HSBC Group

Role Purpose

The Head of Policy; Group Credit is a senior leadership role exercising group credit approval authority, overseeing global credit policy and the WCRM control environment. The role holder will also be responsible in assisting the GCCCO in risk stewarding the Wholesale Credit and Lending Value Stream (WCL VS) and will be responsible for managing the WCRM Centers of Excellence (COEs). 

The role holder will provide strategic leadership across multiple areas, including: Credit approval on behalf of Group through Group Delegated Approval Authority. Oversight of the WCRM infrastructure finance credit risk team. Full accountability for global private banking credit risk, ensuring risk alignment with business objectives. Management of Wholesale Credit Risk Management (WCRM) global policy, processes and controls. Leadership of the credit approval COE; India, Poland, China and Mexico. Oversight of the Wholesale Credit & Lending (WCL) value stream and of all strategic credit risk initiatives including: Parental Support Framework changes, Credit approval authority simplification, credit risk controls, processes and issue management. 

This role is critical in ensuring global consistency in credit risk policies and processes, enhancing risk governance and maintaining HSBC’s high standards for credit risk oversight.

Principal Accountabilities

• Exercise Group credit approval authority, reviewing and approving credit applications.
• 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.
• Oversee the credit risk team supporting HSBC Infrastructure Finance, ensuring a structured and consistent global approach to risk management in infrastructure related credit approvals.
• Provide strategic oversight for global private banking credit risk, ensuring alignment with broader group risk frameworks.
• Oversee all WCRM global policy processes and controls, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal governance frameworks.
• Lead continuous enhancements to policy documentation, ensuring policies remain fit for purpose and adaptable to evolving credit risk challenges.
• Drive global consistency in credit risk policies, frameworks and governance processes.
• Provide leadership for HSBC’s credit approval COEs in India, Poland, China and Mexico
• Design, manage and drive execution of strategically important initiatives within Credit Risk
• Act as delegate for the GCCCO at Regulatory and other Governance forums as required
• Initiate and develop relationships with executive level business stakeholders, incorporating feedback and business needs into WCRM’s strategy and designing solutions that deliver improved services, in both a risk management and commercial capacity.
• Support HSBC strategy through a leadership accountability and provide input into strategic plans for the function, n 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:

• 15+ years of experience in wholesale credit risk management, credit approval and credit policy governance within a global banking institution
•  Deep expertise in global credit policies, governance frameworks and risk management practices.

External Environment & Regulatory Landscape:

• Strong understanding of infrastructure, finance, private banking credit risk and wholesale credit risk processes.
• Experience in regulatory frameworks and regional risk regulations e.g. PRA, ECB, HKMA and OCC.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills:

• To have held a leadership position, ideally within a global financial services organization.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at the highest levels.
• 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 Procuresses: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
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.