Role Overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist SME focused direct lending fund at a pivotal stage in its growth that delivers impact by facilitating innovation and regional growth.
This is an investee facing role working with the founders and CEOs of ambitious businesses. The role focuses on post-investment portfolio management, credit risk oversight, value creation support, with exposure to underwriting new investments. The successful candidate will play a key role in protecting capital, optimizing fund returns and ensuring compliance with fund, investor and regulatory requirements. You will work closely with an experienced senior leadership team and have the opportunity to play a part in driving continuous improvement across the business.
We are looking for someone with energy that thrives in a dynamic environment, is intellectually curious, has strong critical thinking skills and wants to build deep expertise in private credit and SME finance. A willingness to continuously learn and develop professionally is essential. We expect individuals to be solutions focused and take ownership, with support, in an environment where challenges and complexity are treated as opportunities to learn rather than obstacles to avoid.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Credit Management
- End-to-end management of a portfolio of SME loan investments.
- Ongoing monitoring of financial and non-financial performance of portfolio companies, including review of management information, covenant compliance, cashflow trends and key credit metrics
- Identification of early warning signs and proactive management of underperforming or higher-risk credits.
- Preparation of internal risk ratings, impairment assessments and input into fund valuations.
- Management of arrears, restructurings and recoveries, including coordination with legal advisers where enforcement action is required.
- Assist with the assessment of new portfolio investment opportunities including financial analysis and due diligence.
Relationship Management
- Build trusted professional relationships with borrowers that support both performance monitoring and value creation, acting as the primary point of contact for portfolio companies post-investment, typically at owner-manager, CEO or CFO level.
- Identify opportunities to support portfolio companies in areas such as financial management, growth planning and leveraging your existing network to deliver results.
- Evaluate and make recommendations regarding follow-on funding and amendments to facilities.
- Represent the fund in a professional manner at meetings, site visits and external events to support business development.
- Co-ordinate with advisers and intermediaries including accountants, corporate finance boutiques and lawyers in connection with portfolio matters.
Reporting & Governance
- Contribute to internal initiatives to improve portfolio analytics and develop useful insight / trend analysis that can be used across the wider business.
- Produce clear and timely portfolio reporting for internal stakeholders, investment committees and Limited Partners
- Maintain complete and accurate records, ensuring a robust audit trail across all investments.
- Adhere to internal policies, regulatory obligations and compliance procedures.
Internal Collaboration
- Work closely with colleagues across investment, finance, marketing, compliance and operations.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of portfolio management processes and controls.
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- Graduate level education, preferably in finance, accounting or analytical discipline.
- Strong credit analysis / analytical skills, with ability to understand and interpret financial statements and business models.
- High proficiency in Excel and ability to build / develop financial models
- Proactive communicator with excellent report writing and verbal communication skills. Confident engaging with senior management teams with clarity and professionalism; a relationship builder. Can convey complex information accurately and succinctly
- High level of organization and ability to prioritise effectively in a busy environment.
- Ability to conduct effective market research to supplement understanding of portfolio information, identify trends, produce high quality data analysis with close attention to detail.
Desirable
- Comfortable using Microsoft Copilot / Artificial Intelligence to drive performance and process improvement.
Knowledge of Microsoft Power BI and developing data insights / summaries.
- Relevant experience in SME lending, private credit, commercial banking, investment management or audit / financial due diligence.
- Proven track record of managing a portfolio of business borrowers or debt investments.
- Experience of working with legal documentation relating to debt investments and acquisitions including Facility Agreements, security documentation, inter-creditor documents and SPA’s.
- Familiarity with UK regulatory and compliance requirements (including AML, KYC and data protection).
- Professional qualifications such as ACA, ACCA, CFA, IMC or Chartered Banker status or working towards one.
- Existing network within the UK SME or professional advisory market.
Personal Attributes
- Curiosity – a genuine interest in business models, sectors, and factors that drive financial performance of investees.
- Resilience & Adaptability – comfortable operating in a small team where priorities are dynamic and processes continue to be built and refined. Calm under pressure.
- Critical Thinking – able to research and make recommendations in new areas with an ability to cut through a high volume of information to provide a succinct conclusion and evidence led view.
- Growth Mindset and Solutions Focused – we are looking for individuals who take ownership of their professional development with support, seek out opportunities to learn and have an instinct to ask “what can I do to move this forward?” rather than waiting to be directed.
- Team Player – collaborative and willingness to support colleagues across all areas of the business.
- High ethical standards and strong sense of accountability.
Location & Working Pattern
- North East based role with regional travel as required. A full valid UK Driving license is necessary.
- Office based role with hybrid working supported, subject to business needs.
Equal Opportunities
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
This role profile is intended as a guide and may be amended to reflect business needs.
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