Senior Credit Officer, Director - Financial Institutions

BMO•Chicago, IL

10d•$130,000 - $270,000•Onsite

About The Position

Provides independent credit adjudication, approval, and risk oversight for a portfolio of Financial Institution clients, including banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, insurance companies, and other regulated financial counterparties. Responsible for evaluating complex lending, counterparty credit, and trading-product exposures, ensuring alignment with the Bank's risk appetite, credit policies, regulatory standards, and portfolio objectives. Acts as a trusted advisor to senior business and risk leaders, providing strategic guidance on credit decisions, portfolio management, emerging risks, and complex transaction structures.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive experience in Credit Risk, Financial Institutions, Capital Markets, or Counterparty Credit Risk.
Extensive experience analyzing and underwriting Financial Institution clients, including banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies, and other financial intermediaries.
Strong expertise in trading products, derivatives, securities financing transactions, and counterparty risk management.
Deep understanding of financial statement analysis, credit underwriting, portfolio management, and capital markets risk.
Expert knowledge of banking products, regulatory frameworks, credit policies, and risk governance practices.
Proven ability to make sound credit decisions on highly complex transactions and relationships.
Strong leadership, stakeholder management, influencing, and negotiation skills.
Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex credit matters to senior executives and risk committees.

Nice To Haves

CFA, FRM, CPA, MBA, or similar professional designation.

Responsibilities

Independently assess, approve, and provide recommendations on complex credit transactions involving Financial Institution counterparties.
Evaluate counterparty credit risk, transaction structures, collateral, and risk mitigants to ensure alignment with the Bank's risk appetite and credit policies.
Monitor portfolio quality, emerging risks, and market developments to support sound credit decision-making.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior business and risk leaders on credit, portfolio, and strategic risk matters.
Lead complex credit reviews, portfolio assessments, and risk management initiatives.
Provide independent analysis and recommendations on significant transactions and emerging risk issues.
Partner with Capital Markets, Treasury, Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to address complex credit matters.
Support regulatory reviews, audits, and governance activities.
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and represent Credit Risk in key forums and committees.
Leverage portfolio analytics, reporting, and market insights to identify trends and inform decision-making.
Drive enhancements to credit frameworks, monitoring tools, reporting, and risk management processes.
Lead strategic and operational initiatives that improve effectiveness and risk oversight.
Provide coaching, mentorship, and credit expertise to team members and business partners.
Foster a strong risk culture and promote sound credit judgment across the organization.
Serve as a senior subject matter expert in Financial Institutions and Counterparty Credit Risk.