Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for GWIM Credit Manager

🎯 Role Definition

We are actively recruiting a dynamic and seasoned GWIM (Global Wealth & Investment Management) Credit Manager to serve as a pivotal expert in our private banking division. In this critical role, you will be the cornerstone of our credit delivery model, partnering directly with Financial Advisors and Private Bankers to structure, underwrite, and manage sophisticated, bespoke credit solutions for our high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clientele. You will be responsible for balancing robust risk management with a commercial mindset, ensuring the delivery of tailored lending products—including securities-based loans, custom mortgages, and structured financing—that meet unique client needs while adhering to the bank's credit policy and risk appetite. This position demands a leader with deep credit acumen, exceptional analytical skills, and the ability to navigate complex financial scenarios with precision and authority.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Credit Analyst (Private Banking / Wealth Management)
Commercial or Corporate Banking Underwriter
Portfolio Manager with a credit focus

Advancement To:

Senior/Executive Credit Director
Regional Head of Credit Management
Chief Credit Officer (Wealth Management)

Lateral Moves:

Structured Lending Product Specialist
Senior Risk Management Officer
Private Wealth Advisor / Relationship Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the end-to-end credit management process for a dedicated portfolio of HNW/UHNW clients, from initial opportunity assessment and deal structuring to final approval and booking.
Conduct in-depth, complex financial analysis on personal and business financial statements, tax returns, and cash flow projections to determine borrower-repayment capacity for large and intricate credit requests.
Structure and underwrite a diverse range of custom credit facilities, including but not limited to securities-based lines of credit (SBLs), jumbo residential mortgages, specialized asset-backed loans (e.g., aircraft, yachts, fine art), and unsecured credit.
Exercise significant individual credit authority to approve or recommend credit transactions, presenting comprehensive credit memorandums to senior credit committees for larger or more complex exposures.
Collaborate proactively with Financial Advisors, Wealth Strategists, and Trust Officers to understand client objectives and design tailored credit solutions that integrate seamlessly into their overall wealth plan.
Serve as the primary credit subject matter expert for client-facing teams, providing guidance, training, and consultation on credit policy, product capabilities, and risk appetite.
Actively manage the credit risk of an assigned portfolio, performing regular reviews, monitoring covenants, assessing collateral values, and identifying early warning signs of credit deterioration.
Negotiate credit terms, conditions, and covenants directly with clients or their representatives, demonstrating strong negotiation skills and a solutions-oriented approach.
Ensure all credit activities and documentation are in strict compliance with internal policies, procedures, and external regulations, including Reg B, Reg Z, AML, and KYC requirements.
Drive the annual review and renewal process for the portfolio, ensuring timely completion of all required due diligence and updated risk assessments.
Analyze and interpret complex legal and entity structures, such as trusts, partnerships, and LLCs, to accurately assess borrowing entities and identify all relevant guarantors.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the organization, including risk management, legal, compliance, and loan operations, to facilitate a smooth and efficient credit process.
Provide mentorship and guidance to junior credit analysts and underwriters, fostering a culture of credit excellence and continuous professional development within the team.
Evaluate and stress-test collateral, with a particular focus on marketable securities portfolios, concentrated stock positions, and illiquid alternative investments.
Make informed, balanced risk/reward decisions, demonstrating sound judgment and the ability to defend credit decisions with well-reasoned, data-backed arguments.
Participate in client meetings alongside Private Bankers to explain credit decisions, discuss financing options, and strengthen client relationships.
Stay abreast of macroeconomic trends, market conditions, and industry developments that could impact the credit quality of the loan portfolio.
Lead remediation efforts for problem loans, developing and implementing workout strategies to minimize potential losses and protect the bank's interests.
Contribute to the ongoing refinement of credit policies and procedures by providing feedback and insights based on front-line experience.
Prepare and present detailed portfolio reviews and risk reports for senior management, highlighting key trends, concentrations, and emerging risks.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc portfolio analysis, stress testing, and data requests from senior leadership and regulatory bodies.
Contribute to the strategic direction of the wealth management credit platform by identifying opportunities for product enhancement and process improvement.
Collaborate with technology and operations partners to translate business credit needs into system and workflow engineering requirements.
Participate in agile project sprints and steering committees focused on the digitalization and automation of the credit journey.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Complex Credit Analysis: Mastery in analyzing personal and corporate financials, cash flows, and complex income streams (K-1s, partnership income, trust distributions).
Underwriting Expertise: Proven experience underwriting custom credit products, including Securities-Based Lending (SBL), custom mortgages, and structured loans.
Portfolio Management: Skill in actively managing a portfolio of complex loans, including covenant monitoring, risk rating, and performing annual reviews.
Financial Modeling: Ability to build and interpret financial models to assess repayment capacity and run sensitivity analyses.
Risk Assessment: Deep understanding of credit risk principles and the ability to identify, quantify, and mitigate risks in a wealth management context.
Regulatory Knowledge: Proficient in banking regulations such as Regulation B (ECOA), Regulation Z (TILA), and BSA/AML requirements.
Structuring & Negotiation: Expertise in structuring creative, bespoke credit solutions and negotiating terms with sophisticated clients and their advisors.

Soft Skills

Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to partner with and influence a wide range of stakeholders, especially Financial Advisors, clients, and senior risk executives.
Communication & Presentation: Articulate, concise, and persuasive communication style, with the ability to present complex credit scenarios to diverse audiences.
Decision Making: Strong critical thinking and judgment, with the confidence to make and defend difficult credit decisions under pressure.
-" Client-Centric Mindset: A strong focus on understanding client needs and delivering superior service while maintaining risk discipline.
Problem-Solving: Proactive and solutions-oriented approach to overcoming obstacles and finding viable pathways for complex transactions.
Leadership & Mentorship: Ability to lead by example and coach junior team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a related advanced degree.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or similar professional certification is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Finance
Accounting
Economics
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 7-12+ years of progressive experience in credit risk management, underwriting, or portfolio management.

Preferred: A significant portion of experience must be within a private banking, wealth management, or closely related environment, with direct responsibility for underwriting and managing credit for HNW/UHNW individuals and their related entities. Proven experience with individual credit authority is highly desirable.