Financial Sponsors - Associate Director

Shawbrook provides finance to a wide range of customer segments that value the premium experience, flexibility and certainly we deliver.  We are a purpose-led organisation, with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

We have a diversified offering, with our innovative lending propositions tailored to meet specific customer needs in carefully selected markets across SME, Real Estate and Personal. Our products range from complex structured credit facilities for growth-focused businesses to mortgages for professional landlords and property investors, as well as simple loans for consumers delivered digitally.  We fuel our lending through customer deposits, which we attract by delivering a premium experience, choice and consistently great value to smart savers.

The business model we have created is unique and difficult to replicate, with our ‘best of both’ approach combining deep human expertise with advanced digital, tech and data capabilities.  This combination not only allows us to deliver excellent customer experiences, but to do so efficiently and at scale.  We are proud of our innovative and agile culture, which drives consistently high employee engagement scores and makes Shawbrook an attractive destination for the best talent. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, contribute new ideas and believe anything is possible, you’re our kind of person.

Work with us because you:

• Want to be part of a bank built for the dynamics of the modern world
• Relish a challenge and enjoy a fast-paced, innovative and hardworking culture
• Enjoy finding new and better ways to solve complexity and make things happen
• Want to belong to a diverse culture that stands shoulder to shoulder with minority and underrepresented groups
• Care about society and the environment and want to be part of a business that cares too
• Want to continue to grow professionally and be the best version of yourself

The Associate Director will contribute to developing, building and managing Shawbrook’s Financial Sponsors (‘FS’) lending activity, leading the structuring and execution of leveraged finance transactions in support of targeted levels of profitability, return on capital and origination. The role holder will propose, negotiate and execute Leveraged Finance facilities to support the acquisition and growth of UK SME companies by Private Equity firms and investors, while maintaining a high level of credit quality and operating to high standards of risk management, including operational, reputational and credit risk. The role will also involve actively managing client and intermediary relationships, originating new business, and mentoring more junior members of the team – reflecting Shawbrook’s purpose of combining deep sector expertise with the best banking brains to build a bank for the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing, building and managing Shawbrook’s Financial Sponsors (‘FS’) lending activity, achieving targeted levels of profitability, return on capital and origination
• Lead the structuring and execution of leveraged finance transactions
• Achieve a high level of credit quality and operate to high standards of risk management generally, including operational and reputational as well as credit risk
• Propose, negotiate and execute Leveraged Finance facilities to support the acquisition and growth of UK SME companies by Private Equity firms and investors; analyse the business and financial performance of prospective customers, ensure debt structures are appropriate to meet their needs, and identify, minimise and mitigate risks
• Take responsibility for the end-to-end credit process, including due diligence review, financial modelling, writing of credit papers, presentation to Credit, client negotiation and completion of legal documentation
• Actively manage ongoing relationships with a variety of clients (sponsors, investors) and intermediaries; originate business in the leveraged finance market, including participation in client and intermediary meetings, preparation of pitches, and attendance at market events and conferences
• Lead and support transactions, mentoring more junior staff, and relate effectively to other parts of the Shawbrook group that play their part in the Financial Sponsors output, i.e. Operations, Credit, HR, Finance and Corporate Banking
• Report all issues of regulatory concern to the Operations Director / Bank Legal & Compliance Director, communicate and escalate potential issues/risks in a prompt and effective manner, and provide support in managing the overall compliance and risk management framework of SF

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in leveraged finance and/or growth capital lending, with experience in structuring and executing transactions and risk management. Compliance and governance experience, and some prior mentoring/line management experience, would be considered a positive.
• Strong analytical skills, including advanced knowledge of Excel and the ability to manage and handle complex issues; experience with financial models and a good understanding of financial statements is beneficial.
• In-depth knowledge of leveraged finance and/or growth capital structures, including negotiation of legal documentation, and a thorough comprehension of credit risk management, credit administration, loan production and servicing.
• Industry knowledge of the general finance market is desirable but not essential, including a good understanding of lending practices, structures, risk mitigation, covenant requirements, pricing and competition.
• Excellent customer service, presentation and negotiation skills, with strong influencing skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all levels of management, regulators and committees.
• Good commercial and financial acumen, with capability in strategic thinking, executive-level reporting and effective business planning, and the ability to build an industry network and develop strong relationships across all business areas.
• Compliant with all regulatory requirements, remaining in good standing with regulatory agencies.

Key attributes

• Confident, ambitious and results-orientated, holding self-accountable, with good team-working skills and the ability to interact within a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to quickly build rapport, engage employees and gain the support of peers.
• High levels of drive, energy and personal commitment to success, with sound business judgement and the ability to package and present ideas in a persuasive manner.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects, and to support the development of a strong, balanced and effective team by conveying clear goals and expectations.
• Able to commute reliably to the office base and accommodate home working as required, and able to work extended hours on occasions when required.

Your Wellbeing - We take your health and well-being very seriously by providing a range of benefits to give you and your family peace of mind. These include:

• Market leading family friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment
• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness & meditation digital health app
• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment becoming a parent or menopause
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Offering you support on a wide range of subjects including financial concerns, mental wellbeing and more general queries around family, work, housing, and health
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on gym membership
• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - It’s important you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. We provide benefits to support you when at work and when you’re enjoying your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year
• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme
• Discounts on gym membership nationwide
• Access to discounts on a range of high street and online brands
• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We’re focused on rewarding those that go the extra mile in helping us achieve our goals.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contribution to our success
• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognising our role models and thanking our colleagues for a job well done