Structured Export Finance, Insurance Associate

Role Description

We are looking to hire an Associate into our Structured Export Finance team (SEF) within Specialized Finance Department of SMBC, with a primary focus on the Private Credit Insurance business. The SEF team supports the placement and portfolio management of private credit insurance across SMBC Americas, alongside its broader export credit agency, agency and multilateral finance activities. The candidate will primarily support the Private Credit Insurance team and will work closely with front office groups across SMBC to identify, structure and execute insurance solutions that support origination, transaction execution, credit risk mitigation, capital and balance sheet management, and client objectives. The successful candidate will participate in the marketing and placement of private credit insurance, including preparation of insurer submissions, coordination with brokers, insurers and transaction teams, and management of the execution process. The candidate will also support ongoing portfolio monitoring, reporting, and the preparation of credit and capital allocation applications.

Role Objectives

• Assist SEF senior team members in the origination, marketing and execution of private credit insurance solutions for transactions across SMBC's front office groups.
• Support the end-to-end private credit insurance placement process, including transaction screening, preparation of insurer submissions, coordination of due diligence and insurer questions, assessment of indicative and firm capacity, and support for policy negotiation and closing.
• Partner with front office deal teams across the Bank to evaluate insurance opportunities and develop solutions that support transaction execution, credit risk mitigation, capital efficiency, portfolio management, and client objectives.
• Coordinate the preparation of internal credit applications, profitability simulations, capital allocation requests and other approval materials required to execute and maintain private credit insurance placements.
• Support the ongoing monitoring and management of the private credit insurance portfolio, including monthly and quarterly reviews, exposure and limit tracking, premium and policy monitoring, renewals, amendments, claims-related activity, and coordination with middle office, back office, risk, legal and other relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain regular interaction with insurance brokers, insurers, transaction teams, portfolio management teams, legal counsel and other internal and external counterparties throughout the marketing, execution and portfolio management process counterparties, including SMBC’s regional insurance placement teams.
• Prepare presentation materials, market updates, requests for proposals, insurer submissions, term sheets and other materials for potential transactions and internal or external stakeholders.
• Respond to day-to-day inquiries from front office teams, relationship managers, insurers, brokers, risk, legal, middle office and back office.
• Monitor developments in the private credit insurance market, including insurer appetite, capacity, pricing, policy terms, portfolio concentrations and the broader credit and economic environment, and assess their relevance to SMBC's strategy.
• Provide monthly management reports and other ad hoc reporting relating to private credit insurance activity, pipeline, execution, and portfolio performance.
• Remain aware of all compliance, legal and risk considerations and work closely with senior team members and control functions to proactively identify, minimize and mitigate risk.
• Support the broader global Structured Export Finance platform, including export credit agency, agency and multilateral activities, as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

• A minimum of 3-6 years of relevant work experience.
• Prior experience at a large financial institution, private credit insurer, insurance broker or other credit risk distribution role strongly desired. Experience in corporate banking, structured finance, credit underwriting, insurance placement or portfolio management preferred.
• Strong understanding of corporate and structured lending, including credit analysis, transaction structures, loan economics, capital allocation, credit risk mitigation and the use of private credit insurance to support lending and portfolio management objectives.
• Knowledge of domestic and international commercial lending and the structuring of complex short-, medium- and long-term credits. Experience reviewing credit agreements, finance documents and insurance policy documentation would be a plus. A fundamental understanding of credit is required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and succinctly across a variety of internal and external audiences.
• Action-oriented, organized and attentive to detail, with a positive attitude and a demonstrated ability to follow through on team priorities and deliverables.
• Ability to build effective relationships and leverage internal and external networks, including front office teams, risk and control functions, insurers, brokers and legal counsel.
• Flexibility to work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment while remaining composed under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Copilot. Familiarity with Bloomberg, credit systems, insurance placement databases or portfolio reporting tools is a plus.
• Spanish or Portuguese language skills a plus.