Credit Risk Manager

If you are interested in this candidate, please contact Richard Lalchan via email rlalchan@cerfinancial.co.uk or call on 0207 626 6065.

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PROFILE:

A seasoned risk management professional with over 14 years of experience in investment banking, FX brokerage, and asset management. Successfully led the implementation of risk management frameworks that enhanced risk/return metrics and improved operational efficiency. Adept at developing comprehensive risk frameworks, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving strategic initiatives that align with business objectives. Currently expanding expertise into the energy and commodities sector, with a strong focus on leveraging data science and machine learning techniques acquired through the CQF program to enhance quantitative risk assessment and decision-making.

SKILLS:

Risk Management: Credit, Market and Liquidity Risks, ICARA, ICAAP, ILAAP, BCP, Treasury Management
Product Expertise: FX and Money Market, Equities, Fixed Income, Options, Commodities, Trade Finance, Corporate Finance, Sovereign Lending, Insurance, Crypto
Financial Analysis & Modelling: Financial Modelling, VaR, CVaR, Macro-Economic Analysis, Machine Learning, Monte Carlo Simulation, Excel (Advanced VBA), Python FX and Money Market
Regulatory Compliance: FCA Compliance, and IFRS9
Leadership & Communication: Team Management, Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Engagement, Advanced Written and Oral Communication

CAREER HISTORY:

October 2021 - Present

Foreign Exchange Risk Management and Trading Services

RISK MANAGER - CREDIT RISK MANAGER

Lead credit risk and underwriting, managing trade volumes of approximately $10 billion in FX trades annually and overseeing individual ticket sizes averaging £20 million. Present detailed credit files to the Credit Committee, ensuring strategic alignment with organizational risk appetite and policies while optimizing risk-return profiles.
Provide strategic risk insights and recommendations to the Board, influencing decision-making on credit, market, and liquidity risk matters.
Achieved superior performance in credit underwriting, reducing risk exposure and optimizing shareholder value.
Manage client and counterparty relationships, negotiating credit terms, monitoring market-to-market positions, and overseeing margin calls and exit strategies.
Review legal documentation and optimise credit underwriting processes through qualitative and quantitative models.
Assist traders by modelling complex transactions to optimise execution and profitability, ensuring efficient trade structures and cash flow management.
Build and maintain models to monitor FX positions and optimize capital usage.
Prepare key regulatory reports, including ICARA, Business Continuity Plan, and Wind Down Plan, ensuring compliance and assisting with the European license application.
Collaborate with auditors to ensure smooth audits and regulatory adherence.
Oversee treasury asset and liability management, ensuring liquidity, capital optimization, and surplus interest generation.
Conduct stress testing and scenario analysis to manage client risk within the organization’s risk appetite.

January 2018 – September 2021

Trading

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Founded and managed the business, focusing on investments in commodities, real estate, construction, and logistics.
Established strong relationships with banks and liquidity providers, introducing them to trade finance and real estate opportunities.
Sourced and structured deals for clients, offering expert advice and ensuring successful transactions.
Led capital raising efforts, securing financing solutions and structuring deals tailored to client needs.
Launched social marketing campaigns to attract new clients and grow the business.
Moved investments into secure commodity deals, reducing risk and increasing profitability.
Negotiated financing for real estate investments, driving business growth and expanding the portfolio.

February 2010 – December 2017

Banking

April 2016 – December 2017

RISK MANAGER

Developed and implemented the liquidity adequacy assessment (ILAAP) in collaboration with Bovill Consultants, ensuring the bank's liquidity risk was effectively managed in line with regulatory expectations.
Collaborated with a financial services to draft and finalize the capital adequacy assessment (ICAAP), ensuring robust capital adequacy reporting and comprehensive regulatory compliance.
Led the configuration of bank policies for credit, market, liquidity, and country risk, aligning them with regulatory requirements and business objectives.
Drafted the country risk policy from scratch, which was praised by the PRA team during one of the regulatory meetings for its thoroughness and effectiveness.
Assisted the CFO in exposure and regulatory reporting, ensuring accurate submissions and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Liaised with shareholders, providing updates on risk management strategies and capital adequacy.
Developed and launched a capital adequacy dashboard, providing real-time insights for regulatory reporting and management decision-making.
Represented the bank in PRA meetings, becoming the youngest in the bank to serve as a representative and contributing to discussions on regulatory strategies and risk mitigation—evidence of the trust placed in me and my contributions to the firm.
Participated in the Credit Committee and the Risk Committee, a subcommittee of the board, playing a critical role in decision-making related to credit risk assessments and capital allocation.

April 2015 – April 2016

CREDIT RISK MANAGER

Managed a £500 million portfolio across fixed income, trade finance, structured commodity finance (soft and energy sectors), sovereign lending, and project finance, with ticket sizes ranging from £2 million to £10 million.
Gained deep knowledge in investing in fixed income, commodity trade finance (soft and energy sectors), and project and corporate finance, becoming well-versed in industry-specific risks and opportunities.
Performed independent credit risk analysis, including due diligence, financial assessment, cash flow modelling, stress testing, and reviewing legal documentation to advise the Credit Committee on investment decisions.
Led the Credit and Large Exposure Committees, ensuring timely decisions on high-value transactions and policy updates.
Negotiated credit insurance contracts with Lloyd’s Insurance Brokers and made claims when required, effectively reducing risk exposure, improving return on capital, and enhancing capital adequacy.
Managed Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) by negotiating exit strategies with lenders, reducing potential losses.

June 2011 – April 2015

MARKET RISK OFFICER

Set the bank's risk appetite for money markets and capital markets, approved by the board, and approved trading limits up to £40 million, managing limit breaches.
Monitored daily exposures in money and capital markets, applying statistical tools, VaR, CVaR, and back testing for accurate risk assessment.
Built market risk limits using VaR models to effectively manage exposures across these markets.
Gained deep expertise in money market and capital market operations and settlement , advising on entry strategies for fixed income investments, especially in emerging market bonds.
Developed risk reports for senior management and improved reporting systems to capture complex risks.
Established a daily market report, circulated to traders and senior managers, highlighting major market events and providing market analysis on factors expected to move the market.
Collaborated with trading desks to monitor exposures and new business, providing tailored analysis for decision-making.
Performed stress testing and managed interest rate risk within the asset and liability management framework.
Consolidated bank-wide exposure into a dashboard using VBA tracking key accounts across various markets.
Advised the Investment Committee on fixed income investments, recommending the sale of assets two weeks before a Fitch downgrade, resulting in savings of US$2.5M.
Led process improvements, enhancing risk reporting and management tools to comply with evolving regulations.

February 2010 – June 2011

Banking

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

Developed and executed business strategies aligned with senior management to meet short- and long-term goals.
Proactively identified sales opportunities and delivered needs-based financial solutions to clients and investors.
Expanded the retail customer base, driving business growth through various channels and increasing the financial contribution of retail banking.
Managed and grew mortgage and deposit portfolios, achieving increases of over 80% and 90%, respectively.
Collaborated with marketing teams to launch targeted campaigns that enhanced value to existing clients and attracted new business.
Provided financial consultancy, establishing long-term client partnerships and optimizing banking services.
Tracked sales performance using marketing KPIs and provided feedback to senior management for strategy enhancement.
Led business development efforts to expand the bank’s portfolio and maximize cross-selling across products.
Improved customer service quality, ensuring product satisfaction for retail clients.
Recruited and trained new hires, building top-performing teams to drive business success.
Twice recognized as Top Sales Executive among over 100 international executives.
Increased mortgage and deposit portfolios by 80%+ and 90%+.
Launched successful marketing campaigns that attracted new business and strengthened client relationships.

September 2007 – February 2010

Hospitality

SALES ASSISTANT

Provided exceptional customer service to high-profile clientele, ensuring a personalized and professional experience that fostered loyalty.
Built strong relationships with guests, using effective communication and people skills to understand and meet their needs while exceeding expectations.
Proactively upsold services, enhancing guest experiences and contributing to increased department revenue.
Onboarded and trained new staff, ensuring smooth integration and maintaining high service standards across the department.
Oversaw departmental operations, identifying opportunities for procedural improvements and reporting feedback to management.
Consistently recognized as Employee of the Month, achieving the highest ratings among 400 associates.
Improved language skills through daily interactions with international guests, preparing for university education.

May 2005 – December 2005

Asset Management

INTERNSHIP IT PROGRAMMING

Designed and developed a major software project focused on encrypting and decrypting data using various encryption codes.
Programmed the mathematical encryption/decryption engine using C++.net, ensuring secure and efficient data handling.
Designed the graphical user interface (GUI) to ensure usability and clear navigation for users.
Created graphics for modelling and data handling, integrating visual components to support the software's functionality.
Utilized UML for modelling the software design and workflow, ensuring a structured approach to development.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

2013: Finance Business School

Bachelor of Arts (BHons) in Business Management with Emphasis

2005: Networking and Telecommunications

Bachelor of Engineering

Level 1 CFA , Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program

Certificate in Risk in Financial Services Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

2024: Certificate in Quantitative Finance CQF

Associate in Risk Management (ARM 54)

References Available Upon Request

If you are interested in this candidate, please contact Richard Lalchan via email rlalchan@cerfinancial.co.uk or call on 0207 626 6065.

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