Senior Risk Manager

About the role,

As Senior Manager Risk, you will lead the development and implementation of the companys risk management strategy across credit, operational, and regulatory domains. This role demands a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and a deep understanding of the NBFC sector and regulatory landscape in India. The ideal candidate will be an experienced risk management leader, capable of managing and mitigating risks in alignment with our growth objectives, regulatory requirements and growing shareholder values.

Key Responsibilities

Risk Strategy & Framework Development

• Evolve and implement a comprehensive risk management framework that aligns with business goals, regulatory requirements, and market conditions.
• Oversee risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies across all major risk types, including credit, market, operational, and compliance risks.
• Ensure policies and frameworks are kept updated to identify, assess, monitor, measure and control a broad spectrum of risks.
• Monitor emerging credit risks (e.g., credit fraud, economic downturns) and recommend proactive measures.

Credit Risk Management

• Manage risk for the retail and wholesale portfolio. Should have managed organization level credit risk policies and procedures, including underwriting standards, risk appetite frameworks, credit scoring models and collections processes.
• Work with the credit team to develop robust risk assessment tools, especially for lending products offered to diverse customer segments in India.
• Strong and deep understanding of the business. Evaluate business practices from a risk lens, including helping report to the Board and Board Committees and providing leadership in the effectiveness of across the organization.
• Ensure effective and continuous portfolio monitoring, stress testing, and forecasting to identify and manage potential default risks.

Operational and Regulatory Compliance for credit

• Ensure compliance with regulatory reporting guidelines issued by RBI and other authorities. Ensure timely regulatory reporting, organized audits, and lead initiatives to improve compliance culture across the organization.
• Ensure that credit risk management controls, systems, and processes are working like clockwork.

Data-Driven Risk Management

• Leverage data analytics, AI, and machine learning tools to enhance data insights for risk control, provide inputs to improve risk modeling, fraud detection, and early- warning systems.
• Implement advanced data-driven strategies for more accurate risk assessment and mitigation. o Work closely with business partners and stakeholders to recommend approaches that will improve our ability to address emerging business issues and trends.
• Work with Data Science and Product teams to develop new capabilities based on risk requirements needed by partners.

Risk Reporting & Stakeholder Communication

• Prepare and present regular risk reports to senior management and the board, providing insights into portfolio performance, emerging risks, and key risk indicators.
• Foster a risk-aware culture across the organization through training and risk management education for employees and other stakeholders.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a high-performing risk management team, encouraging a proactive and analytical approach to risk analysts.
• Engage with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of risk strategies with business and operational goals.

Skills and requirements

• Masters degree in finance, economics, risk management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 to 10 years of experience in risk management, ideally in the NBFC, banking, or financial services sector, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Experience in both wholesale and retail lending would be preferred. Some experience in a business role within the banking and NBFC space will be an added advantage.
• Strong knowledge of credit risk, market risk, and operational risk in the context of an NBFC; familiarity with RBI regulations.
• Sector understanding in financial institutions and strong ability to interpret financial trends.
• Proficiency in risk management and data analytics tools, ideally including Python and SQL.
• Advanced analytical skills, with experience in quantitative risk modeling, portfolio analysis, and forecasting.
• Should have held a position of authority in terms of allocation and appropriating limits.
• Demonstrated resilience strong runs with companies and experience taking businesses to scale.
• Ability to work hard in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• NBFC experience prefer.
• Location Chennai.

Key attributes

• Strategic thinker with a proactive and solutions-oriented approach to risk management.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex risk insights to senior executives and drive decisions.
• Self-starter who takes personal ownership. Ability to drive projects with minimal guidance.
• High integrity and a commitment to ethical practices and regulatory compliance.
• High learnability and an open attitude. Seeks out knowledge, ideas and feedback.