Description:

Credit Manager - SME Credit Approval

Experience: 5+ Years Preferred

Location: Western Region (Mumbai/Pune/Ahmedabad)

Industry: Banking

Qualification: PG / Masters Degree (MBA Finance, CA, or related)

Role Summary

We are seeking a diligent and self-motivated Credit Manager to join our SME Credit Approval team. This individual contributor role is focused on the critical assessment and approval of credit proposals within the Western regional portfolio. You will be responsible for navigating the end-to-end credit lifecyclefrom initial financial appraisal and risk identification to final recommendation and portfolio monitoring. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in Credit Analysis (CAM preparation), a thorough understanding of RBI regulatory norms, and the leadership capability to build strong working relationships with promoters and branch stakeholders to drive SME credit growth while maintaining a high-quality portfolio.

Technical Responsibilities

- Credit Proposal Assessment: Conduct exhaustive reviews of credit proposals from the SME segment, ensuring alignment with the banks risk appetite and internal credit policies.

- Complex Financial Analysis: Perform in-depth analysis of financial statements, cash flows, and repayment capacities to prepare comprehensive Credit Appraisal Memos (CAM).

- Risk Identification & Mitigation: Systematically identify information gaps and highlight key credit, industry, and company-specific risks, providing clear, data-driven recommendations for approval or rejection.

- Promoter & Client Interaction: Engage directly with promoters and business owners to understand business models, verify operational details, and assess the quality of management.

- Portfolio Health Monitoring: Proactively track the performance of the SME portfolio, monitoring Early Warning Signals (EWS) and identifying stressed accounts before they deteriorate.

- Delinquency & Overdue Management: Oversee delinquency levels within the assigned region and ensure timely follow-ups for the regularisation of overdue accounts to minimize NPA migration.

- Compliance & Regulatory Adherence: Ensure every credit decision strictly adheres to RBI norms, internal prudential limits, and statutory guidelines for SME lending.

- TAT Management: Adhere to benchmark Turnaround Time (TAT) for the evaluation and approval process, ensuring business agility without compromising on credit quality.

- SME Strategy Implementation: Support senior Credit Approvers in executing the SME credit strategy and maintaining robust credit controls across various branches in the Western region.

- Industry & Market Research: Evaluate sector-specific risks and macroeconomic trends to assess the viability of proposals in the context of the current market environment.

Required Technical Skills

- Credit Analysis Mastery: Expert knowledge of ratio analysis, fund flow/cash flow statements, and working capital cycle assessment.

- SME Product Knowledge: Deep understanding of SME banking products, including CC/OD limits, Term Loans, Letter of Credit (LC), and Bank Guarantees (BG).

- Regulatory Expertise: Strong command over RBI guidelines related to MSME lending, Priority Sector Lending (PSL), and income recognition norms.

- Risk Management: Proficiency in using credit scoring models and internal risk rating tools.

- Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience with core banking systems and advanced Excel for financial modeling.

Key Competencies

- Self-Motivation: Ability to work as an individual contributor and manage high-volume credit flows independently.

- Relationship Building: Skilled at maintaining a collaborative yet objective relationship between the credit and sales/branch teams.

- Analytical Thinking: Sharp attention to detail with the ability to "read between the lines" of financial disclosures.

- Communication: Clear and concise articulation of risk issues to senior credit committees and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

- Certifications: Certified Credit Professional (IIBF) or similar certifications are a significant advantage.

- Geographical Knowledge: Prior experience managing SME portfolios specifically within the Western India market.

- Complex Restructuring: Experience in assessing restructured SME cases or those requiring special credit dispensations.