Job Details

Head, SME Lending Risk, Singapore & ASEAN
Job Description
Requisition Number:  58904
Job Location:  Singapore, SGP
Global Grade:  Band 4
Work Type:  Office Working
Employment Type:  Permanent
Posting Start Date:  24/07/2026
Posting End Date:  10/08/2026
Job Description: 

Job Summary

The Role is responsible for the credit risk management of the credit exposure in respect of SME Banking.  Specifically, he/ she will be managing both programme lending and discretionary lending (i.e. double hat as Senior Credit Officer (“SCO”), Medium Enterprises (“ME”) for the respective cluster. This role also will have responsibility for SME portfolio for ASEAN.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy
•    Awareness and understanding of the Group’s business strategy and model appropriate to the role.
•    Inform the development of business plans with the provision of cost and impairment forecasts and a balanced judgment on the external environment.

Business
•    Awareness and understanding of the wider business, economic and market environment in which the Group operates
•    Communicate the strategic intent and collective agenda for the Function.
•    Maintain and develop the Function's risk capabilities, and skills to meet ongoing needs and plans

Processes
•    Supervise all processes where a member of the Function is the identified first line process owner.
•    Ensure effective management of the operational risks within the Function and compliance with applicable internal policies, and external laws and regulations.
•    Continuously improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Function’s risk management processes.

People & Talent
•    Lead through example and build the appropriate culture and values.  Set appropriate tone and expectations from their team and work in collaboration with risk and control partners.
•    Ensure the provision of ongoing training and development of people, and ensure that holders of all critical functions are suitably skilled and qualified for their roles ensuring that they have effective supervision in place to mitigate any risks.
•    Employ, engage and retain high quality people, with succession planning for critical roles
•    Responsibility to review team structure / capacity plans

Risk Management
•    Act as the Credit Risk Type owner under the Group’s Risk Management Framework (including relevant Operational Risk Framework ownership for credit risk). Ensure a full understanding of the risk and control environment in area of responsibility.

Leadership on Discretionary Lending
•    Ensuring that the quality of Business Credit Applications (BCAs) meets Group standards, particularly with regards to the completeness and depth of risk analysis.
•    Approving breaches of Local Portfolio Standards, to the extent permitted by Credit Policy.
•    Formulating and obtaining approval of Portfolio Standards which is supportive (from credit risk perspective) of the business strategy of various segments.
•    Ensuring Risk Committee meets on a regular basis to review credit related issues in compliance with Group Policy governing such matters and actively participating on that Committee.
•    Ensuring timely submission and accuracy of Medium Enterprises credit portfolio data to the Portfolio Quality Review Forum/ Credit Issues Committee/ relevant Risk Committee. These include, but may not be limited to, the following:
o    Risk MI reports
o    All approved exposures in Medium Enterprises (as required by local regulator Reporting)
o    Details of approved portfolio breaches of Group and Local Credit Policy (including details of mitigating circumstances)
o    Country Risk exposure
•    Monitoring compliance with credit policy and Portfolio Standards on a monthly basis at least and reviewing any divergence thereof with the Risk Head/Segment Heads to ensure credit quality targets are achieved.
•    Ensure EAR process is adhered to and lead monthly EAR discussions. Assisting relationship managers in identification and managing up or out of accounts exhibiting signs of deterioration and assist TWC Stressed Asset Management, where appropriate, in managing accounts to maximise recoveries and minimise losses.
•    Ensure compliance to the Operational Risk framework including the effective application of risk toolkit (self-assessments, KRIs, KCSs, etc) and reporting.

•    Initiate portfolio review (with stress test) / portfolio scans, stress tests as required by internal and external factors and review results and assess their implications
•    Uphold the integrity of risk/return decisions, by challenging business to demonstrate that risk origination and control decisions are properly informed and consistent with strategy
•    Direct appropriate response to material events or other risk issues that come to the SCO's attention
•    Exercise risk control responsibility for Credit Risk, Wealth & Retail Banking (“WRB”)
•    Ensure that material risk exposures and related issues are reported to the responsible governance committees and to Group and business-level committees as appropriate
•    Ensure appropriate judgement is applied in the discharge of risk authorities assigned to the jobholder
•    Maintain a good understanding of the requirements of key external stakeholders in respect of risk management and ensure these are well understood internally and reflected in internal procedures
•    Maintain delegated authorities in line with internal policies and ensure that delegations are in line with individual capabilities.
•    Actively participate in key committees through standing membership
•    Ensure first line process owners understand and accept their risk management responsibilities
•    Maintain an open and cooperative relationship in dealings with regulators (if applicable)
•    Co-ordinating local resources to ensure that credit systems are installed in accordance with Group standard. Provide a reference point for collating and passing on to Group Technology and Operations problems and proposed enhancements. Ensure that new users are trained on all credit systems.
•    Increasing working profits through effective management of the loan asset portfolio in order to help develop the franchise in a sustainable way and minimise provisions.
•    Maximizing Economic Revenue through effective management of the risk/reward relationships.
•    Maintaining credit quality and standards of professionalism for the risk function.
•    Ensure effective implementation of Group Policies / Circulars / Procedures.
•    Undertake regular customer visits to better understand the business environment

Leadership on Programme Lending
•    Ensure full compliance with Group Credit Policies and Process Standards. Dispensations or any gaps must be well supported and approved on a timely basis. CADs and CCPMs are renewed on timely basis.
•    Design, maintain and effectively communicate risk control parameters for Business Banking including policies, control standards, risk exposure limits and other control levers in order to maintain the business’s risk profile in line with the Group's risk appetite
•    Assess the credit risk profile of Business Banking and maintain alignment with risk appetite by rebalancing of risks or controls that may be required in response to internal and external factors - initiate, at least annually and with guidance from Group specialists, a stress test and scenario programme, review the results and assess their implications
•    Ensure that effective management response plans are in place to respond to extreme but plausible scenarios
•    Direct appropriate response to material events or other risk issues that come to the role holder’s attention 
•    Ensure appropriate judgement is applied in the discharge of risk authorities assigned to the jobholder, taking account of concentration risk across sectors, geographies and markets where applicable. Assign risk authorities to suitable named individuals in line with their skills and judgement
•    Lead with the support of RRS Hub to
o    Timely report of material risk events, breach of risk triggers, material shift in portfolio shape / threshold, and portfolio performance in RCO deck. Ensure that material risk exposures and related issues are reported to the responsible governance committees
o    Ensure risk identification, measurement and modelling capabilities are objective, consistent and compliant with applicable regulations
•    Work with product team to 
o    Ensure business and product heads understand and accept their credit risk management responsibilities
o    Uphold the integrity of risk/return decisions, by challenging business and control function heads to demonstrate that risk origination and control decisions are properly informed and consistent with strategy and risk appetite
o    Support acquisition and portfolio programmes by effective managing programme risks and profitability
Cooperate with regulators to 

o    Maintain a good understanding of the requirements of key external stakeholders in respect of credit risk management and ensure these are well understood internally and reflected in internal procedures
o    Maintain an open and cooperative relationship in dealings with regulators
o    Obtain assurance regarding the effectiveness of credit controls and compliance with applicable laws & local regulations

Governance
•    Responsible for assessing the effectiveness of the Group’s arrangements to deliver effective governance, oversight and controls in the business and, if necessary, oversee changes in these areas
•    Awareness and understanding of the regulatory framework, in which the Group operates, and the regulatory requirements and expectations relevant to the role.
•    Responsible for delivering ‘effective governance’; capability to challenge fellow executives effectively; and Willingness to work with any local regulators in an open and cooperative manner. 

Regulatory & Business Conduct
•    Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct. 
•    Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across Standard Chartered Bank. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
•    Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

Key stakeholders
Internal
•    Chief Executive (in country)
•    Chief Risk Officer (in country)
•    Business Heads, Country Segment Heads, Senior Bankers, Credit/Marketing group (Country and Group)
•    Head, Regional & Group Risk of SME Lending (in or outside country)
•    Head TWC Stressed Asset Management (Country, Regional and Global)
•    Country Head of SME Banking Risk of other countries
•    Head, Group Audit (in country)
•    CMPS Sales (in country)
•    Head, Legal Affairs, Compliance (in country)
•    Credit Risk Control (in country)
•    GBS Hub – ME Governance (outside country)
•    CIB Credit (in country)

External
•    Executives (including equivalent CRM Units) of other banks
•    Key Corporate and Institutional relationships in country
•    Members of the legal professions
•    Directors/Key contacts in the business community
•    Accountants/Consultants
•    Auditors / Government regulators

Other Responsibilities
•    Embed Here for good and Group’s brand and values in Singapore and ASEAN];
•    Perform other responsibilities assigned under Group, Country, Business or Functional policies and procedures.
•    Multiple functions (double hats)

Our Ideal Candidate

  • 20+ year of experience as Senior Credit Risk leader in SME / Business Banking lending, covering both discretionary lending and portfolio/program lending risk management
  • Proven track record as a Senior Credit Officer (SCO) or equivalent senior credit approver, with strong underwriting judgment and delegated credit authority
  • Relevant credit risk qualifications such as Credit Risk Certification Curriculum (“CRCC”) OR Enhanced Competence Framework – Credit Risk Management (“ECF-CRM”)

Role Specific Technical Competencies

  • Deep expertise in credit risk management, portfolio governance, stress testing, early alert management, policy formulation, and risk appetite oversight.
  • Strong understanding of the Singapore and ASEAN SME lending landscape, including regulatory requirements and market dynamics.
  • Experienced people leader with the ability to build high-performing teams, develop talent, and foster a strong risk culture.
  • Confident stakeholder manager who can effectively challenge business decisions while maintaining strong partnerships with senior executives, regulators, and control functions.
  • Demonstrated ability to balance business growth objectives with prudent risk management, driving sustainable portfolio performance and profitability.
  • Strategic thinker with strong decision-making capability, sound commercial judgment, and the courage to make difficult risk decisions.
  • High degree of integrity, credibility, and influence, with excellent communication and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups. 

About Standard Chartered

We're an international bank, nimble enough to act, big enough for impact. For more than 170 years, we've worked to make a positive difference for our clients, communities, and each other. We question the status quo, love a challenge and enjoy finding new opportunities to grow and do better than before. If you're looking for a career with purpose and you want to work for a bank making a difference, we want to hear from you. You can count on us to celebrate your unique talents and we can't wait to see the talents you can bring us.

Our purpose, to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, together with our brand promise, to be here for good are achieved by how we each live our valued behaviours. When you work with us, you'll see how we value difference and advocate inclusion.

Together we:

  • Do the right thing and are assertive, challenge one another, and live with integrity, while putting the client at the heart of what we do
  • Never settle, continuously striving to improve and innovate, keeping things simple and learning from doing well, and not so well
  • Are better together, we can be ourselves, be inclusive, see more good in others, and work collectively to build for the long term

What we offer

In line with our Fair Pay Charter, we offer a competitive salary and benefits to support your mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.

  • Core bank funding for retirement savings, medical and life insurance, with flexible and voluntary benefits available in some locations.
  • Time-off including annual leave, parental/maternity (20 weeks), sabbatical (12 months maximum) and volunteering leave (3 days), along with minimum global standards for annual and public holiday, which is combined to 30 days minimum.
  • Flexible working options based around home and office locations, with flexible working patterns.
  • Proactive wellbeing support through Unmind, a market-leading digital wellbeing platform, development courses for resilience and other human skills, global Employee Assistance Programme, sick leave, mental health first-aiders and all sorts of self-help toolkits
  • A continuous learning culture to support your growth, with opportunities to reskill and upskill and access to physical, virtual and digital learning.
  • Being part of an inclusive and values driven organisation, one that embraces and celebrates our unique diversity, across our teams, business functions and geographies - everyone feels respected and can realise their full potential.

Recruitment Assessments

Some of our roles use assessments to help us understand how suitable you are for the role you've applied to. If you are invited to take an assessment, this is great news. It means your application has progressed to an important stage of our recruitment process.

Visit our careers website www.sc.com/careers

Information at a Glance