HSBC Group

Role Purpose

The Head of Wholesale Credit Risk (WCRM) HBEU & CIB is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing credit risk management across multiple regions, including Non-Ring fenced bank UK, HBCE, US and Latin America. The role holder will have credit authority, portfolio risk management oversight and strategic and operational leadership for credit risk management across these regions, ensuring that credit risks decisions align with HSBC’s global risk appetite, regulatory requirements and business strategy. The role holder will - Lead credit risk management for the regional portfolio of the Non-Ring fenced bank UK and HBCE and hold credit approval authority for approvals and risk assessment within the designated portfolio. Provide strategic and operational leadership across WCRM in these regions. Work closely with WCRM global industry specialists (Banks, NBFIs, Leveraged etc.) to risk manage the regional portfolio. Act as the WCRM regional representative to the PRA and ECB, clients or external and internal stakeholders ensuring transparency and alignment with regulatory expectations. Provide functional oversight for credit risk management in the US and Latin Amercia, working with the Regional Chief Credit Officers (heads of WCRM) in each to ensure risk oversight, governance and alignment with group strategy.Given the scale and complexity of the portfolio, the role holder will play a critical role in ensuring HSBC maintains a disciplined, forward looking approach to credit risk management, while engaging with internal and external stakeholders to drive business and risk alignment. Portfolio size under management. Size of portfolios in terms of Credit Limits / Exposure is -Europe - $1,172 Bn / $475 Bn , US - $371 Bn / $193 Bn, LAM - $92 Bn / $36 Bn

Principal Accountabilities 

• Act as the senior credit approval authority, ensuring credit decisions balance risk management principles and commercial business objectives.
• Partner with Corporate Investment Banking (CIB) teams to facilitate appropriate risk-taking while maintaining strong credit discipline in the regions.
• Represent WCRM HBEU & CIB at senior credit risk committees, ensuring alignment on risk strategy.
• Represent the bank, as required,  in communications with the PRA and ECB in all matters concerning wholesale credit risk (General, ongoing Audits, Remediation).
• Ensure credit decisions align with HSBC’s global risk appetite, policies and regulatory expectations.
• Provide senior level credit risk assessment, challenge and escalation where appropriate.
• Drive global consistency in credit risk policies, frameworks and governance processes.
• Provide leadership for HSBC’s credit approval COEs supporting the HBEU & CIB region
• Support HSBC strategy through a leadership accountability and provide input into strategic plans for the function, in line with designated responsibilities
• Create a high performance culture
• Engage with and enable the team such that they can fully contribute to the strategy
• Engage with and enable the stakeholders such that they can contribute, influence and support where necessary.

Experience

Functional Knowledge:

• 20+ years of experience in wholesale credit risk management, credit approvals and credit policy governance within a global banking institution.
• Proven experience in leading regional credit risk functions and management of large, complex credit portfolios.
• Extensive credit authority experience with a strong track record in high value credit approvals and strategic credit risk decisions.
• Deep understanding of portfolio risk dynamics, exposure concentration and regional credit risk factors.
• Experience in managing multi-jurisdictional credit risk frameworks, ensuring consistency in risk governance, policies and decision making.

External Environment & Regulatory Landscape:

• Deep knowledge of credit risk frameworks across Europe, US and Latin America, including local regulatory requirements.
• Experience in regulatory frameworks and engagement with global and regional regulations e.g. PRA, ECB, HKMA and OCC to ensure compliance with evolving regulatory expectations.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills: 

• Strong relationship management skills to work effectively with C-suite executives, risk committees and external stakeholders.
• Experience of building, developing and leading a sizeable team.
• Experience of managing within a complex matrix environment.
• Experience working across different countries and cultures.

Essential Capabilities 

Business Insight & Decision Quality: Applying knowledge of business and the market to make good and timely decisions that keeps the organization moving forward.
Optimises Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement. (only to be included when the primary focus of the role is operational execution)
Action Orientated: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Builds Effective Teams: Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
Persuasion & Conviction: Using compelling arguments to gain the support and commitment of others; stepping up to address difficult issues and saying what needs to be said.
Manages Ambiguity & Ensures Accountability: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear; holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.