Risk and Performance Director

If you’re looking for a career that will help you stand out, join HSBC and fulfil your potential – whether you want a career that could take you to the top, or an exciting new direction, we offer opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

We’re one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with a network that covers more than 50 countries and territories. We aim to be where the growth is, enabling businesses to thrive and economies to prosper and, ultimately, helping people fulfil their hopes and realise their ambitions.

We’re currently seeking an experienced professional to join our team in the role of Risk and Performance Director (SME Business Banking, South East).

The Risk and Performance Director, South East will report directly into the Regional Director, South East, fostering a strong risk-aware culture across the Relationship Manager population and driving a high-performance, customer-obsessed mindset across the region. This role acts as a key interface between the client-facing business and internal risk stakeholders to support effective risk management, anticipate emerging risks and deliver strong commercial outcomes.

You’ll operate across both risk and performance priorities (typically around a 50/50 split), adapting focus as required to meet changing business needs.

We operate a hybrid working model and the office location for this role is flexible between Maidstone, Guildford and Worthing. The role involves frequent travel across the South East of the UK, so you must be within a commutable distance of the region. Travel is essential for this role when required.

As an HSBC employee in the UK, you’ll have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.

In this role you’ll:

• Manage the regional profile with key internal stakeholders including risk partners to facilitate execution of customer deals, referrals and the management of risk issues.
• Be the key interface between the client-facing relationship teams and risk partners, bringing a practical front-line perspective and ensuring timely escalation and resolution of issues.
• Foster a strong risk-aware culture across the regional SME Business Banking South East team.
• Support senior leaders and Relationship Managers to undertake tailored customer risk assessments, leading to stronger credit evaluations and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate regional investigations and root-cause analysis for events / incidents / fraud, and lead regional response efforts during risk events / crises.
• Review and act on daily risk alerts, ensuring actions are progressed at pace and risks are addressed proactively.
• Drive a disciplined performance rhythm including weekly performance meetings and monthly performance/risk reporting for senior leadership.
• Analyse local market trends and financial performance data to inform decisions, shape priorities and support growth.
• Prepare and present local meeting packs as required, including MI tracking for local campaigns.
• Help embed strong time management and performance management practices across the team.

To be successful in this role you should meet the following requirements:

• Proven coaching and performance management skills, with the confidence to support and challenge stakeholders constructively.
• Ability to interact with business customers at all levels; this is a client-facing role and presence/gravitas matters.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate with clients and colleagues.
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment, make practical decisions in ambiguity, and take responsibility for outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the UK market; ability to connect external context (including geopolitics) to commercial outcomes and risk decisions.
• Strong knowledge and experience of complex SME lending, including EDTs (corporate lending experience preferable).
• Banking front-line experience is beneficial (internal candidates strongly encouraged; external candidates with relevant client-facing banking experience also welcome).

Opening a world of opportunity.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces – no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk: +44 207 832 8500