Team Leader, Credit Operations Team (COT)

Job description

Role Title: Team Leader, Credit Operations Team (COT)
Business: Banking Middle Office
New or Existing Role? New
 
Role Purpose
·         The Banking Middle Office (BMO) Credit Operations Team (“COT”) works closely with Global Relationship Bankers/Relationship Managers (RMs) to help them with the identification, and management of individual timely response and escalation of overdrawn accounts, payment referrals and credit limit excesses, as well as preparing Credit Memos for all Banking and Markets clients across the FIG Funds, FIG Other and Corporate sectors.  This subject role is responsible for the day to day supervision, select staff workflow and controls of the COT through operational integrity, risk management, client service and collaboration with Banking teams and other areas of the Bank. 
·         The role of Team Leader COT provides RMs with a sector-aligned Subject Matter Expert (“SME”) and point of escalation for operational Credit Risk matters.  Along with the designated Subsector RM teams, the role holder will also assist with operations of day to day risk management (ensuring excesses/overdrawn positions have been remediated/approved by the relevant delegated authority, reviewing limit sizes and assisting with increase requests) of a specified portfolio of existing clients. The Team Leader COT will support the UK Head CAU with sampling (secondary controls) of COT Members daily work and provide feedback on their work and progress as necessary, implementing the Control Risk Framework and implementing Change Initiatives. The role has five or less direct reports.
 
Principal Accountabilities:  Key activities and decision making areas
Impact on the Business
·         The day to day supervision of the sector aligned COT team members to ensure that all work is completed on a timely basis in line with set timescales, including strict adherence to all relevant DIMs, FIMs and BIMs as well as Audit and daily work controls.
·         Ongoing pro-active management of operational risk within the COT to maximize client service and minimize losses, escalating issues as they arise.
·         Guide the team in supporting the business needs of RMs to achieve business objectives.
·         Initiate the management and implementation of value-added improvements, including streamlining or re-engineering existing processes to align with business objectives / needs.
·         Drive the team’s achievement against targets for product/sector alignment, customer satisfaction and cost containment.
·         Actively assist in the timely implementation of the Control Risk Framework.
·         Assist COT staff with their professional development through 1:1s, periodic feedbac, and supporting their learning aspirations relevant to their role and career progression.
·         Support the Head of CAU UK in all matters relating to Credit Operations in the UK.
·         Provide COT and teams outside of COT with subject matter expertise on credit operations.
 
Customers / Stakeholders
·         GB&M (RMs, Business Heads, COOs, Product teams, etc.); and
·         Credit Risk
·         UK Head CAU
 
Leadership & Teamwork
·         Effective supervision to secure the highest standards quality, timeliness of delivery, and consistency of work undertaken within COT.
·         Provide clear and thoroughly considered guidance to the team, to ensure any revision to operating practices or processes is communicated effectively to the team to avoid the risk of any misinterpretation, ensuring a consistently high standard of finished product is achieved and stakeholder expectations are exceeded.
·         Support regulatory and business management initiatives when COT participation is required.
·         Support roll out of the COT Target Operating Model.
·         Recommend improvements in the COT workflow processes locally.
·         Ensure COT adhere strictly to all Audit requirements, established controls, DIMs, FIMs and BIMs.
·         Ensure all work undertaken by COT is to a standard that meets or exceeds HSBC standards.
·         Ensure “zero tolerance “for material fails in daily work.
 
Operational Effectiveness & Control
·         Provide clear and considered operational Credit Risk assistance to the RMs, Credit Risk and other key stakeholders as required.
·         Provide the highest quality, forward looking and professional support for Credit Operations-related tasks (as agreed) to RMs in your sector in line with broader strategies as agreed from time to time including (but not limited to):
·         Consistent application of standards as laid down in the DIM/PLA, ensuring required quality standards are constantly met.
·         Assist in maintaining and updating (at least annually) all COT procedures manuals and roles & responsibilities documents. 
·         Understand, follow and demonstrate compliance with all relevant internal and  external rules, regulations and procedures that apply to the conduct of the business in which you are involved, specifically Internal Controls and any Compliance policy including, inter alia, the Group Compliance policy. 
·         Assist in maintaining HSBC Internal Control standards, including the timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators.
·         Be aware of the Operational Risk scenario associated with the role and act in a manner that takes account of operational risk considerations.
 
Major Challenges (The challenges inherent in the role that require a continual test of the role holder’s abilities)
Ensuring strict adherence to:
·         Requirements of HSBC FIMs (including but not limited to GB&M and Risk), HBEU BIMS and DIMS;
·         Credit policy and procedures;
·         COT established Roles & Responsibilities and Desk Procedures;
·         Adherence to strict turn around times imposed within COT and by other teams
·         Ensure compliance of COT KPIs.
·         Support UK CAU Head’s successful management of COT budgets and controls
·         Successful audits and credit reviews of Banking and COT.
·         Recommending streamlining to existing procedures to ensure a more efficient credit risk process (end to end). Look for innovation and new ideas to improve the process flow and add value to the business. Work with UK Head of CAU to generate new ideas and exploit new streamlining opportunities.
 
Role Context (The environment and operating conditions of the role including the extent of guidance and authority)
·         The Credit Operations Team (COT) supports RMs by undertaking credit operational tasks in a timely and accurate manner.
·         The Team Leader COT is accountable to ensure each member of her/his sector aligned team is timely and efficiently reviewing their portfolio of morning reports, addressing daily requests / inquiries as they arise from other departments, and investigating where clients are reporting an excess position. This may involve liaising with the client, the RM Team, Credit Risk, and other credit operations teams To ensure all payments and BACS referrals received throughout the day have been processed and sanctioned within approved guidelines. Completion of monthly credit related returns in conjunction with sector teams. All tasks undertaken in alignment with HSBC standards, controls and audit requirements.
·         To ensure all work undertaken by the relevant COT sector team is audited daily as per team procedures, DIMs, FIMs and Roles and Responsibilities.
·         To actively participate in and contribute to a working environment in which creativity thrives and processes and productivity are continuously improved.
 
Management of Risk (Operational Risk / FIM requirements)
·         Maintain awareness of operational risk and minimize the likelihood of it occurring including its identification, assessment, mitigation and control, loss identification and reporting in accordance with section 4 of the Group Operations FIM.
 
Observation of Internal Controls (Compliance Policy / FIM requirements)
·         Maintain and observe HSBC internal control standards, implement and observe Group Compliance Policy, including the timely implementation of recommendations made by internal/external auditors and external regulators.  Assist GBMO management in fostering a compliance culture and implement Group Compliance Policy by managing compliance risk in liaison with the Head of Group Compliance, Regional Compliance Officer, Area Compliance Officer or Local Compliance Office .
 
Role Dimensions (e.g. balance sheet size, lending/expenditure limits, size/volume of transactions, budget. in USD’000)
·         The COT supports RMs based in 8CS.
·         The COT FTE is 16.2. 
·         On an average day each member of the team would review 50 excesses.  Up to 60% of an individual’s day is spent reviewing their portfolio of morning reports.
·         The COT spends approximately 30% of their time on payment referrals.  In an average month they receive about 1500 payment referrals.
·         The remaining 20% applies to ad-hoc tasks, BACS/HSBCnet overlimits referrals and completion of monthly Credit Control Reports for Credit & Risk.

Desired profile

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications
·         A minimum of 5 years experience within a financial services organization and sound working knowledge of Banking activities, processes and operations.
·         Broad knowledge of all products applicable to the UK Banking client base and the respective service models.
·         Proven ability to prioritize competing demands and cope with tight deadlines
·         A commitment to excellence and performance to the highest standards.
·         Previous experience supervising staff to achieve success.
·         Excellent interpersonal, and communication skills.
·         Able to deal with and constructively resolve conflicting views and where necessary, escalate to senior management in a clear and succinct manner.
·         Fluent written and spoken English.
·         Highly proficient in the use of MS Office tools, e.g. Excel.
·         Understanding of HSBC Group credit policies, processes and systems (for internal candidates)
·         Possesses drive with a positive ‘can do’ attitude
·         A self-starter with ability to work independently with a strong sense of ownership.
  
We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating a diverse environment.