Reports to: Chief Credit & Market Risk Officer
Location: Hybrid model (minimum 3 days/week) based out of our Melbourne, Adelaide, Bendigo, or Sydney corporate office
Employment Type: Permanent Full-Time
Closing date: 11 November
We've never been ‘just a bank'. Just like you should never be ‘just an employee'. We're united in our belief that in banking, better can be bigger, and together we're making it happen.
It starts here. With Bendigo Bank… and you.
Your Impact and Authority
As the Head of Specialised Business Services, you will direct and empower a high-calibre team of workout, restructuring, and loan realisation specialists. Holding substantial Delegated Lending Authority (DLA), you will serve as the bank's principal authority on impaired asset management, commercial loan workouts, and security enforcement.
In this role, you will be instrumental in:
- Strategic Portfolio Stewardship: Leading the proactive workout and rehabilitation of complex Business and Agribusiness credit exposures, preserving viable commercial enterprises, protecting customer equity, and minimising write-offs to bad debt.
- Exercising Delegated Lending Authority (DLA): Formulating, reviewing, and sanctioning high-value restructuring proposals, forbearance agreements, settlement deeds, and recovery strategies within policy tolerances and the Group Risk Appetite Statement.
- Enforcement & Professional Panel Oversight: Decisively instigating legal and recovery proceedings when required, directing external panel solicitors, investigative accountants, and Rural Financial Counsellors, and appointing Receivers and Liquidators to safeguard bank security positions.
- Driving Organisational & Market Transformation: Steering the SBS team through significant operational change and modernisation, while actively pivoting credit management strategies to address evolving macro credit and interest rate cycles.
- Executive & Board Engagement: Delivering timely, clear briefings to the Chief Credit & Market Risk Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Executive Committee, and Board Risk Committee regarding portfolio provisioning, distressed exposures, and emerging credit risks.
- High-Stakes Stakeholder Collaboration: Partnering closely with 1st Line Business Banking, Agribusiness, and Credit Decisioning leaders to ensure early risk identification, seamless transfer protocols, and balanced risk-reward outcomes.
What You Bring to the Role - Your Gravitas and Expertise
We are seeking a seasoned practitioner from an Australian commercial, corporate, or institutional banking background, or a premier corporate restructuring and insolvency advisory practice. You bring:
- Proven Banking & Restructuring Acumen: Extensive experience within Australian banking or specialised turnaround advisory managing impaired assets, complex credit analysis, securities law, and distress workouts for SME, middle-market, corporate, or agribusiness clients.
- Delegated Lending Authority (DLA): Demonstrated experience holding and exercising a formal DLA over impaired or high-risk credit portfolios, with direct sign-off authority for restructuring terms, loss provisions, and formal enforcement actions.
- Demonstrated People Leadership: A proven track record of leading, mentoring, and inspiring high-performing professional teams, fostering high technical capability, emotional resilience, and a collaborative, supportive culture.
- Agility in Managing Change: High commercial acumen and personal resilience to lead teams through structural and operational change, regulatory shifts, and volatile credit cycles.
- High-Level Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Gravitas to negotiate at the C-suite, board, and business owner levels, working productively alongside insolvency practitioners, mediators, and agricultural advisers to achieve optimal commercial resolutions.
- Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in Business, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Law. Professional accreditations (e.g., CA/CPA, ARITA, FINSIA) are highly regarded.
So, why work for us?
Join a team that truly values you and the diverse contribution you make, every day. You'll also get access to a great range of benefits, including:
- Flexibility that puts people first: Whether it's hybrid work, flexible hours, or job sharing, our flexible work options are designed around balance and delivery.
- Health and wellbeing support: Discounted gym memberships, private health insurance subsidies, and comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services for you and your family.
- Career progression and continuous learning: Broaden your knowledge through our corporate university ‘BEN U' or supported external executive development programs.
We believe a diverse workforce supported by an inclusive culture is central to our success and we actively encourage applications from those who bring diversity of thought to our business. We support candidate requests for adjustment to accommodate an illness, injury, or disability to equitably participate in the selection process.
Still in two minds?
Research suggests 60% of women and underrepresented groups might stop here, even after getting as far as drafting an application. We believe that diversity makes every team stronger, so even if you don't tick every box we still want to see your application!
We're making better, bigger. And we'll get there with you.
Now's the time to set your sights even higher - on the future you and the future career you deserve.
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Head of Specialised Business Services in Bendigo employer: Bendigo Bank
At Bendigo Bank, we pride ourselves on being more than just a bank; we are a community-focused employer that values flexibility and employee well-being. With hybrid working options and a commitment to professional development through our corporate university, we empower our staff to grow while making a meaningful impact in the lives of our customers and communities. Join us in a collaborative environment where diversity is celebrated, and your contributions truly matter.
