Active Portfolio Management Analyst, Specialised Product

Job summary

The principal role of the Department is to support UK companies exporting to foreign markets by providing insurance, loans and guarantees against non-payment or non-performance by UK exporters and overseas buyers. To perform its statutory function, UKEF must assume significant credit risks on behalf of UK exporters. Consequently, the financial success of the Department is crucially dependent upon sound credit risk assessment, particularly given the elevated default risks associated with emerging markets.

The Risk Management Group (‘RMG’), under the leadership of the Chief Risk Officer (‘CRO’) is responsible for the management of UKEF’s risk portfolio, including new business credit risk assessments. RMG operates via 5 Divisions, responsible for Enterprise Risk Management, Risk Assessment, Analysis (Pricing & Portfolio Risk, Operational Research & Analysis, and Economics & Country Risk), Portfolio Management, and Restructuring, Claims & Recoveries.

The Risk Assessment Division (‘RAD’) is responsible for providing probability of default (‘PD’) ratings and loss given default (‘LGD’) assessments on all non-sovereign risks assumed by the Department. RAD’s case work is split currently into three teams: Corporates and Strategic sectors; Project Finance; and Specialised Products Risk (Aerospace and Financial Institutions (banks & NBFIs) & Active Portfolio Management (see below)).

About Active Portfolio Management

The APM Branch identifies packages and transfers UKEF risk with financial intermediaries. Once transactions have been approved, APM monitors risk concentration and explores methods to reduce portfolio risk. APM works closely with all aspects of the business to develop a co-ordinated strategy to optimise UKEF’s use of funds. APM delivers two key benefits: increases capacity under country limits; and reduce the likelihood of cash-calls on the exchequer. APM supports UK exporters and ensures this is carried out in the most cost-efficient way.

Job description

To undertake diverse tasks as directed in providing support to the Senior Manager (APM), covering all functions carried out by the team. This will include:

• Portfolio Management: Monitoring and Analysing Portfolio Data and Risk Concentrations, Executing Risk Transfers and Management of Existing (Re)Insurance Tranches.
• Assist with Relationship Management (Brokers and (Re)Insurance counterparties)
• Develop relationships with financial services companies
• Policy development, Training and Project work

The role currently does not involve line management, however in future, line management responsibilities could be added to the remit, including, ensuring that all regular staff management, reporting, and training requirements are met and standards complied with.

Person specification

• Portfolio Management (50%) • Monitoring and analysing portfolio Data and Risk Concentrations: • Data handling, presentation & analysis
• Detection of risk concentrations
• Prepare and attend pipeline meetings with Business group, Post Issue Management and other divisions with UKEF as appropriate
• Assist in determining target assets for risk transfer
• Risk transfer: • Private Insurance Market:
• Transaction structuring
• Presentation to the Insurance market
• Preparation of ERiCC and HMT papers
• Liaising with Analysis Division and wider RAD ensure pricing calculations are run optimally
• Operational execution/assistance of front-to-end insurance placement
• Alternative Risk Transfer solutions: • Support in conducting research and setting up of potential new routes to market to enhance APM’s offering
• Support in the development of technical papers for ERiCC and HMT
• Liaise with UKEF Commercial and observe relevant policies and standards
• Management of Existing Insurance Tranches: • Assist with Amendments; payment delays and claims and recoveries handling liaising with relevant colleagues where appropriate.
• Assist with Relationship Management (Broker and (Re)Insurance counterparties) (10%) • Attend Meetings with Broker and (Re)insurance counterparties to follow changes in risk appetite and general market developments
• Resolve queries with respect to existing (re)insured assets
• Develop new appropriate counterparty relationships
• Monitor utilisation against ratings and counterparty limits when executing new transactions
• Attend relevant conferences and develop relationships with financial services companies (5%) • Benchmark UKEF portfolio initiatives against peer ECAs other UK Government departments and private sector best practice.
• Join in meetings with banks, investment funds and other peers/counterparties
• Policy development, Training and Project work (15%) • Contribute to policy improvement and ongoing operational efficiencies within APM
• Assist peer divisions across UKEF with policy developments involving APM
• Responsibility & ownership for a key strategic project(s)
• Remain up to date with compulsory training and attend career development training
• Systems, processes and procedures (10%) • Ensure that APM-related case data is entered into UKEF corporate systems in an accurate and timely manner and kept up to date over time
• Liaising with internal colleagues as necessary to diagnose and correct any potential data discrepancies with existing contracts as well as determine the optimal method for recording new transactions on UKEF’s corporate systems
• Ensure APM governance process maps are up-to-date
• Corporate Contributions (10%) • Support in wider RMG BAU and project activities, in conjunction with the relevant segment head.

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Qualifications

Degree level qualification in a relevant discipline e.g., Finance, Mathematics, Business, Economics, Law, etc. (A)

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation - a topic agreed by UKEF and provided to the relevant candidates

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,000, UK Export Finance contributes

£14,774 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

UK Export Finance is looking for motivated individuals with a desire to learn about the business. Successful candidates will be provided not only with functional training to enable them to do well in their role, but also with personal development to help them to achieve their career ambitions. Please note that the person specification below outlines at which stage(s) you will be assessed on how you meet the criteria for the role(s) including:-

• A = assessed at application stage
• I = assessed at interview stage
• T = assessed by test stage
• P = assessed at presentation stage
• Essential

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in a relevant discipline e.g., Finance, Mathematics, Business, Economics, Law, etc. or relevant demonstrable professional experience (A)
• Evidence of continuing professional development. (A)

Knowledge

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Outlook (A)
• Understanding of portfolio risk metrics (such as Expected Loss and Unexpected Losses) and associated risk management (A, I,P)
• Knowledge of UKEF’s products and services and its role in the export finance market and the wider Government (A, I,P)

Skills/Ability

• Proven planning and organisation skills to manage multiple competing requirements, prioritise work and meet demanding deadlines (A, I)
• Analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively when difficult or unusual problems are presented (A, I,P)
• Communication and influencing skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly with confidence and credibility (A, I,P)
• Ability to work autonomously in a responsible manner seeking advice when appropriate (A, I)

Experience

• Experience in working collaboratively, building positive working relationships with internal and external colleagues at all levels (A,I)
• Evidence of delivery in a time critical environment to an agreed standard (A,I,P)
• Experience in working in a portfolio management or credit risk management role, in a finance, insurance or government environment (A,I,P)
• Procurement and/or commercial contract management (A)

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) .

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the

Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new