Credit Officer / LATAM Project Finance

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $164,000.00 and $231,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire.

The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.

Job Summary

SMBC is seeking a Credit Officer with strong credit and quantitative skills to analyze the credit risk and various elements of project finance transactions in Latin America.

Coverage includes renewable and conventional power, natural resources, infrastructure and PPP transactions in Latin America.

Knowledge of Public Finance and sports financing is also helpful, but not required.

As part of SMBC’s 2LoD, the Credit Officer’s main responsibility entails the review of credit applications submitted by the front office (1LoD) and to prepare executive summaries for the management of the Credit Department.

Primary Responsibilities / Essential Functions

The responsibilities described here are those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job :

• Analyze various risk elements of project finance transactions in Latin America, and present written executive summaries to the management of the Credit Department.
• Oversee the maintenance of credit quality and provide feedback to business units to ensure consistent and complete credit applications.

Also, provide guidance, as necessary, to business units to ensure compliance with internal standards.

• Monitor and supervise problem loans and present written memorandum / reports to management.
• Manage compliance with internal policies, workflow procedures, regulations, etc.
• Other credit related works / projects as assigned.

Critical Knowledge and Core Competencies / Skills

The knowledge and skills described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job (technical, business acumen, agility, analytical, time management, collaborative) :

• In-depth knowledge of project finance, in addition to corporate finance and accounting, is required.
• Critical thinking and ability to analyze a vast and complex amount of information and quickly render credit decisions.
• Experience in facing the regulators at the exams and knowledge of regulatory ratings is a plus.
• Risk sensitivity and ability to steer decisions through discussions with the business units.
• PC skills including Microsoft Word and Excel skills.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7-10 years relevant work experience in the credit department of a major project finance bank.
• Superior attention to details, ability to quickly individuate and focus on the key risk factors of highly structured transactions and visually present complex concepts with graphs, tables and flow charts.
• Flexibility to work under tight deadlines and in a multitasking environment.

SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office.

SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process.

Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.