Director, Credit Risk

EQ Bank | Equitable Bank • Toronto, ON

37d • Hybrid

About The Position

Being a traditional bank just isn’t our thing, so we challenge ourselves to get creative in providing innovative banking solutions for Canadians.

How do we get there? With a talented team of inquisitive and agile challengers that break through the status quo. So, if you’re passionate about redefining the future of banking—while having fun—this could be your next big opportunity.

Our company continues to grow, and today we serve more than 800,000 customers across Canada through Equitable Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank™, and have been around for more than 50 years. Equitable Bank's wholly-owned subsidiary, Concentra Bank, supports credit unions across Canada that serve more than six million members. Together we have over $142 billion in combined assets under management and administration, with a clear mandate to drive change in Canadian banking to enrich people's lives. Our customers have named our EQ Bank digital platform (eqbank.ca) one of the top banks in Canada on the Forbes World's Best Banks list since 2021.

The Work
The Director, Credit Risk reports to the Vice President, Credit Risk and supports Senior Management with respect to all aspects of credit risk management in the Bank. The Director will be responsible for assisting in the development and operationalization of credit risk strategies and will oversee all loan portfolios with the objective of maintaining high quality lending and risk mitigation strategies.

Key aspects of the role are credit adjudication, governance, strategic initiatives, and managing key internal relationships enterprise-wide to champion risk and credit culture at the Bank.

Credit Adjudication
Approve Commercial loan extensions, renewals, and annual reviews in accordance with Delegated Lending Authorities
Recommend for approval and escalate transactions and exceptions above the Director’s lending authorities as necessary to the Senior Director Credit Risk Management, the VP & Chief Credit Officer or the SVP & Chief Risk Officer.

Credit Risk Governance
Provide independent and effective challenge to credit policy and credit procedure changes, amendments, and work collaboratively on new developments as proposed by the Business Lines
Monitor the loan portfolios for relevant trends, insights and provide ad-hoc credit risk reports to members of senior management and to support quarterly board reporting
Liaise and maintain strong relationships with the credit functions across the business lines to ensure that credit policies are adhered to in the organization
Monitor exception frameworks in the business lines and escalate relevant trends and insights
Support the development of responses to recommendations/requests from OSFI and Internal Audit
Support the VP & CCO and Quality Assurance leaders in ongoing and continuous improvement initiatives to generate operational efficiencies

New Products and Initiatives
Support with credit risk input to the development and ongoing maintenance of the Advanced Internal Ratings Based Risk Rating systems
Ensure proposed products are in alignment with the bank’s credit risk appetite as articulated in credit policies and procedures and that satisfactory risk mitigation strategies have been discussed and documented
Support the Risk team by identifying elements and/or issues during product development that require ERM or Compliance oversight

Requirements

• Have a minimum of 8 years of lending experience with expertise in a combination of commercial banking, retail lending including Single Family mortgages, construction and commercial mortgages, and portfolio management experience
• Post-secondary education (diploma/degree), preferably in business or finance with an MBA or accounting designation
• Demonstrated leadership skills and strategic thinking
• Proven ability to thrive in a constantly changing environment and to perform well in a high volume, high intensity environment
• Proven ability to inspire a team to work toward a set of goals and objectives
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate to Senior Management, the Board of Directors in a clear, concise and professional manner
• Deep understanding of real estate/commercial/asset-based underwriting and valuation techniques, determination and capitalization of NOI (Net operating Income)], financial statement analysis, secured lending and factors affecting the mortgage market
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities is a must

Responsibilities

• Approve Commercial loan extensions, renewals, and annual reviews in accordance with Delegated Lending Authorities
• Recommend for approval and escalate transactions and exceptions above the Director’s lending authorities as necessary to the Senior Director Credit Risk Management, the VP & Chief Credit Officer or the SVP & Chief Risk Officer.
• Provide independent and effective challenge to credit policy and credit procedure changes, amendments, and work collaboratively on new developments as proposed by the Business Lines
• Monitor the loan portfolios for relevant trends, insights and provide ad-hoc credit risk reports to members of senior management and to support quarterly board reporting
• Liaise and maintain strong relationships with the credit functions across the business lines to ensure that credit policies are adhered to in the organization
• Monitor exception frameworks in the business lines and escalate relevant trends and insights
• Support the development of responses to recommendations/requests from OSFI and Internal Audit
• Support the VP & CCO and Quality Assurance leaders in ongoing and continuous improvement initiatives to generate operational efficiencies
• Support with credit risk input to the development and ongoing maintenance of the Advanced Internal Ratings Based Risk Rating systems
• Ensure proposed products are in alignment with the bank’s credit risk appetite as articulated in credit policies and procedures and that satisfactory risk mitigation strategies have been discussed and documented
• Support the Risk team by identifying elements and/or issues during product development that require ERM or Compliance oversight

Benefits

• Competitive discretionary bonus
• Market leading RRSP match program
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
• Employee Share Purchase Plan
• Maternity/Parental top-up while you care for your little one
• Generous vacation policy and personal days
• Virtual events to connect with your fellow colleagues
• Professional development and comprehensive Career Development program
• A fulfilling opportunity to join one of the top FinTechs and help create a new kind of banking experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Associate degree