Credit Risk Quality Assurance Analyst

Company Description

Natixis in Portugal is fully integrated in the global organization of Natixis, a French multinational financial services firm specialized in Asset & Wealth Management, Corporate & Investment Banking, Insurance and Payments. A subsidiary of Groupe BPCE, Natixis counts nearly 16.000 employees across 38 countries.

Based in Porto, Natixis Centre of Expertise mission is to transform traditional banking by developing innovative solutions for the bank’s business, operations and work culture worldwide, as a key driver of the company’s culture of agility and innovation. Teams of IT and Banking Support Activities work in an integrated, inclusive and transversal way, supporting all the business lines and country platforms.

Natixis in Portugal is the best combination of a “start-up mindset” with a large, solid structure. Its unique culture gives true meaning to a “beyond banking” personality: to be a real entrepreneur, self-challenging, ever striving to excel and go that extra mile.

Job Description

The Credit Risk Quality Assurance (“QA”) Analyst is part of the Credit Risk Monitoring team under Credit Risk Department management for the Americas. For day-to-day activities, the QA analyst works directly under the guidance of the “Surveillance” stream.

The QA team serves as a key control. Its purpose is to assess compliance with Natixis CIB Americas Credit Policy and Procedures and relevant regulatory guidelines through the review of the Credit Request Package of a sample of credit applications.

The QA process identifies deficiencies and discrepancies in sample files and enables continuous improvement via feedback provided to the first and second lines of defense.

The QA Analyst reviews specific aspects of credit application package: Front Office memo, Credit Analyst’s Risk Opinion, and the online credit application itself, to ensure that key data sections are populated, complete and accurate.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Acting as a risk and controls expert/liaison in a critical role on the QA Team
• Supporting the QA manager by enhancing risk assessment abilities and driving timely completion of QA reviews in accordance with local and global policies and procedures
• Assisting with sample selection methodologies (tiering), performing data analysis to identify inconsistencies and/or inaccuracies in documentation submitted.
• Assessing justification relevance within front office memos and risk opinions supporting probability of default ratings, regulatory ratings, and sources of repayment, all of them being indicator counterparty’s credit quality
• Validating collateral coverage calculations against internal base case and stress case scenarios, testing accuracy and substantiality of assumptions used.
• Building relationships with the credit analysts and business analysts to ensure that meaningful and value-added reviews and recommendations are being made, post QA.
• Communicating and escalating observations, drafting recommendations, and tracking progress of remediation plans with stakeholders.
• Participating in special projects as assigned, related to risk assessment, and enhancing assessment process.
• Contributing to the QA team's effort to confirm the effectiveness of action plans or controls implemented to address risk attributes identified through ongoing validation process.
• Keeping up with current best practices regarding credit risk management/internal auditing and participating in ongoing training to enhance his/her skill set.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from finance/accounting/risk management related major (required)
• Fresh out of university or no experience require
• Fluent Level of English (mandatory)
• CFA, FRM, or CPA (certificate holder or candidate) (a plus)
• Technical skills
  • Knowledge (some) of different credit products
  • Skills in risk assessment and data analytics (required), Financial statement analysis, Credit Risk Management knowledge, Enterprise/collateral valuation
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office: Excel (level 3), and PowerPoint (both required). PowerBI (a plus).
• Soft skills:
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills (required)
• Ability to solve problems, and to adapt to changing priorities

We will only consider English Cv's!

Additional Information

At Natixis, we are committed to fostering a working environment where each and every one of our people is treated with dignity and respect and where every voice is heard. Our differences make us collectively stronger and are a source of fulfilment, innovation and performance.

In the framework of its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policy, Natixis in Portugal has implemented a Blind CV Screening process, with the purpose of reducing hiring bias. A blind CV excludes any personal details which refer to the applicant’s gender, age or ethnicity. When applying for our positions, please submit a blind CV, that is, with no picture, name, gender, age, nationality, ethnicity and address. Your personal statement, work experience, courses and certifications, education, skills and contact information is what matters to us.

#MuchMoreThanJustAJob

Early morning. Campo 24 de Agosto. In 4 minutes, you are clocking in at the office. Start your day having breakfast with the Team and grab fresh fruit on the way to your seat, in one of Porto’s most typical neighborhoods. This Purple Day is going to be a busy one: daily meeting ensuring all team members are on the same page regarding work status, priorities and blockers, language class and, just after, a Talent Management meeting with your manager, discussing your career path. 

Lunch break. Today, your Team is onboarding newcomers, but also welcoming French colleagues: the perfect excuse to walk downtown and bond over a francesinha. When returning, inhale nature and peace of mind in Natixis Urban Garden (look at the crops; ready to harvest!). 

Back inside. Brainstorming session on a new, exciting project in our disruptive and immersive Manaus Village. The afternoon went flying (tasks, meetings, some jokes with your teammates). End it on a high note: celebrating cultural diversity with a Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. 

Tomorrow, you attend a conference led by influential speakers in your industry and, the day after, you will work from home, benefitting from some focus time to complete that report and soft skills course on LinkedIn Learning. Once you are done with your work for the day, strike the right note playing with Natixis band or be part of a board games session. If that is too steady for you, meet your colleagues to catch some waves or sail the Douro river during golden hour.