Credit Risk Oversight Officer

Rockland Trust Company•Norwood, MA

About The Position

The Credit Risk Oversight Officer is an independent Second Line of Defense role within the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) department. Reporting to the Enterprise Risk Strategist and Reporting Manager, the Credit Risk Oversight Officer is responsible for providing robust oversight of the Bank’s credit risk management practices. This position works closely with the First Line Credit Risk Team to ensure credit risk management is aligned with the Bank’s risk appetite, leading practices, and regulatory expectations. The role collaborates with Financial Risk Oversight (liquidity and market risk) and maintains a clear distinction from the Independent Loan Review function, as it will focus on broader credit risk governance. The Credit Risk Oversight Officer plays a critical part in the ongoing development and maturity of credit risk oversight, supporting the bank’s strategic objectives and safeguarding its financial stability.

Requirements

Develop strong relationships across risk management and cross-functionally with ability to establish constructive dialogue internally and externally.
Capability and experience with establishing strategic vision and driving change to achieve business targets.
Effective communication and presentation skills, including senior executive interactions - can present credibly to both large and small groups.
Articulate and highly effective communicator.
Excellent analytical, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Proficient in credit analytics and proven ability to conduct quantitative analysis.
Strong leadership and team management skills, personal responsibility to lead by example.
Demonstrates strong ethics.
Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, or related field
Minimum 7-10 years of experience in credit risk management, risk oversight, or related banking roles.
Knowledge and experience implementing credit risk practices (including use of models).
Experience with data analytic tools, languages, and/or visualization platforms (Python/R, SAS, Tableau, Power BI).
Strong understanding of credit risk principles, regulatory requirements, and risk management frameworks – including RCSA, a plus.
Knowledge of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) systems.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., MBA, CRC, FRM) preferred.
Strong understanding of credit risk principles, regulatory requirements, and risk management frameworks – including RCSA, a plus.

Responsibilities

Credit Risk Governance Develop and implement a comprehensive Second Line of Defense Credit Risk oversight program, aligned with regulatory expectations and industry leading practice, tailored to the Bank’s size, complexity, and scope.
Advise and integrate the Enterprise Risk Management Framework into credit risk activities, ensuring consistency and coordination with internal Policies.
Monitor adherence to credit risk appetite and limits and alignment with enterprise-wide strategy.
Partner with senior management in reviewing Credit Risk Management comprehensively including but not limited to credit approval, credit policy, portfolio monitoring and analytics, special assets management, conducting risk assessments, and advising on risk framework and oversight.
Portfolio-Level Credit Risk Oversight Ensure appropriate identification, measurement, monitoring, and reporting of credit risk exposures across all lending portfolios, ensuring alignment with the Bank’s ERM Policy, Risk Appetite, credit-related governance documents, and the risk taxonomy.
Monitor and assess credit risk metrics, key risk indicators, and key performance indicators for inclusion in ERM and First Line business unit reporting.
Identify emerging trends and risks at the portfolio level.
Stay current on industry trends affecting credit risk management and escalate emerging risks as appropriate.
Review and Challenge Support execution of bottom-up risk assessments to analyze, measure, and aggregate credit risks, including assessment of the Bank’s risk management practices, techniques and controls. This includes active engagement in the Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) process and ongoing maintenance of the risk and control library for credit risk.
Independently evaluate the adequacy of credit risk governance practices, portfolio management, policies, underwriting standards/criteria, and reporting and analytics.
This also involves assisting and evaluating items related to model risk management (e.g. selection of assumptions).
Review and challenge credit risk modeling practices in partnership with the Second Line Model Risk Management team, including loan loss estimation and stress testing methodologies.
Risk Reporting and Communication Prepare and deliver risk reports to senior management and the Board, as appropriate.
Communicate findings and recommendations clearly, highlighting material risks and proposed mitigation strategies.
Support regulatory reporting requirements related to credit risk oversight, as needed.
Collaboration and Coordination Partner with Financial Risk Oversight to ensure an integrated risk management approach across key financial risks – credit, liquidity, and market and interest rate risk domains.
Collaborate and coordinate with Independent Loan Review to avoid overlap and focus on portfolio-level oversight and governance.
Coordinate with other ERM Programs to ensure risks and changes are tracked, monitored, and communicated effectively.
Collaborate with various ERM stakeholders to create efficiencies in identification, risk assessment and reporting activities.
Support remediation and root cause analysis of operational risk events with credit risk impact.
Regulatory Compliance and Best Practice Monitor regulatory developments impacting credit risk management, ensuring timely adoption and consideration of industry leading practices.
Participate in internal audit and regulatory examinations related to credit risk, supporting remediation of findings as needed.