Operations Director - SME Lending

Job Description

Our client is a leading Debt Fund company supporting SME clients with complex lending transactions. They are recruiting for an experienced Operations Director with lending experience to report in to the CFO.OverviewThe operations and customer administration group provides end-to-end loan origination, servicing, and trading support. Services provided include deal origination support, loan closing and funding, and core loan servicing administration. The role will involvesignificant interaction with all our teams to ensure a seamless front to back service offering. The Head of Operations & Customer Administration will support a broad range of activities involved in the origination and servicing of our loans. The individualwill be responsible for the leadership and management of a team of 5 people.Responsibilities

• Oversee the Operations and Customer Administration team responsible for loan product and client account set up, drawdown, closure and aftermarket loan administration.
• Responsible for direct debits.
• Reconciliations of all lending platforms, account settlements, loan cash control.
• Responsible for managing Open Banking administration, including customer system registrations process definition and maintenance.
• Maintain and update operational work procedures to ensure the company is compliant with institutional lender mandates and external legislation and best practice.
• Driving the teams operational efficiency, automation and productivity agenda including identifying opportunities to improve operations, driving change and keeping abreast with and adopting new technologies for use within the organization.
• Continued engagement with a range of senior business, technology and support and control partners.
• Support the delivery of strategic IT platform initiative to build scale, reduce manual touchpoints and enhance the controls environment.
• Ensure that loan part syndication, loan principal and interest payments and revenue is booked and distributed correctly and at the appropriate time.
• Oversee all pre- drawdown, closing, drawdown and post drawdown activities.
• Daily cash, institution and borrower position management.
• Partner with internal (and external) business functions to deliver Operational activities to plan and drive ongoing efficiencies.
• Ensure new products are operationally supported and launched correctly.
• Performance manage, develop and coach team of c. 5
• Oversee day-to-day management of all Know Your Client (KYC) and client onboarding activities; manage the KYC pipeline, prioritisation of client adoptions and case management.

What you will Bring

• BS/BA degree or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of experience in lending operations.
• Strong track record of leading middle office/operational functions supporting commercial lending.
• Ability to navigate internal infrastructure that involves numerous groups and individuals to solve problems and continuously improve processes and controls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised, self-starter with the ability to execute in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
• In-depth technical operations knowledge of the loan product / syndicated loan life cycle essential, term loans and revolving credit facilities, understanding of other products, such as invoice finance a plus, including an understanding of commercial creditagreements, loan funding mechanics, deal and fee structures.
• Experience and knowledge of GL accounting, payment processing and cash reconciliation.
• Client service oriented with strong sense of accountability and ownership.
• Sound understanding of KYC policies, processes, and procedures.
• Proactive, diligent, and able to partner with other teams to resolve issues.
• Previous experience with nCino/ Mambu platforms an advantage.

Please note that you would need to travel into the office in Leicestershire 1-2 days a week

Keyskills :
LeadershipLendingOperations ManagementProcess ImprovementLoan Documents