Job purpose 

Assist in the management of the Development Bank of Wales portfolio investments. Through proactive monitoring of portfolio debt investments, seek to minimise the risk of financial loss to the Development Bank. 

The post holder will need to build close working relationships internally and with external business introducers and service providers to increase their market knowledge and ability to provide added value to portfolio clients. A comprehensive understanding of the post holder’s portfolio will be maintained through routine monitoring and contact. Where investments have been identified as either being at risk or having significant growth potential make suitable cross references to the most appropriate portfolio team. 

Strong banking technical skills, attention to detail and a proactive hands on approach are also essential prerequisites for this role. 

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Monitor a portfolio of Development Banks loans. 
• Develop an appropriate plan of action with the agreement of the Senior Portfolio Executive and/or Portfolio Manager to ensure detailed portfolio monitoring. 
• Maintain appropriate contact with client businesses to develop an up-to-date understanding of the businesses and its financial position. Such contact to be tailored to suit the needs of each client and may include attendance at board meetings. 
• Produce and maintain relevant, accurate monitoring systems for all client companies’ activities. 
• Monitor and assess relevant information including financial information to prepare necessary reports on performance of portfolio companies. 
• Conduct thorough and robust management, financial and commercial due diligence when considering follow-on investment opportunities and assess the risks associated with the investment
• Make balanced recommendations to the Portfolio Manager/ Portfolio Director or Investment Committee where additional rounds of investment are required. 
• Seek out opportunities to add value to portfolio companies through referrals to intermediaries, business consultants and Business Wales. 
• Develop and enhance Development Banks reputation as a professional investment provider. 
• Ensure that all interactions with internal and external bodies and members are conducted in accordance with the highest standards of customer service to ensure timely feedback to appropriate parties. 
• Consideration and awareness of the FCA Consumer Duty at all times to ensure we deliver good outcomes to our customers by acting in good faith, avoiding foreseeable harm and to enable and support our customers to pursue their financial objectives.
• To ensure our vulnerable customers are treated fairly and that our products and services meet the needs of vulnerable customers in our target market.
• Undertake other duties on an ad hoc basis when required by the company. 

Knowledge, skills, abilities and experience 

Essential   

• Self-motivated with the ability to take a proactive approach and work efficiently without supervision. Comfortable in dealing with time critical client sensitive work. 
• Results focused. 
• Strong team player 
• The ability to prioritise and organise work under pressure and meet targets. Drive and determination to complete work in a qualitative manner. 
• Good communication, influencing and interpersonal skills. Strong problem solving skills. 
• An understanding of company law and board procedures. 
• Ability to assess investment proposals and construct balanced investment proposals. 
• Experience of working in a relationship management role within a bank or similar financial environment and in particular experience of analysing financial information to a high level. 
• IT/PC literate with ability to use Microsoft Office packages. 
• Relevant professional qualification or relevant industry experience in banking or accountancy. 
• Driving licence. 

Desirable   

• An awareness of business issues in Wales 
• A flexible approach to working hours 
• Presentation skills 
• Welsh speaker 

Job purpose 

Assist in the management of the Development Bank of Wales portfolio investments. Through proactive monitoring of portfolio debt investments, seek to minimise the risk of financial loss to the Development Bank. 

The post holder will need to build close working relationships internally and with external business introducers and service providers to increase their market knowledge and ability to provide added value to portfolio clients. A comprehensive understanding of the post holder’s portfolio will be maintained through routine monitoring and contact. Where investments have been identified as either being at risk or having significant growth potential make suitable cross references to the most appropriate portfolio team. 

Strong banking technical skills, attention to detail and a proactive hands on approach are also essential prerequisites for this role. 

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Monitor a portfolio of Development Banks loans. 
• Develop an appropriate plan of action with the agreement of the Senior Portfolio Executive and/or Portfolio Manager to ensure detailed portfolio monitoring. 
• Maintain appropriate contact with client businesses to develop an up-to-date understanding of the businesses and its financial position. Such contact to be tailored to suit the needs of each client and may include attendance at board meetings. 
• Produce and maintain relevant, accurate monitoring systems for all client companies’ activities. 
• Monitor and assess relevant information including financial information to prepare necessary reports on performance of portfolio companies. 
• Conduct thorough and robust management, financial and commercial due diligence when considering follow-on investment opportunities and assess the risks associated with the investment
• Make balanced recommendations to the Portfolio Manager/ Portfolio Director or Investment Committee where additional rounds of investment are required. 
• Seek out opportunities to add value to portfolio companies through referrals to intermediaries, business consultants and Business Wales. 
• Develop and enhance Development Banks reputation as a professional investment provider. 
• Ensure that all interactions with internal and external bodies and members are conducted in accordance with the highest standards of customer service to ensure timely feedback to appropriate parties. 
• Consideration and awareness of the FCA Consumer Duty at all times to ensure we deliver good outcomes to our customers by acting in good faith, avoiding foreseeable harm and to enable and support our customers to pursue their financial objectives.
• To ensure our vulnerable customers are treated fairly and that our products and services meet the needs of vulnerable customers in our target market.
• Undertake other duties on an ad hoc basis when required by the company. 

Knowledge, skills, abilities and experience 

Essential   

• Self-motivated with the ability to take a proactive approach and work efficiently without supervision. Comfortable in dealing with time critical client sensitive work. 
• Results focused. 
• Strong team player 
• The ability to prioritise and organise work under pressure and meet targets. Drive and determination to complete work in a qualitative manner. 
• Good communication, influencing and interpersonal skills. Strong problem solving skills. 
• An understanding of company law and board procedures. 
• Ability to assess investment proposals and construct balanced investment proposals. 
• Experience of working in a relationship management role within a bank or similar financial environment and in particular experience of analysing financial information to a high level. 
• IT/PC literate with ability to use Microsoft Office packages. 
• Relevant professional qualification or relevant industry experience in banking or accountancy. 
• Driving licence. 

Desirable   

• An awareness of business issues in Wales 
• A flexible approach to working hours 
• Presentation skills 
• Welsh speaker 

Job purpose 

The investment executive is responsible for sourcing and appraising applications for investments into the Development Banks. Investments will be made under commercial terms and in accordance with the investment criteria set by the Development Bank. Loans of up to £100,000 can be made. 

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Source and appraise investment proposals. Typically, investments will be unsecured so an ability to understand underlying cashflow assumptions and to properly assess these is paramount. 
• Deliver against investment and yield targets 
• Conduct thorough and robust management, financial and commercial due diligence when considering investment opportunities and assess the risks attendant to each investment 
• Negotiate terms and conditions relating to legal documentation for placing investments. 
• Prepare investment reports for credit sanction. 
• Ensure completion of legal documentation. 
• Contribute to the operation of the Development Bank as a professional fund management company and provider of risk capital to start-up and existing businesses, in accordance with the terms of approval from Public Sector bodies and European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) 
• Maintain and develop technical and industry specific knowledge to ensure best practice and compliance in investment activity 
• Liaise closely with the portfolio team post investment and support as required to maintain the relationship with the investee company and facilitate additional investments as appropriate. 
• Disseminate examples of best practice for applying to the fund to key business introducers and ensure that the application process is continually refined and improved to provide the best possible client service 
• Develop and maintain links and networks with key business introducers and intermediaries to source suitable investment opportunities 
• Participate and represent the Development Bank, where appropriate, at meetings, seminars, events and joint group activities 
• Operate under delegated authority limits and Investment Operational Guidelines. 
• Contribute to marketing/promoting the Development Bank. 
• Consideration and awareness of the FCA Consumer Duty at all times to ensure we deliver good outcomes to our customers by acting in good faith, avoiding foreseeable harm and to enable and support our customers to pursue their financial objectives.
• To ensure our vulnerable customers are treated fairly and that our products and services meet the needs of vulnerable customers in our target market.
• Any other task as may be defined by the fund manager to meet the operational needs of the department 

Knowledge, skills, abilities and experience  

Essential   

• Some experience in investing or lending to SMEs 
• Previous experience of credit report preparation 
• Understanding of risk assessment and investment processes and procedures 
• Strong communication, influencing and interpersonal skills 
• Able to work independently and as part of a team 
• Confident in own decision making skills 
• Ability to prioritise and organise work under pressure  
• Attention to detail 
• Experience of analysing financial information 
• Established network of introducers with Welsh SME space. 

Desirable   

• Knowledge and understanding of the role of the public sector in SME finance  
• Understanding of the regional business environment  
• Welsh speaker (for roles based in Wales) 
• Driving License 
• IT literate to include the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Vargo is recruiting for a South West based commercial Lender that is looking to expand their team through the addition of a Relationship Manager. The company are well-established with offices throughout the South West but looking to add an additional head into either Bristol, Cheltenham or Gloucester area.

The role will working in a seasoned team of commercial lenders with a strong back-office support network. As a Relationship Manager, you will be responsible for managing introduce networks which include solicitors, accountants and brokers. You will be the initial point of client for new business clients looking for small to medium business loans, through to working with the back office team to sign off the loan.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with new and existing customers
• Understand customer needs and assess their borrowing requirements
• Structure and present loan proposals to customers and the credit committee
• Manage the loan process from application to completion
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of new business opportunities
• Achieve and exceed sales targets

Requirements

• Previous experience in commercial lending or a related field 
• Strong understanding of small to medium sized businesses and their financial needs
• Excellent relationship building and communication skills
• Proven ability to generate and close new business
• Self-motivated and driven to achieve results
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Enjoy business networking and engaging with the business community

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to work with a growing and dynamic team
• Chance to make a real difference to the success of our customers
• Career development opportunities

OPERATIONS SUPPORT MANAGER

Overall purpose of the job:

The Operations Support Manager will act as a central point of support across all operations functions including Admin, Reporting, Dealing Support, and Reconciliations and Payments as well as the Director of Operations.

This role will directly manage the Incidents and Complaints Analyst as well as the Operations Project and Operational Compliance Analyst.

This is a varied and hands-on position requiring strong problem-solving skills, the ability to prioritise across competing needs, and a collaborative approach. The ideal candidate will bring knowledge of pensions administration, a keen eye for process improvement, and a passion for delivering excellent customer outcomes aligned with Consumer Duty principles.

Main Activities & Responsibilities:

• Line management of three analysts covering various responsibilities in support of the operational teams.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex operational issues and complaints.

• Provide day-to-day support and cover to operational teams across Admin, Reporting, Dealing Support, and Reconciliations and Payments as well as the Director of Operations
• Collaborate with team leaders/managers to identify and resolve process blockers or inefficiencies.
• Coordinate cross-departmental support and cover for operational priorities and ad hoc projects.

• Support the collation, analysis, and presentation of operational MI to the Director of Operations and senior management.
• Maintain trackers for incidents, complaints, and other operational metrics.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement within operations processes.
• Lead or contribute to operational change initiatives, including process re-design and system enhancements.

• Monitor for potential areas of operational risk and escalate as needed.
• Lead the annual reviews of all customer literature such as Terms & Conditions and Key Features documents and propose changes where required for better customer understanding in support of Consumer Duty.
• Coordinate internal and external audits ensuring that each business area provides requested samples by set deadlines, and be the liaison point where necessary with clients/auditors
• Prepare applications to join any industry bodies, ensuring that the operational teams meet the entry criteria and coordinate any external reviews to support applications
• Attend the Risk Committee meetings when appropriate and assist the operational teams with mitigation measures.
• Ownership of the full end to end transaction reporting requirements across wider business teams.
• Collation and analysis of MI from Operational Teams to support the annual Consumer Duty outcomes report.

Knowledge, Skills, and Personality:

Essential:

• Experience in pensions administration or financial services operations.
• Proven team management or supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of incident and complaint handling best practices.
• Excellent organisational and multitasking skills.
• Ability to analyse MI and draw insights for performance improvement.
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Customer-centric mindset with a commitment to delivering good outcomes.
• Proactive and solutions focused.
• Resilient and calm under pressure.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of FCA requirements, particularly Consumer Duty.
• Familiarity with reconciliation and payment processes.

Education, qualifications, and special training:

• A qualification in pension administration is highly desirable

Location & Hours

This role will predominantly be based out of our Peterborough office, but travel will be required to our Nottingham office when necessary.

Quai Digital

16 Tesla Court, Innovation Way, Peterborough, PE2 6FL

The Shire Hall, High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HN

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Hybrid working is supported with 2/3 days in the office

Quai welcomes everyone and embraces diversity and equal opportunities for all. We're committed to creating an inclusive team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to be themselves at work.