Credit Risk Lead

Since its creation in 2014, Harbour has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse independent oil and gas companies.  Today, Harbour is producing between 475,000 and 485,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day with significant production in Norway, the UK, Germany, Argentina and North Africa. Harbour benefits from competitive operating costs and resilient margins, and a broad set of growth options including near-infrastructure opportunities in Norway, unconventional scalable opportunities in Argentina and conventional offshore projects in Mexico and Indonesia. With low GHG emissions intensity and a leading CO2 storage position in Europe, Harbour remains committed to producing oil and gas safely and responsibly to help meet the world’s energy needs. Harbour is headquartered in London with approximately 5,000 staff and contractors across its operations and offices. 

Ours is an inclusive workplace where individuals can bring their whole selves to their job and feel recognised for the value they add. We are committed to creating a genuinely inclusive and supportive working environment to ensure everyone has a positive experience at work.

At Harbour Energy, we aim to recruit, retain and promote our people based on their unique skills, regardless of race, gender or background. We need excellent people to help shape and develop the future of our company. Could this be you?

If so, we want to hear from you.

Purpose of Role:

• The Lead Credit Risk Adviser is a senior authority within the Group Credit Risk function, accountable for enabling and embedding the strategic direction, governance, and effectiveness of credit risk management across the organisation.
  
• The role is responsible for safeguarding the company’s balance sheet through robust oversight and decision-making in respect of counterparty risk, establishing and enforcing the Group Credit Risk framework, and leading complex and high-impact credit decisions.
  
• Acting as a trusted and influential adviser to senior leadership, the Lead Adviser provides expert judgement, challenge, and insight across commercial, trading, treasury, and finance activities, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s risk appetite.

Critical Responsibilities (MAE/MATTE/HSES):

• Ensure that all activities are carried out in a safe manner complying with all regulatory requirements, legislation and Harbour Energy HSEQ procedures    
  
• Demonstrable safety leadership and thorough working knowledge and experience of behavioural safety techniques
  
• Conduct themselves at all times in accordance with Harbour Energy Values and Business Principles

Areas of Accountability, Responsibility and Competence:

Credit Risk Strategy & Leadership

• Define and continuously evolve the Group Credit Risk strategy, framework, and policies
  
• Set the risk appetite, limits framework, and governance standards for counterparty exposure
  
• Act as escalation point for complex, high-risk, or sensitive credit decisions
  
• Lead and develop the Credit Risk function, including capability, structure, and ways of working
  
• Provide strategic input into broader financial risk and capital protection decisions
  
• Train and develop junior team members, including graduates, as applicable
  

Enterprise Credit Risk Oversight and Assessment

• Recommend/approve credit limits, trading limits, and security requirements in line with delegated authorities and Group risk appetite. Exercise any Delegated Authority within agreed parameters.
  
• Lead the assessment of creditworthiness for new and existing counterparties, including customers, supplies, joint venture partners, and financial institutions. 
  
• Perform detailed credit analysis using financial statement, market intelligence, credit ratings, and other quantitative and qualitative information as appropriate, Exercise sound professional judgement when assessing higher-risk or
• complex exposures.
  
• Maintain oversight of Group-wide counterparty exposures, concentration risk, and emerging threats
  
• Ensure robust and consistent credit decision-making across all business units
  
• Provide senior challenge on commercial proposals with material credit exposure
  
• Senior Stakeholder Partnership
  
• Act as the primary Credit Risk interface to senior leadership (SVP/EVP level)
• Credit Risk Strategy & Leadership
  
• Define and continuously evolve the Group Credit Risk strategy, framework, and policies
  
• Set the risk appetite, limits framework, and governance standards for counterparty exposure
  
• Act as escalation point for complex, high-risk, or sensitive credit decisions
  
• Lead and develop the Credit Risk function, including capability, structure, and ways of working
  
• Provide strategic input into broader financial risk and capital protection decisions
  
• Train and develop junior team members, including graduates, as applicable
  
• Enterprise Credit Risk Oversight and Assessment
  
• Recommend/approve credit limits, trading limits, and security requirements in line with delegated authorities and Group risk appetite. Exercise any Delegated Authority within agreed parameters.
  
• Lead the assessment of creditworthiness for new and existing counterparties, including customers, supplies, joint venture partners, and financial institutions. 
  
• Perform detailed credit analysis using financial statement, market intelligence, credit ratings, and other quantitative and qualitative information as appropriate, Exercise sound professional judgement when assessing higher-risk or complex exposures.
  
• Maintain oversight of Group-wide counterparty exposures, concentration risk, and emerging threats
  
• Ensure robust and consistent credit decision-making across all business units
  
• Provide senior challenge on commercial proposals with material credit exposure
  
• Senior Stakeholder Partnership
  
• Act as the primary Credit Risk interface to senior leadership (SVP/EVP level)
  
• Influence decision-making across Trading, Commercial, Treasury, Finance, and Supply Chain
  
• Provide clear, insights-driven reporting to senior management and governance forums
  
• Lead engagement in high-stakes negotiations involving credit terms, security, and risk allocation
  

Governance, Framework & Controls

• Own the Group Credit Risk framework, including policies, standards, and delegated authorities in line with delegated authorities, including ownership of continuous improvement of the framework.
  
• Ensure effective governance over: 
  
• Counterparty approvals and monitoring
  
• Credit limits and utilisation
  
• Security instruments (PCGs, Letters of Credit)
  
• Oversee compliance with internal standards and regulatory expectations
  
• Lead response to audit findings and ensure continuous strengthening of controls
  

Portfolio Monitoring & Risk Management

• Oversee portfolio-level analysis, including stress testing, scenario modelling, and trend assessment
  
• Ensure early identification and management of deteriorating or high-risk exposures
  
• Direct mitigation strategies for material or systemic credit risks
  
• Accontable for maintaining oversight of data quality, systems, and reporting integrity
  

Continuous Improvement & Transformation

• Lead initiatives to enhance credit risk processes, tools, and systems
  
• Drive standardisation and efficiency across the Group
  
• Embed best practice credit risk disciplines across all relevant functions
  
• Sponsor innovation in data, analytics, and reporting capability

Critical Skills, Qualifications, Experience, etc.:

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or related discipline 
  
• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in senior credit risk, financial risk, or trading environments 
  
• Deep expertise in: 
  
• Counterparty credit assessment
  
• Financial analysis and risk evaluation
  
• Credit documentation (PCGs, LoCs, EFET, ISDA)
  
• Proven ability to lead complex, high-value credit decisions with material commercial impact 
  
• Strong leadership capability, including developing teams and influencing at executive level 
• Advanced analytical capability and strong commercial judgement 
  
• High level of credibility, with the ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders effectively. 

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Inclusive recruitment is a vital part of our diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. Whatever your background, if you feel you need an adjustment during our selection process to suit your needs, please let us know, and we will be happy to help.