Senior FI Credit Risk Leader

BMO Harris Bank; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Accident and life insurance

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

BMO Financial Group in Chicago, IL seeks a senior Credit Adjudication & Risk Leader to independently assess, approve, and advise on complex credit transactions for Financial Institution clients. The role focuses on counterparty risk, portfolio oversight, and strategic risk guidance across governance forums.

You will partner with Capital Markets, Treasury, Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to address complex credit matters, monitor emerging risks, and drive improvements in risk frameworks and

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Credit Risk, Financial Institutions, Capital Markets, or Counterparty Credit Risk.
• Extensive experience analyzing and underwriting Financial Institution clients, including banks, broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries.
• Strong expertise in trading products, derivatives, securities financing transactions, and counterparty risk management.
• Deep understanding of financial statement analysis, credit underwriting, portfolio management, and capital markets risk.
• Expert knowledge of banking products, regulatory frameworks, credit policies, and risk governance practices.
• Proven ability to make sound credit decisions on highly complex transactions and relationships.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, influencing, and negotiation skills.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex credit matters to senior executives and risk committees.
• CFA, FRM, CPA, MBA, or similar professional designation.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess, approve, and provide recommendations on complex credit transactions involving Financial Institution counterparties.
• Evaluate counterparty credit risk, transaction structures, collateral, and risk mitigants to ensure alignment with the Bank's risk appetite and credit policies.
• Monitor portfolio quality, emerging risks, and market developments to support sound credit decision-making.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior business and risk leaders on credit, portfolio, and strategic risk matters.
• Lead complex credit reviews, portfolio assessments, and risk management initiatives.
• Provide independent analysis and recommendations on significant transactions and emerging risk issues.
• Partner with Capital Markets, Treasury, Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to address complex credit matters.
• Support regulatory reviews, audits, and governance activities.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and represent Credit Risk in key forums and committees.
• Leverage portfolio analytics, reporting, and market insights to identify trends and inform decision-making.
• Drive enhancements to credit frameworks, monitoring tools, reporting, and risk management processes.
• Lead strategic and operational initiatives that improve effectiveness and risk oversight.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and credit expertise to team members and business partners.
• Foster a strong risk culture and promote sound credit judgment across the organization.
• Serve as a senior subject matter expert in Financial Institutions and Counterparty Credit Risk.

Skills

Credit risk

Financial institutions

Capital markets

Counterparty risk

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Decision making

Communication skills

Education

CFA or FRM or CPA or MBA

Job description

BMO Financial Group in Chicago, IL seeks a senior Credit Adjudication & Risk Leader to independently assess, approve, and advise on complex credit transactions for Financial Institution clients. The role focuses on counterparty risk, portfolio oversight, and strategic risk guidance across governance forums.

You will partner with Capital Markets, Treasury, Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to address complex credit matters, monitor emerging risks, and drive improvements in risk frameworks and