Director, Corporate Credit Risk – Leveraged Finance

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce•New York, NY

About The Position

As a Director within Corporate Credit Risk, you will help assess and manage credit risk in CIBC’s US leveraged lending portfolio. Working closely with senior Credit Risk management and Line of Business partners, you will evaluate new transactions, conduct credit due diligence, and monitor existing borrowers to ensure alignment with CIBC’s credit policies and risk appetite. The role includes comprehensive credit assessments, evaluation of transaction structures and financial performance, preparation of credit recommendations, and assessment of periodic credit reviews. You will analyze new leveraged lending transactions and proposed acquisitions, refinancings, amendments, and incremental financing requests. You will review financial models, management projections, borrower performance, portfolio reviews, risk ratings, financial covenants, leverage, liquidity, cash flow, and debt repayment capacity, including under base and downside scenarios. You will provide clear recommendations to senior Credit Risk management and collaborate with internal partners while maintaining independent risk judgment and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Requirements

8+ years of relevant experience in Corporate Credit Risk, Leveraged Finance, Corporate Banking, or a related credit underwriting function.
Strong financial analysis and credit assessment skills.
Strong understanding of leveraged lending structures, financial statement analysis, cash flow modeling, debt capital structures, financial covenants, and credit risk assessment.
Ability to evaluate complex financial information, assess borrower performance, identify key credit risks, and develop well-supported credit recommendations.
Experience monitoring corporate borrowers, assessing periodic credit reviews, evaluating financial performance, and identifying emerging credit concerns.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
Ability to collaborate with colleagues and business partners while maintaining an independent and objective approach to credit risk assessment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial and credit information clearly to senior management and business partners.
Sound judgment, strong attention to detail, and ability to independently manage multiple transactions and portfolio responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Motivation to deepen knowledge of leveraged finance, credit markets, and evolving industry trends.
Legally eligible to work at the specified location(s) and, where applicable, hold a valid work or study permit.

Nice To Haves

MBA or equivalent advanced qualification.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive credit analysis and due diligence on new leveraged lending transactions, assessing financial performance, cash flow projections, capital structures, leverage, liquidity, and debt repayment capacity.
Evaluate proposed credit transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings, amendments, and incremental financing requests, along with transaction structures, financial covenants, credit risks, and mitigating factors.
Assess annual and quarterly credit reviews prepared by the Portfolio Management team; monitor portfolio performance and credit quality, identify emerging risks, and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
Evaluate financial models, management projections, and borrower performance against budgets and forecasts, including leverage, liquidity, cash flow generation, and debt service capacity under base and downside scenarios.
Prepare clear, well-supported credit assessments and recommendations for senior Credit Risk management, highlighting risks, mitigating factors, and proposed credit structures.
Apply CIBC’s credit risk rating methodologies and policies; evaluate proposed risk ratings and recommend adjustments where appropriate.
Build working relationships with Corporate Banking, Capital Markets, Portfolio Management, and other internal stakeholders to support effective credit decisions while maintaining independent risk judgment.
Apply leveraged lending regulatory guidance, CIBC credit policies, and risk management practices to ensure assessments and portfolio monitoring align with the bank’s risk appetite and applicable regulatory requirements.