Senior Associate

Description:

Santander Bank, N.A. is seeking a VP, Leveraged Finance Credit Risk Officer to join its US Leveraged Finance Risk team based in New York. This role is responsible for the independent assessment and oversight of credit quality for leveraged finance transactions. It requires a seasoned credit professional with significant experience in evaluating complex transactions, collaborating with stakeholders, and enforcing robust risk management practices.

In this high-impact role, you will participate in client due diligence calls, evaluate financial projections, challenge 1st Line of Defense (1LOD) recommendations, and provide independent opinions to senior management. You will work closely with coverage teams, front office leveraged finance teams, and other stakeholders to manage new transactions as well as ongoing portfolio risk.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Review and shape credit memos and join due diligence calls for new transactions.

• Provide independent opinions on credit risk ratings, models, and financial projections.

• Recommend and assign appropriate internal and regulatory credit risk ratings.

• Ensure compliance with internal policies, procedures, and regulatory expectations.

• Partner across the lines of defense to ensure a unified and effective credit risk framework.

• Interact with regulators and auditors to represent the credit risk management approach.

• Oversee portfolio monitoring and performance evaluations for assigned clients and sectors.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

• Minimum 9 years of experience in credit risk, internal audit, or risk management, with at least 5 years specifically in leveraged finance.

• Strong financial statement analysis, cash flow modeling, and credit evaluation expertise.

• In-depth knowledge of banking products, derivatives, and treasury services.

• Proven ability to evaluate complex transactions and develop well-supported recommendations.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, for engaging with stakeholders at all levels.

• Able to manage multiple transactions and priorities concurrently with high attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A demonstrated history of working in credit-intensive environments.

• Experience with regulatory audits and internal governance frameworks.

Additional Information:

• This is an on-site, full-time role based in New York.

• Santander embraces a strong risk culture and values inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity employment.

• The compensation is competitive and reflects the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and skills.