and secured credit assessment.
• Vehicle financing experience is an advantage.
• Proficient in cash flow modelling, sensitivity analysis, scenario analysis and quantitative techniques.
• Familiar with MAS Notice 811, Expected Credit Loss frameworks and Basel-based credit stress testing.
• Sound independent judgement and strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Able to present clear credit recommendations and drive process improvements while maintaining strong governance.