Credit Risk Specialist | Corporate Banking | Contract

Contract Credit Risk Specialist | Corporate Banking (UK Mid-Market) 3 months initially (extension likely to 12 months) | Outside IR35 Hybrid working: 4 days per week office based, 1 day remote | London Gresham street As the Credit Risk Specialist / SME, you will be at the forefront of shaping our corporate banking strategy and credit risk management for our entry into the UK Mid‑Market (Turnover £10m–£250m). You’ll craft the financial and non‑financial risk framework and Industry Appetite to enable sustainable, profitable asset and client growth, while ensuring regulatory alignment & IRB readiness. You’ll translate risk into clear policy and articulate the similarities and differences between UK mid‑market risk and Investec’s existing well established existing risk frameworks and policies in Specialist Finance, Working Capital and Asset‑Backed businesses as we build a new market segment. You’ll bring extensive experience in corporate banking credit risk and portfolio management, with practical risk policy development and governance experience. You’ll define a portfolio management framework by sector, segment, client and asset level; oversee policy amendments, monitoring and restructures; and guide data and risk reporting to support the bank’s risk data maturity. You’ll collaborate with the Head of Credit, risk and compliance teams and product to realise the strategy in a fast‑paced, high‑impact assignment. What will you be doing? Key Deliverables: Review Credit Risk policies, procedures and frameworks Devise and write a formal Gap Analysis of current and launch plan Build a robust plan of required actions for market launch Align business, risk policy and risk stakeholders Build scalable monitoring and control frameworks Contribute as SME to the operating process design Support the COO in standing up teams Strategic Leadership Partner with the Head of Credit to articulate and align the UK Mid-Market credit strategy with Investec’s risk appetite. Communicate key market differences versus current lending practices Articulate the risk plan to corporate banking and risk audiences. Credit Strategy and Decision-making Review policies, procedures and frameworks Amend these to reflect the new market and risks. Operations Management Establish a robust governance and escalation framework; coordinate with product heads to refine credit policies. Contribute as SME to the operating process design Support the COO in writing credit ops processes and standing up new teams in the UK and offshore Build scalable monitoring and control frameworks Collaboration Work with the Head of Credit, Group Credit Managers and desk heads across risk, compliance and operations to build an inclusive corporate banking framework. Align business, risk policy and risk stakeholders What are we looking for? Extensive experience in Corporate/Commercial Banking credit risk management, portfolio management or related fields. Deep experience in risk appetite/framework writing, with clear understanding of impairments (EAD/LGD/IFRS9) and portfolio impact. Proven ability to draft credit policies, oversee approvals, monitoring and restructurings. Strong analytical, problem- sollving and communication skills; capable of gaining senior stakeholder support. UK Mid-Market market knowledge, competitors, drivers; comfortable guiding data-led risk discussions and supporting IRB readiness. Driven individual who is excited about delivering change Clear, concise communicator; thrives on building consensus across stakeholders and working collaboratively. Adaptable and resilient; able to navigate uncertainty and pivot based on impact.