Executive Director, Group Credit Review Lead

Company: 1011 United Overseas Bank Ltd

About UOB
United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) is a leading bank in ASEAN with a global network in Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Operating through our head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, we have a global network of about 430 branches and offices in 19 markets. At the heart of UOB is our culture, shaped by the UOB Way and anchored on our four values – Honourable, Enterprising, United and Committed. For more than 90 years, these values have guided how we do right by our customers, collaborate with one another and create long-term value for the communities we operate in. As One Bank, we are committed to helping our colleagues build sustainable careers grounded in purpose, supported by strong values, and enriched with meaningful opportunities to grow.

Job Description
The Opportunity

Group Credit Review provides independent assurance over the quality and effectiveness of credit risk management across the Group's Wholesale Banking portfolio. Through risk-based portfolio, account and thematic reviews, the function assesses whether credit risks are appropriately identified, underwritten, approved, rated, monitored and managed in accordance with the Group's risk appetite, internal policies and regulatory requirements.

The Executive Director, Group Credit Review Lead will lead the development and execution of the credit review programme, providing an objective assessment of portfolio quality, underwriting standards, risk-rating discipline and control effectiveness. The role will identify emerging vulnerabilities and cross-portfolio themes, provide credible challenge to business and risk stakeholders, and translate review findings into actionable insight for senior management and governance committees.

This is an opportunity for an accomplished credit risk leader to apply deep credit judgement across a broad Wholesale Banking portfolio and contribute directly to stronger credit governance, disciplined portfolio management, and the timely identification and remediation of material risk issues.

The Mandate

The Credit Review Lead is accountable for delivering an independent, risk-based view of the effectiveness of credit risk management across the relevant portfolios in Group Wholesale Banking (ie Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Financial Institutions). The role will:

- Set review priorities based on portfolio risk, emerging trends, material exposures and areas of heightened vulnerability.

- Lead end-to-end account, portfolio and thematic reviews across Wholesale Banking.

- Assess the quality of credit underwriting, approval, risk rating, monitoring and control practices.

- Identify systemic issues, emerging risks and opportunities to strengthen credit governance and portfolio management.

- Present clear conclusions and recommendations to senior management and relevant governance committees.

- Maintain oversight of management responses and remediation until findings are effectively resolved.

Key Accountabilities

1. Set the risk-based credit review agenda

- Develop and execute a risk-based credit review programme covering relevant Wholesale Banking portfolios across the Group.

- Determine review priorities and thematic focus areas through assessment of portfolio, industry, geographic, borrower, product and transaction risks.

- Identify concentrations, adverse trends, vulnerable sectors and emerging issues that may affect portfolio quality.

- Use account-level and portfolio-level observations to identify systemic weaknesses and areas requiring deeper thematic assessment.

- Ensure review scope and depth remain proportionate to the nature, scale and complexity of the underlying risks.

2. Lead independent credit and portfolio assessment

- Provide an independent assessment of credit underwriting quality, including borrower analysis, transaction structure, repayment capacity, sources of repayment and the robustness of key assumptions.

- Evaluate the appropriateness of facilities, covenants, security structures and other risk mitigants relative to the purpose and risk profile of each exposure.

- Assess the quality of financial analysis, cash-flow evaluation, stress testing and downside-risk consideration supporting credit decisions.

- Determine whether emerging risks and early-warning indicators are identified, monitored and escalated in a timely manner.

- Lead account, portfolio and thematic reviews and maintain oversight of review quality and consistency.

3. Assess appropriateness of risk rating and loan classification.

- Evaluate the accuracy and appropriateness of internal risk ratings against approved methodologies, underlying credit fundamentals and portfolio performance.

- Assess whether ratings are reviewed and refreshed following annual reviews, material events or changes in credit quality.

- Review the adequacy of loan classification, watchlist management and supporting documentation.

- Identify rating migration, weakening credit indicators and potential deterioration in asset quality.

- Assess the adequacy and enforceability of collateral, security packages and other credit risk mitigants.

- Review whether collateral valuations are current, appropriately sourced and consistent with applicable internal requirements.

4. Strengthen credit governance and control effectiveness

- Assess compliance with applicable laws, regulations, internal credit policies, delegated lending authorities and the Group's risk appetite.

- Review adherence to relevant exposure, concentration, borrower-group and related-party limits.

- Evaluate the effectiveness of post-approval monitoring, including covenant compliance, periodic reviews, exception management and escalation of material concerns.

- Assess the quality, integrity and reliability of information used for credit assessment, portfolio monitoring and relevant regulatory reporting.

- Identify gaps in credit governance, processes and controls, and recommend practical measures to strengthen risk management effectiveness.

5. Convert review outcomes into enterprise-level insight

- Synthesise findings across individual reviews to identify recurring issues, portfolio vulnerabilities and cross-business or cross-market themes.

- Produce clear, balanced and evidence-based reports that distinguish material risk issues from isolated exceptions.

- Translate complex credit observations into concise conclusions and actionable recommendations for senior decision-makers.

- Escalate material concerns and vulnerable exposures promptly and through the appropriate governance channels.

- Contribute independent perspectives on the effectiveness of credit risk management and areas requiring management attention.

6. Lead stakeholder engagement, reporting and remediation

- Engage constructively with Front Office, Credit Risk Management, Business Risk and other relevant stakeholders to validate findings and obtain management responses.

- Provide robust and credible challenge while maintaining objective and effective working relationships.

- Coordinate with guest reviewers and relevant units to support efficient review execution and resolution of issues.

- Present key findings, portfolio insights and emerging risk themes to senior management and relevant governance committees, including the Group Credit Committee and Board Risk Management Committee.

- Monitor agreed remediation actions and assess whether findings have been addressed in a timely, sustainable and effective manner.

Leadership and Stakeholder Impact

The role requires a leader who can combine technical credit authority with sound judgement and constructive influence. The successful candidate will be expected to:

- Establish credibility with senior business and risk stakeholders through the quality, objectivity and commercial relevance of their judgement.

- Maintain independence of thought and provide clear challenge on complex or sensitive credit matters.

- Lead reviews across diverse portfolios and geographies while maintaining consistent standards and disciplined execution.

- Create clarity from complex and sometimes competing information.

- Communicate difficult findings with balance, precision and appropriate conviction.

- Manage multiple review priorities and ensure that attention remains focused on the most material areas of risk.

- Uphold high standards of professional integrity, accountability and confidentiality.

Experience and Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration or a related discipline.

- At least 15 years of relevant experience in credit risk management in wholesale banking or commercial banking, credit review, credit approval, portfolio management, credit risk assurance or related functions within banking or financial services. Broad product exposure across corporate lending and relevant Wholesale Banking products, which may include structured finance, trade finance and treasury-related credit products.

- Strong understanding of credit risk governance, banking regulations, internal control frameworks and relevant industry practices.

- Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex credit structures, identify material risk issues and challenge credit decisions constructively.

- Experience producing high-quality review reports and presenting material findings to senior management or governance forums.

- Professional qualifications such as CFA, FRM, CPA, CA or an equivalent qualification would be advantageous.

Critical Skills and Capabilities

Credit and portfolio judgement

- Strong credit analysis capability, including assessment of cash-flow generation, leverage, liquidity, repayment capacity, transaction structure and downside risk.

- Deep understanding of credit risk ratings, loan classification, watchlist management, collateral and portfolio monitoring.

- Ability to distinguish material portfolio or control issues from individual transaction exceptions.

Risk insight and analytical leadership

- Ability to identify emerging risks, early-warning indicators, concentrations and portfolio vulnerabilities.

- Strong investigative and problem-solving skills, supported by disciplined analysis and evidence.

- Ability to connect findings across accounts, businesses, products and geographies to identify broader risk themes.

Executive communication and influence

- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex credit issues clearly and concisely.

- Ability to present credible conclusions and recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance committees.

- Confidence to provide independent challenge while sustaining constructive working relationships.

Leadership and execution

- Ability to lead complex reviews across multiple portfolios and markets.

- Strong planning and prioritisation skills, with the capacity to manage concurrent reviews and competing demands.

- High standards of professional integrity, sound judgement, objectivity and attention to detail.

Additional Requirements

Develop (Competency), Engage (Competency), Execute (Competency), Strategise (Competency)
Be a Part of the UOB Family

UOB is an equal opportunity employer. UOB does not discriminate on the basis of a candidate's age, race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or other non-merit factors. All employment decisions at UOB are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications. If you require any assistance or accommodations to be made for the recruitment process, please inform us when you submit your online application.

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