About the Catholic Development Fund
Catholic Development Fund (CDF) is a values-based financial institution that provides a unique level of client support across its footprint of Catholic organisations, including primary and secondary schools, parishes, aged care, healthcare, and social services providers.
CDF is experiencing rapid growth driven by competitive rates and market need. Our values-based approach and exceptional client service provides Catholic organisations with the best opportunity to put their faith into action.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Risk Officer, the Chief Credit Officer is a seasoned credit professional with the ability to further strengthen an existing credit function and accountable for providing credit expertise to our Relationship Managers as well as supporting clients to deliver exceptional service by meeting their needs, fostering long-term partnerships and supporting growth of the wholesale lending book, in particular, corporate and institutional level clients within education, health, social housing and aged care sectors, where there are near, medium and long term capital needs.
The CCO will be a hands‑on senior leader, able to leverage existing resources effectively, partner with Relationship Managers to support corporate and institutional level clients while identifying, recommending, and personally leading the development of enhanced credit risk maturity. This includes building scalable frameworks, strengthening capability, and embedding disciplined credit risk practices aligned to prudential expectations and the organisation’s strategic objectives.
Experience
The Chief Credit Officer must possess demonstrated strong corporate and institutional credit risk experience and bring clear gravitas and credibility with the Executive team, Committees and the Board as well as senior internal and external stakeholders, providing confidence that the organisation’s credit risk capability is being responsibly strengthened and future‑proofed.
The role requires a senior banking operative who can operate comfortably at Board level, articulate complex credit risk matters with authority, and give assurance that skills, frameworks, and decision‑making capability across the organisation are being uplifted.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end‑to‑end credit assessment, structuring and approval of complex wholesale lending transactions, including bilateral and syndicated exposures.
- Exercise independent credit judgement on large and higher‑risk transactions, providing robust challenge while enabling commercially sound outcomes.
- Ensure credit decisions align with the organisations risk appetite, credit policy, portfolio strategy and regulatory expectations.
- Act as a senior escalation point for complex, sensitive or time‑critical credit matters across the wholesale portfolio.
- Partner closely with Relationship Managers to support the origination, structuring and execution of high‑quality wholesale lending opportunities.
- Contribute to the development of trusted, senior‑level relationships with key wholesale clients, particularly in complex or bespoke financing situations.
- Balance strong relationship support with disciplined credit oversight.
- Support Relationship Managers navigate credit requirements, conditions precedent, covenant structures and ongoing monitoring expectations.
- Apply, uphold and ensure compliance with the organisation’s wholesale credit policies, prudential requirements, delegated authorities, approvals and governance requirements.
- Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of credit policy, methodologies and approval standards, particularly for complex or emerging risk areas.
- Prepare and present high‑quality credit papers and recommendations to relevant committees.
- Prepare and present reports, dashboards and portfolio insights to monitor portfolio hotspots and trends to guide active portfolio management (both remedial and forward looking) and recommend actions.
- Provide oversight of the wholesale credit portfolio, including risk grading, probability of default, concentration risks, early warning indicators, emerging stresses and watch lists. Partner with portfolio and risk teams to ensure timely identification, escalation and remediation of deteriorating credit.
- Support portfolio‑level and management reporting and analysis to inform decision‑making.
- Undertake sectorial and broader market analysis to identify sector issues, inform risk profile and determine areas of opportunity for growth.
- Ensure consistent application of end‑to‑end credit processes, from origination and approval through to documentation, drawdown and ongoing review.
- Identify opportunities to improve credit process effectiveness and efficiency, SLAs and quality, without compromising risk appetite.
- Support change initiative impacting wholesale credit, including system enhancements, process redesign and documentation improvements.
- Provide leadership, mentoring and technical guidance to Relationship Managers and actively support client relationship management to ensure a positive client experience.
- Foster a strong risk culture,
reinforcing accountability, sound judgement and constructive challenge.
- Influence senior stakeholders across the business, finance and risk through clear, pragmatic and well‑reasoned credit advice.
- Support the General Manager, Client Services in achieving the strategic plan and growth objective.
Key Skills / Competencies
- Expertise – Strong credit analysis experience, expertise and skills, particularly with complex wholesale client structures.
- Relationships – Strong, productive and demonstrated corporate/institutional client relationships with a proven track record of trust, based on credibility and expertise, that lead to commercial outcomes.
- Design – Ability to design, strengthen and embed scalable credit risk frameworks aligned to
strategy, risk appetite and regulatory expectations.
- Analyse – Analytical experience and exercising judgement to gain insight into cause-and-effect
relationships by assessing the available information in a critical and rational manner and by differentiating the essential from the incidental.
- Solve Problems – Responding to and controlling unexpected situations by evaluating possible
solutions based on experience and knowledge and implementing the best solution.
- Lead – Ensuring Relationship Managers are supported and guided with clear instructions, monitoring results and, where necessary, taking corrective measures.
- Influence – Reaching organisational growth targets by developing and fostering relationships,
creating mutually beneficial outcomes and responding effectively and efficiently to clients and internal stakeholders.
- Results – Generating results by proactively assuming responsibility for performance, recognising opportunities and acting effectively and efficiently within deadlines.
- Engage – Fully dedicating oneself to work by always giving the best of oneself and by striving for quality. Showing perseverance even when confronted with frustration, opposition or pressure.
- Detail – Demonstrating strong attention to detail, pride and ownership of work.
Education (Essential)
- Relevant undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Commerce,
- Demonstrated experience working at a financial institution,
- Demonstrated experience in Senior Relationship Management roles supporting wholesale credit clients,
- Well-developed credit. analytical and reporting skills, and
- Ability to communicate effectively at the C-Suit level.
Why work for us?
- Generous salary package – that recognises your skills, experience, and contributions.
- Professional Environment – join a dedicated team of professionals committed to fostering an agile and inspiring work environment.
- Meaningful Work – be part of a values, driven organisation that makes a difference in the community.
- Hybrid Flexibility – we offer a hybrid working model (3 days in the office per week), plus a modern workspace in tranquil East Melbourne.
How to apply
If you’re looking for a role where you can make a real impact, we want to hear from you!
To submit an application, please click apply and provide a copy of your current resume and a cover letter.
Please note: We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, if you believe this role might be for you, please apply as soon as possible.
Employment is subject to satisfactory background checks which include a National Police Check, Working with Children Check and Reference Checks. To be successful in this role you must hold valid working rights in Australia.
The Archdiocese is committed to the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of all children and vulnerable adults.
