Melrose Arch: Credit Analyst

Job Specification: Credit Analyst Reporting To Head of Credit / Credit Manager & Head of Operations Role Purpose To assess, analyse, and evaluate credit applications to support sound lending decisions, protect the company’s capital, and ensure deals are structured in a manner that balances risk and profitability. The role exists to apply disciplined credit thinking across all transactions and maintain the quality of the loan book. Key Responsibilities Credit Risk Assessment Analyse financial statements, bank statements, management accounts, and tax records. Assess creditworthiness using financial ratios, cash flow analysis, and debt servicing capacity. Evaluate both quantitative and qualitative factors, including business model, industry risk, and management capability. Deal Evaluation & Structuring Support Review and stress-test proposed deal structures to assess viability. Recommend appropriate deal terms including deposits, repayment periods, residual values, pricing, and security. Identify risks and propose mitigation strategies such as guarantees, cessions, or upfront contributions. Due Diligence Conduct background checks on clients, directors, and related entities. Verify asset values and confirm supplier or dealer credibility. Ensure all required documentation for a complete credit review is obtained and accurate. Credit Report Preparation Prepare clear, concise, and well-motivated credit reports for internal or credit committee approval. Present transactions in a structured format, highlighting key risks and mitigants. Provide recommendations to approve, decline, or request further information. Policy & Compliance Adherence Ensure all credit assessments comply with internal credit policies and applicable regulations (e.g. NCR, FICA). Identify and escalate any policy deviations or exceptions. Maintain accurate records and audit trails for all credit decisions. Portfolio Monitoring Monitor repayment performance post-disbursement. Identify early warning signs of distress or potential default. Recommend corrective actions, restructuring, or recovery strategies where required. Collaboration & Communication Work closely with sales, legal, and operations teams to support deal execution. Apply independent judgement and challenge assumptions or overly optimistic projections where necessary. Communicate credit decisions and rationale clearly to internal stakeholders. Continuous Improvement Stay informed on economic conditions, industry trends, and credit risk developments. Contribute to improvements in credit processes, tools, and risk frameworks. Support training and mentoring of junior team members where applicable. Systems & Administration Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on