Credit Risk Review Director

Job Description

Reporting to the Chief Credit Officer, the Executive Director of Credit Risk Review will lead the development of the annual risk-based internal credit review plan and will be responsible for administering and directing the daily functions of the Credit Risk Review Team which provides independent and objective assurance of the Bank's governance, risk management, and controls with respect to credit risk. The position provides research and guidance to the Credit Risk Review Team on setting objectives, scope, and testing strategies and provides significant coaching and mentoring to assist team members in achieving development goals. The Executive Director of Credit Risk Review also serves as liaison for outsourced and co-sourced reviews in the credit risk portfolio and is the primary contact and business partner for senior business stakeholders.

Essential Functions

• Lead the development of the annual risk-based review plan and scope. Will supervise completion of underlying auditable entity risk assessments

• Exhibit strong leadership skills to manage a team of tenured business professionals, creating a strong culture and team environment

• Lead and manage the review schedule and resource allocations for all credit risk review engagements

• Exhibit expertise in credit risk with an ability to clearly identify risks and corresponding controls

• Review and approve key review workpapers supporting the scope planning and reporting processes for credit review engagements

• Present and discuss findings and recommendations with management and appropreat risk management committees

• Provide periodic review engagement status updates to the Chief Credit Officer

• Provide targeted and ongoing review reports and other key deliverables to the Chief Credit Officer by target due dates

• Assist in planning for and managing the completion of outsourced and co-sourced reviews

• Represent Internal Credit Review in an observational capacity on governance committees as assigned

• Mentor and coach Credit Review staff with a heavy focus on professional development and growth

• Create a high performance culture that is grounded in effective challenge, superior review quality, business acumen, and stakeholder experience

• Implement best practices and procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness including data analytics and automation

• Provide proactive, exceptional client service to senior business stakeholders that drives positive change for the organization

• Build and maintain effective relationships with line of business leaders, executive management, risk committees, and the Credit Risk team

• Prepare annual performance appraisals for assigned direct reports and other levels as necessary

• Promptly identify loans with actual and potential credit weaknesses so that timely action can be taken to strengthen credit quality and minimize losses

• Appropriately validate and, if necessary, adjust risk ratings, especially for those loans with potential or well-defined credit weaknesses that may jeopardize repayment

• Identify relevant trends that affect the quality of the loan portfolio and highlights segments of those portfolios that are potential problem areas

• Assess the adequacy of and adherence to internal credit policies and loan administration procedures and monitor compliance with applicable laws and regulations

• Evaluate the activities of lending personnel and management, including compliance with lending policies and the quality of their loan approval, monitoring, and risk assessment

• Provide management and risk committees with an objective, independent, and timely assessment of the overall quality of the loan portfolio

• Provide management with accurate and timely credit quality information for financial and regulatory reporting purposes, including the determination of an appropriate ACL or ALLL, as applicable

• Work with Chief Credit Officer, senior management, and the Chief Risk Officer to establish and communicate risk appetite, metrics, KRIs and reporting to monitor compliance with credit risk appetite

• Conduct independent and objective assurance of the loan approval process which includes the loan committee structure, as well as monitoring systems

• Conduct independence and objective assurance of the portfolio management process to ensure that the Bank’s asset quality and loan profitability meet stated objectives and that the overall credit relationship management emphasis of the organization is consistent with the Bank’s underwriting standards

• Provide independent and objective assurance of the entire loan portfolio to include analysis of loan concentrations by sector, product and geography

• Provide independent and objective assurance that all loan systems and tracking techniques provide the required data to support risk ratings and loan adjudication as well as reporting to regulators, executive management and the Board of Directors

• Provide independent and objective assurance of Northwest’s monthly ACL computation, including challenge of its significant individual components, including forecast scenarios, qualitative factors, reasonable and supportable forecast period and reversion method

• Interface with regulators as required

• Deliver presentations regarding key credit risk issues, exposures, etc.

• Provide effective, credible challenge on client selection, rating timeliness and accuracy, risk identification/mitigation, and adherence to risk appetite, policies, and underwriting standards

• Monitor the credit portfolio and ensure issues are escalated and resolved timely

• Provide information, analysis, and credit risk and portfolio recommendations to the Chief Credit Officer as requested.

Additional Essential Functions

• Ensure compliance with Northwest’s policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations

• Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency

• Work as part of a team

• Work with on-site equipment

Safety and Health for Supervisors with Direct Reports

• Provide leadership and positive direction for maintaining the safety and loss prevention program

• Actively participate in and support employee participation in the safety and loss prevention program by ensuring that employees know how to properly report a safety issue, making sure that all accidents are promptly reported to Human Resources and documented, and ensuring that prompt action is taken whenever workplace hazards are identified

• Help implement emergency procedures

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

Bachelor's Degree Accounting, Business Finance, Economics, Computer Science, Information Systems, or business-related degree

Master's Degree Accounting, Business Finance, Economics, Computer Science, Information Systems, or business-related degree

Work Experience

6 - 8 years Senior Management experience

12 - 15 years Credit underwriting and administration experience including consumer, wholesale, commercial, real estate, and specialty lending

12 - 15 years Internal credit risk review experience

General Supervisory/Manager Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to identify existing and potential problems, obtain and evaluate relevant information, identify possible causes of the problems, and suggest an alternative course of action including innovative or creative approaches

• Ability to allocate and effectively use information, personnel, time, and other resources necessary for implementation of Northwest’s strategic plans

• Ability to make decisions, render judgments, and take action on tasks within the scope of given authority in a timely fashion

• Ability to develop, evaluate, and implement alternative courses of action, based on correct assumptions concerning resources and guidelines, and support decisions or recommendations with data or reasoning

• Ability to present and express ideas and information effectively and concisely in an oral and/or written mode in a manner appropriate for the audience

• Ability to listen and comprehend what others are saying and facilitate the open exchange of ideas and information

• Ability to motivate and provide direction in the activities of others, appropriately assigning work and authority, in the accomplishment of goals; providing advice and assistance as required

• Ability to understand and appropriately apply procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies; maintain credibility with others on specialty matters

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to successfully manage multiple assignments and simultaneously oversee/manage assigned staff

• Strong background and experience in applying audit methodologies and techniques (e.g., Institute of Internal Auditors International Professional Practices Framework)

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Advanced knowledge of SOX, the COSO internal controls framework, and IT compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST)

• Mastery of relevant internal and external environment and the financial services industry

• Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions

• Strong problem solving skills

• Ability to make sound decisions using available information

• Ability to effectively build relationships with stakeholders and team members

• Proven credit mind, knowledgeable, and proactive with deep credit and leadership experience Extensive

• Strategic overview experience to provide direction for lending and credit activities and providing secure protection through policies, procedures, and disciplines

• Proven executive level skills including significant responsibility in a senior management role

• Knowledge of specialist lending activities that may include; entertainment lending, private banking, telecommunication and media, technology, mortgage warehousing, equipment leasing, and other

• Interpersonal style which enables the executive to effectively interface with senior management including the President, Board of Directors, other colleagues, and regulators

• Team player

• Strong organizational and communication / persuasive skills Extensive

• Ability to analyze financial data and statistics

• Thorough knowledge of commercial lending concepts

• Awareness of business legal environment, credit market, and strategic risks

Licenses and Certifications

Professional certification relevant to position

Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.