Credit Saison - Senior Manager/Assistant Vice President - Wholesale Risk (5-10 yrs)

Job Description: Wholesale Risk (Senior Manager/AVP)

1. About the Company

Credit Saison Co., Ltd. (- ) is a leading Japanese financial services company, founded in 1951 and headquartered in Tokyo. As the 3rd largest credit card issuer in Japan, Credit Saison boasts over 35 million cardholders. The company operates across five main segments:

Payments (B2C): Offering a variety of payment services, including credit and prepaid cards, and smartphone-based payments.

Payments (B2B): Providing credit cards and other payment services to businesses, enhancing cash flow and back-office efficiency.

Finance: Offering financial products for home purchases, rentals, and leases.

Global Business: Delivering digitalized and localized financial services to underserved communities in Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America.

Asset Management: Providing asset management services tailored to business operators' capital investment plans.

Saison International serves as the international headquarters and global business arm of Credit Saison and plays a key role in connecting its subsidiaries. Established in 2014, Saison International operates in Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America, partnering with local non-bank financial institutions and FinTech companies to manage a lending business for individuals and MSMEs. This includes

Onshore subsidiaries engaged in wholesale lending in Brazil and Mexico

An offshore wholesale lending business based out of Singapore (Saison Investment Management Pte Ltd)

A non bank finance company in India engaged in both retail and wholesale lending.

Associates enagaged in retail and wholesale lending in south east Asian countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam.

In addition to its lending business, Saison International also engages in Investment activities, including venture capital.

Saison International has been the key driver of growth for Credit Saison, notably establishing a US$ 2bn lending business in India in the last 5 years. Saison International forms the core of the group's future growth strategy.

Saison Investment Management Pte. Ltd. is one of the subsidiaries of Saison International, focusing on offshore lending and impact investing. This subsidiary plays a crucial role in expanding Credit Saison's reach and impact in global markets. It provides offshore lending across Southeast Asia and Central Asia, with plans to expand into Latin America and Middle East.

2. About the Role

This role is in the risk management team of Saison International. The candidate will be based out of Bangalore office, India. The Wholesale Risk (Senior Manager/AVP) will play a crucial role in risk management, with a focus on Saison Investment Management. This position involves a comprehensive approach to risk management, ensuring that all aspects of the deal process are thoroughly evaluated and monitored.

Key responsibilities include:

- End-to-End Deal Involvement: The candidate will be actively involved in the entire deal process, from initial assessment to final approval memo. This includes conducting field visits to lending entities, preparing risk segments of credit assessment memos, and providing ongoing risk inputs.

- Field Visits: As part of the risk assessment process, the Wholesale Risk Manager will conduct site visits along with the deal team for new deals. These visits typically last around three days and involve evaluating the operational and financial conditions of the lending entities. This hands-on approach ensures a thorough understanding of the risks involved.

- Credit Assessment Memos: The candidate will be responsible for preparing the risk segments of credit assessment memos. This involves analyzing financial statements, assessing market conditions, and identifying potential risks. The memos will provide a comprehensive overview of the risk factors associated with each deal.

- Risk Inputs and Monitoring: The Wholesale Risk Manager will provide critical risk inputs throughout the deal process. This includes modelling unit economics, conducting stress tests, calculating expected credit loss, identifying potential risks, suggesting mitigation strategies, and ensuring that all risk factors are adequately addressed. Additionally, the candidate will provide risk inputs to the quarterly monitoring process conducted by the deal team, ensuring that risks are continuously evaluated and managed.

- Geographical Scope: The role involves working on deals across various geographies, primarily focusing on Southeast Asia and Central Asia. There is also potential for expansion of the business to deals in Latin America and the Middle East. This global exposure provides a diverse and dynamic work environment.

- Travel Requirements: The position requires travel for site visits to new deals. These visits are essential for conducting thorough risk assessments and typically last around three days. The candidate should be prepared for travel as part of their responsibilities (~25% in first year, business dependent after that).

- Collaboration and Communication: The Wholesale Risk Manager will work closely with the wholesale lending team, senior management, and other stakeholders. Effective communication and collaboration are essential to ensure that all risk factors are identified / managed appropriately and presented to the credit committee.

- Strategic Risk Management: The candidate will provide strategic insights and recommendations to senior management, helping to shape the overall risk management strategy. This includes staying updated on market trends, regulatory changes, and emerging risks.

- Knowledge sharing and Guidance: The Wholesale Risk Manager will also play a role in guiding and sharing risk expertise across the various subsidiaries of Saison International . This includes sharing best practices, providing training, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in risk management practices.

3. Leadership Accountabilities

- Lead risk assessment and management for wholesale lending deals.

- Collaborate with the wholesale lending team to ensure comprehensive risk evaluation.

- Provide strategic risk insights and recommendations to senior management.

- Oversee the preparation and review of risk segments in credit assessment memos.

- Ensure effective monitoring and reporting of risk factors throughout the deal lifecycle.

- Mentor and guide junior team members in risk assessment practices.

4. Qualifications

- At least 5 years of experience as a risk manager for wholesale lending to financial services entities.

- Experience at lending institutions such as banks or NBFCs (e.g., Northern Arc, Vivriti) or at rating agencies (e.g., Crisil) focusing on financial services firms.

- A business degree or certifications such as CFA or FRM.

- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Willingness to travel for site visits.

5. Why Join Us ?

- Opportunity to join a fast-growing team within a large and stable Japanese company.

- Exposure to global markets and diverse geographies.

- Exposure to all risk types leading to well-rounded risk profile.

- Chance to be part of the journey of building risk framework for a global company.

- Chance to work on impactful projects that promote financial inclusion.

- Collaborative and innovative work environment.

- Competitive compensation and benefits package.