Senior Relationship Manager; Commercial Lending

Up to £80,000 plus EXCELLENT bonus and benefits

West of England. Hybrid working: 3 days a week in the office, 2 days working from home

A key opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Relationship Manager (Commercial Lending) to join an FCA-regulated commercial finance advisory firm, based in the West of England. The firm arranges commercial finance for UK businesses and private clients on larger, more complex transactions. You will lead the commercial transaction portfolio, managing deals from first assessment through to completion and acting as the main contact for clients, their professional advisers and the lender network.

The role reports to the Head of Finance and involves some travel within the UK to meet clients, lenders and professionals.

Duties of the Senior Relationship Manager (Commercial Lending) to include:

• Manage transactions end to end, ensuring the best outcomes for clients so that they refer new business to the firm.
• Assess deal structure, complexity, risk, pricing and fee structure at the outset.
• Prepare and present high-quality credit applications to lenders, supported by full information, accurate modelling and analysis of client financials.
• Present lender offers to clients with clear advice and recommendations.
• Build strong relationships with clients and professional advisers, making regular and purposeful contact to keep clients' interests first.
• Identify and escalation risks and issues promptly.
• Record and monitor weekly progress on commercial transactions, highlighting any that are at risk or behind schedule.
• Lead regular commercial team and credit committee meetings, challenging the deal team on transaction management, pace and risk, and reviewing colleagues' work.
• Propose and carry out improvements to commercial processes.
• Work closely with the Head of BD to maintain a pipeline of viable business that fits the firm's credit risk appetite.
• Develop trusted, two-way relationships with introducing professionals to build a sustainable pipeline of referrals and revenue.
• Lead relationships with the firm's approved lenders, assess potential new lenders, and keep the team informed on market conditions and where best to place business.
• Represent the firm at meetings and presentations with prospective clients and professional firms.
• Record client data accurately in the CRM and other systems, complete FCA compliance tasks and follow company policy, including regulatory CPD.

Requirements for the successful Senior Relationship Manager (Commercial Lending) to include:

• At least 5 years' bank credit experience, gained at a bank or finance intermediary.
• Strong ability to interpret accounts and assess financial data rigorously, with a high standard of mental maths.
• Experience preparing accurate financial models and clear, concise credit reports.
• Confident Excel user who can work quickly and accurately, with experience of CRM systems.
• Experience of working in a regulated or controlled environment where compliance and a robust audit trail are essential.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence across the organisation and deal effectively with clients and third-party professionals.
• A proactive team player who is professional, approachable and flexible, with strong independent problem-solving skills and close attention to detail.
• A quantitative or banking qualification, or relevant work experience (e.g. CCAB-qualified accountant, AAT or ACIB).
• GCSE Maths and English at Grade
  
  A.
• Knowledge of rural estates, agricultural businesses and the different farming sectors is desirable.
• Experience of using AI tools to improve quality, efficiency and speed of delivery is desirable.