About the team

Downing's Private Credit Team focuses on providing senior debt to residential developers, with a focus on debt amounts of between £2m-30m. We also provide wholesale facilities to other lenders. The team is made up of 13 individuals across business development and portfolio management, and the right candidate won't be afraid to get involved in any aspect of the business. The role should appeal to candidates with a background in either debt funds and/or commercial/corporate banking. Residential development finance experience is preferred.

Role and responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Reporting: Assisting in the production of internal monthly & quarterly fund reporting and external reporting for investment counterparties.
• Produce weekly Cashflow Forecasts across the live book. This will be enabled by discussions with the Relationship Directors and Transaction/Portfolio Managers.
• Assume the role of Power Bl (Loan reporting system) champion, liaising with the Private Market Operations team on portfolio reporting and enhanced portfolio management.
• Create and distribute minutes from team meetings and adhoc external meetings as appropriate.
• Attendance in Investment Committee meeting acting as secretariat, ensuring the timely production of meeting minutes in a clear and concise manner
• Undertake the creation and dissemination of the End of Month Reports; effectively recording updates in relation to the state of the loans incorporating any drawdowns, repayment, increases or extensions.
• The timely delivery and assistance with other ad hoc requests and tasks from internal and external parties, as the business deems necessary.
• Taking ownership of financial models in early deal screening, aiding Relationship Directors with any ad hoc requests in the formation of IC papers.
• Proactive management of their respective share of both the direct and indirect lending portfolios.

Operational: Day to day operational requirements

• Maintain accurate Loan Management records for the portfolio of deals; live and historic. This will incorporate updating loan records relating to the deal structures and also the ongoing risk aspects (RAG status; Construction Risk, Budget Risk and Exit Risk) of each loan recording details provided by Relationship Directors and/or Transaction/Portfolio Managers.
• Ongoing responsibility for identifying emerging risks within portfolio loans and raising them with the wider property Team to ensure the performance and tight controls are maintained across the portfolio.
• Maintain accurate iHub (Pipeline system) records aided by Investment Directors and Transaction/Portfolio Managers.
• Organise the production of internal payment documentation via Loan Management system to 'awaiting signoff stage'.
• The timely and accurate allocation and reconciliation of monies with internal Downing departments as required.
• Undertaking, in conjunction with the wider team, client/professional visits and the recording of findings, as necessary.
• Manage RAG updates and highlight soon to expire loans and record strategies that Relationship Directors are to adopt.
• Ensuring data accuracy and error-checking is undertaken in a timely and efficient manner.
• Provide relevant feedback to other internal Downing teams to enable system improvements and production of Fund reporting updates. Including reconciliation of portfolio KPIs against BI driven reporting systems.
• Assistance in the effective management of third-party professionals including valuers, surveyors and solicitors including the process of the collation of fee quotations, preparing and issuing instruction letters and liaising with Team as required.
• Ensuring KYC/Compliance processes are accurately met and completed to the satisfaction of Downing's internal processes and timescales.
• Acting as an additional point of contact for Borrowers throughout the life cycle of the loan from Investment Committee (IC) approval through to redemption, including ad hoc requests, the production of loan statements and audit requests.
• In conjunction with the Transaction/Portfolio Managers undertake reviews of Valuation reports and Monitoring Surveyor reports.
• To act as an ambassador for Downing’s values, and to always behave in a respectful and professional manner.
• Assist and manage external data rooms as part of team fundraising initiatives.
• Aid in the monthly, and by extension quarterly, reconciliation of fees earned from both origination activity, and firm-wide monitoring fees – for both internal stakeholders, and external co-investors.
• Provide support to TXN managers for month end reconciliation of loan balances – actively coordinating the fund accountants to ensure proper capital and interest balances.

Key skills and experience

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of stakeholder and project management
• A self-starter who has the desire to learn about the business and our products.
• Experience within residential property development lending and bridging space desirable.
• Working knowledge of related legal matters and due diligence desirable.
• Strong sense of ownership and task completion/deadline-driven.
• Ability to manage a fluid and varied workload independently and within a small team, as required.
• Inquisitive approach and problem-solving mentality.
• Innovative thinker who will proactively suggest improvements to existing processes.
• Strong proficiency in the Microsoft suite, with special focus on excel capabilities.
• Existing knowledge of loan management systems, preferred but not required, e.g. Dynamics, Power BI.

Personal Profile

• ‍Passionate about what you do - you are always happy to roll up your sleeves.
• ‍Team player – have fun! We do our best to cultivate an open, honest, hard-working but fun culture at Downing.
• ‍Customer oriented - you are approachable, friendly and professional whilst working diligently. Nothing is too much trouble.
• ‍Assertive and focus on execution – you make things happen.
• ‍Eloquent – you can explain complex things in simple, relevant terms, and in good English.

Further information

Downing’s values - Be bold and ambitious | Be straightforward | Support each other

Our values serve as a guide that shapes every aspect of Downing. They extend far beyond the conduct of our employees and encompass our products, services, and relationships with our investors and their advisers. By upholding these values, we firmly believe that we can navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Our commitment to these values ensures that we make a positive impact in everything we do, leaving a lasting and meaningful imprint on the world around us.

Hybrid working

Downing operates a hybrid working policy whereby employees are expected to work from the office for a minimum of 3 days each week (including a Monday or Friday). If specific days are required in the office, this will be communicated during the interview process.

Diversity and inclusion

At Downing, we work hard to create a safe space for everyone: an environment for people to be themselves, and to be straightforward, honest and candid. Diversity is important to us, and we are passionate about creating an inclusive culture that supports and celebrates this.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly throughout our recruitment process and every aspect of employment, irrespective of background, disability or any other protected characteristic.

Reasonable adjustments

We will make reasonable adjustments within our recruitment process (and throughout employment) where needed. If you need any adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please do not hesitate to speak to the hiring manager or Downing’s People Team (people@downing.co.uk).

Privacy

To understand what information we collect about you, how we will use it and for what purpose, please read our privacy notice.