Credit Specialist – Underwriting Services

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HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with operations in 62 countries and territories. We aim to be where the growth is, enabling businesses to thrive and economies to prosper, and, ultimately, helping people to fulfil their hopes and realise their ambitions.

We are currently seeking an experienced professional to join our team in the role of Credit Specialist – Underwriting Services

Principal Responsibilities:

• To contribute to the credit approval and verification process for mortgage and unsecured lending.
• To contribute to the profitability of the HSBC Group and minimize losses.
•  90% - By providing fast, concise, well-reasoned approvals / recommendations 

Typical Targets and Measures

• Ensuring that when reviewing proposals, they meet the HSBC Group’s risk appetite, the risk is minimized, and returns maximized. > Receive or make calls from or to customers (internal & external).
• By providing constructive feedback to the branch network/direct sales channels on the quality of lending applications to ensure that the error rate is minimized.
• Use Call model effectively and work within UWS CC Framework

Customers / Stakeholders

• To continually consider the FCA’s principle of ‘Treating Customers Fairly’ (TCF).
• To contribute to the profitability of the HSBC Group and minimize losses
• 10% - By considering fairness in all aspects of strategy, product design & delivery, sales processes, customer literature & correspondence, financial promotions, administration & complaint handling.

Typical Targets and Measures

• Ensuring that when reviewing proposals, they meet the HSBC Group’s risk appetite, the risk is minimized, and returns maximized
• Provide service to customers by focusing on resolving requests efficiently, accurately, and professionally.
• Delight internal and external customers.

Leadership & Teamwork

• To act with courageous integrity 
• Adhere to HSBC Values and Business Principles and Behaviors.
• Establish and maintain a culture under which all staff are able to develop their skills and experience.
• By being dependable and do the right thing.  Open to different ideas and cultures.  Connected to customers, communities, regulators, and each other.

Typical Targets and Measures

• Communicates openly, honestly, and transparently. Encourage openness in others.  Listen carefully to others whilst showing empathy.
• Is inclusive of all backgrounds and perspectives.  Treats others fairly and with respect.  Takes time and effort to develop self and others; learns from mistakes and actively collaborates with other teams to deliver what is right for our customers.

Process

• Ensuring adherence to the PLA Metrics
• Ensuring adherence to the Bank’s credit policies & guidelines
• Achieve and exceed relevant process targets in line with business objectives
• Acquire and update knowledge on the process, procedures, and products on an ongoing basis
• Exhibit ownership of the business
• Produce MI as required

Typical Targets and Measures

• Instructions/requests to be correctly interpreted, understood, and implemented.
• Ensure that the process related procedures are implemented as per the process manuals.
• All data requirements (timesheets, leave requests, absence requests and ad-hoc process information) are completed and updated in a timely manner.
• To maintain HSBC internal and   
• external control standards, including the timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators.
• Ensure that fraud/errors/irregular transactions (if any) are identified and escalated.
• Proactively identify issues, if any, and escalate.

People

• Self-learning & development
• Sharing knowledge with the team members       

Typical Targets and Measures

• Support achievement of team objectives
• Contribute to the creation of a supportive work environment driven by people centric values
• Work well independently; complete assigned tasks in the established timeframe as per the process benchmarks.

Operational Effectiveness & Control

• To continually reassess the operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology.
• In conjunction with Compliance department, to implement the Group Compliance Policy by containing compliance risk in conjunction with the relevant compliance department.   The term ‘compliance’ embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply.
• To adhere to and be to demonstrate adherence to internal controls.

Typical Targets and Measures

• By ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring.
• By addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with line management and/or the appropriate department.
• By adhering to all relevant processes/ procedures and by liaising with Compliance department about new business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Adherence to relevant procedures.

Major Challenges

• To support the implementation of the Group’s Strategic Imperatives and enhance shareholder value at a time of considerable change and an environment which is subject to many external influences.  As such the jobholder needs to demonstrate clear understanding of the changing business environment, requiring creativity, initiative, planning and co-ordination of others across Credit Risk Services and other operational areas.  A responsive approach to both regulatory and legal initiatives outside the jobholder’s control and an awareness of the business environments supported.
• A positive, optimistic and “right first time” approach when dealing with colleagues at all levels within Credit Risk Services. The recognition of on-going change in both the service proposition and the tools used to deliver the service, necessitating analysis and effective support in implementation of new processes and procedures. Ensure quality and productivity standards are maintained.
• Ability to learn and implement the process updates or changes quickly and accurately.
• Ability to understand and interpret numeric data.
• Ability to multitask.

Role Context 

• The role is to foster and encourage a sound common underwriting culture and to avoid undue risk concentrations, with the aim of ensuring a sustainable high quality lending portfolio. In carrying out these duties, the jobholder must be fully aware of the need to meet customer requirements and the overall effect of the marketplace on the credit process. At all times, credit standards as issued by Credit & Risk must be adhered to.
• In fulfilling these objectives, there is a need to provide direction and guidance to the branch network/direct sales channels.
• In summary, the prime objective is to ensure that an appropriate balance is achieved between maximizing income, maintaining a well-balanced book as to risk, ensuring credit standards are observed and at the same time being fully responsive to the needs of the customers and the marketplace. 

Management of Risk 

• The jobholder will ensure the fair treatment of our customers is at the heart of everything we do, both personally and as an organisation. This will be achieved by consistently displaying the behaviours required to support the Best Place to Bank principles of Make Better Products, Sell Them Properly and Keep Them Sold.
• The jobholder will also continually reassess the operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology. 
• This will be achieved by ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring.
• Also, by addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with line management and/or the appropriate department.

Observation of Internal Controls 

• The jobholder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.
• The jobholder will implement the Group compliance policy by containing compliance risk in liaison with Global Head of Compliance, Global Compliance Officer, Area Compliance Officer, or Local Compliance Officer. The term ‘compliance’ embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules, and codes with which the business has to comply. 
• This will be achieved by adhering to all relevant processes/procedures and by liaising with Compliance department about new business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Also, and when applicable, by ensuring adequate resources are in place and training is provided, fostering a compliance culture and optimising relations with regulators.
• To maintain HSBC internal control standards, including the timely implementation of internal and external audit points together   with any issues raised by external regulators (see HR FIM section 3.7 and GCL 050044 on Sarbanes-Oxley and Internal controls)*