Overview
Credit Risk Manager Jobs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Trivers
Title: Credit Risk Manager
Company: Trivers
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
ROLE PURPOSE & STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE
The Risk Manager &Credit Manager is the architect and guardian of company entire risk framework. This combined role—permitted by SAMA for early-stage finance companies—demands a professional who can build an enterprise risk management program from scratch while simultaneously designing the credit underwriting engine that will define company core business. The individual must balance two critical mandates:
first, creating robust risk identification, assessment, and mitigation structures across credit, operational, market, liquidity, strategic, and reputational risk categories; second, designing credit policies, scoring models, and portfolio management practices that enable responsible lending while protecting capital. This person will be a key voice in product design, pricing strategy, and customer segmentation—ensuring that commercial ambition never outpaces risk prudence. In a startup lending company, this role is not advisory; it is decisional and carries direct accountability for the quality of every riyal lent.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS
The role holder is expected to deliver measurable outcomes across the following areas:
• Enterprise Risk Framework: Design, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Enterprise Risk
Management (ERM) framework covering credit risk, operational risk, market risk, liquidity risk, strategic risk, reputational risk, and technology risk. The framework must include a risk taxonomy, risk appetite statement, risk register, key risk indicators (KRIs), and escalation protocols aligned with SAMA expectations.
• Credit Policy & Underwriting Standards: Author the company’s Credit Policy from scratch, defining eligibility criteria, debt-burden ratios, maximum exposure limits, collateral requirements, tenure policies, pricing methodology, and exception management. Ensure the policy is aligned with SAMA’s responsible lending guidelines and the Consumer Finance Regulations.
• Credit Scoring & Decision Engine: Design and validate credit scoring models (application scoring, behavioral scoring, and collection scoring) that optimize approval rates while maintaining portfolio quality within risk appetite. Specify decision engine rules including automated approvals, manual referrals, and decline criteria. Monitor model performance through ongoing validation, back-testing, and champion/challenger testing.
• Risk Assessment per CRFR 3.1.6: Conduct periodic and event-driven risk assessments covering IT,
cyber, operational, and business risks as mandated by CRFR control 3.1.6. Document findings, risk
ratings, and remediation plans. Present results to the Board Risk Committee quarterly.
• CRC Service Request Review: Review every new service, product, or channel request (CRC Form)
from a risk perspective before submission to SAMA. Ensure that risk assessments are completed,
controls are identified, and residual risks are within acceptable tolerance.
• Portfolio Monitoring & Reporting: Establish real-time portfolio monitoring dashboards tracking delinquency rates, vintage analysis, roll rates, concentration risk, and provision adequacy. Define early warning triggers and escalation protocols when portfolio metrics breach tolerance thresholds. Produce monthly risk reports for the CEO and quarterly risk reports for the Board Risk Committee.
• Stress Testing & Scenario Analysis: Design and execute stress testing scenarios covering economic downturns, sector-specific shocks, interest rate movements, and operational disruptions. Use results to calibrate risk appetite, capital buffers, and contingency plans.
• Provisioning & IFRS 9: Collaborate with the CFO to establish IFRS 9 Expected Credit Loss (ECL) methodology, including stage classification criteria, probability of default (PD) models, loss given default (LGD) estimates, and exposure at default (EAD) calculations. Review provision adequacy monthly.
• Fraud Risk Integration: Work closely with the Anti-Fraud Manager to ensure fraud risk is properly
integrated into the overall risk framework, and that fraud losses are captured, analyzed, and factored into risk appetite and provisioning decisions.
• Regulatory Limit Monitoring: Monitor compliance with all SAMA prudential limits including single
borrower exposure limits, sector concentration limits, related party lending restrictions, capital adequacy ratios, and leverage ratios. Report breaches immediately to the CEO and SAMA.
KEY DELIVERABLES & SUCCESS METRICS:
The following concrete deliverables are expected within the first 6–12 months:
• Risk Management Policy: Board-approved Enterprise Risk Management Policy submitted to SAMA within 2 months, covering all risk categories with clear ownership and escalation paths.
• Credit Policy: Comprehensive Credit Policy approved by Board and submitted to SAMA within 3 months, with detailed underwriting criteria, scoring model specifications, and exception authority matrix.
• Risk Appetite Statement: Quantified risk appetite statement approved by the Board within 2 months, with specific thresholds for each risk category and clear linkage to capital planning.
• Scoring Models: Credit scoring models developed, validated, and deployed in the decision engine within 6 months of license, with documented methodology and performance benchmarks.
• Risk Dashboard: Automated risk monitoring dashboard operational within 4 months, with real-time KRIs visible to CEO, Board Risk Committee, and risk team.
• CRFR Risk Assessments: First comprehensive risk assessment per CRFR 3.1.6 completed and
documented within 3 months, with annual refresh cycle established.
QUALIFICATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, Statistics, or a quantitative discipline.
Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• FRM (Financial Risk Manager) or PRM (Professional Risk Manager) certification required. CFA is a
strong plus.
• Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities, including statistical modeling and data analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of SAMA prudential regulations, IFRS 9, and Basel frameworks as applicable to finance companies.
• Fluency in Arabic and English (both written and spoken) is mandatory.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
• Minimum 10 years in risk management and/or credit management in financial institutions (banks, finance companies, or fintech lenders).
• At least 5 years in a senior risk or credit role with portfolio-level accountability.
• Hands-on experience building credit scoring models and decision engine rules for consumer or SME lending.
• Experience working with SAMA-regulated entities and familiarity with SAMA inspection methodology is strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of building risk management frameworks from inception in new or early-stage financial institutions.
CORE COMPETENCIES & SKILLS:
• Analytical Rigor: Ability to synthesize complex quantitative data into actionable risk insights and
translate them into clear recommendations for non-technical stakeholders.
• Commercial Awareness: Understanding that risk management is an enabler, not a blocker—ability to find the optimal balance between growth and prudence.
• Regulatory Fluency: Deep understanding of how SAMA evaluates risk management practices and what constitutes a best-in-class risk function for a finance company.
• Decisiveness: Willingness to make and defend risk decisions, including declining transactions that
exceed risk appetite, escalating concerns to the Board, and challenging the CEO when necessary.
• Communication: Ability to present complex risk topics clearly to the Board, simplify technical concepts for operational teams, and write comprehensive risk reports that satisfy SAMA expectations.
SAMA REGULATORY COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS:
This position carries direct accountability for the following SAMA regulatory requirements:
• Fit & Proper Assessment: Appointment requires SAMA approval. The individual must pass Fit & Proper evaluation before commencing duties. SAMA must be notified of any subsequent changes.
• CRC Service Request Sign-Off: Must formally review and sign off on all CRC Service Requests before they are submitted to SAMA, confirming that risk assessments have been completed and residual risks are acceptable.
• CRFR 3.1.6 Compliance: Direct accountability for conducting, documenting, and reporting risk
assessments as required by CRFR control 3.1.6, including IT and cyber risk dimensions in coordination with the CISO.
• Risk Management Policy: Owner of the Risk Management Policy per SAMA Governance Principles.
Must ensure the policy is reviewed at least annually, approved by the Board, and available for SAMA inspection at all times.
• Prudential Limit Monitoring: Responsible for monitoring and immediately reporting any breach of SAMA prudential limits, including capital adequacy, concentration, and exposure limits.
