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Assistant Relationship Director (Development Finance) – Shawbrook (Glasgow, UK)
Job Overview
Shawbrook Bank is seeking a commercial, detail-driven Assistant Relationship Director to join its Structured Lending / Property Development Finance team in Glasgow, Scotland.
Working alongside Senior Relationship Directors, this role acts as a vital bridge between client origination, risk underwriting, and portfolio management. The Assistant Relationship Director is responsible for analyzing, structuring, and completing property development finance facilities while helping manage an active portfolio of real estate developers and investor clients.
Key duties and responsibilities include:
- Deal Structuring & Credit Paper Preparation: Supporting Relationship Directors in evaluating new business inquiries, conducting initial credit assessments, issuing Heads of Terms, and drafting detailed credit applications for the Bank’s Credit function.
- Risk Analysis & Technical Due Diligence: Analyzing complex corporate financial statements and assessing development risks. Reviewing valuation and monitoring surveyor reports to formulate credit recommendations.
- Transaction Execution: Collaborating with the Loan Support and Legal teams to progress approved development facilities seamlessly through to legal completion and drawdowns.
- Client & Broker Engagement: Attending on-site client and broker meetings, representing Shawbrook in the property development market, and building lasting industry relationships.
- Portfolio Management & Data Governance: Partnering with the Portfolio Management team to monitor active loans, maintain precise operational data, and ensure all facility documentation complies with internal lending policies.
About Us
Shawbrook Bank is a specialist UK lender and savings bank built for the modern economy. Combining deep human expertise with advanced digital technology (its “best of both” model), Shawbrook delivers tailored financing solutions across SME, Real Estate, and Personal finance sectors. Operating with a purpose-led, agile, and inclusive culture, Shawbrook empowers business owners, property developers, and investors while offering high-value deposit accounts for savers.
Company Website: https://www.shawbrook.co.uk/
Key Requirements & Qualifications
- Market Knowledge: Solid understanding of the UK property development finance market and structured lending dynamics.
- Credit & Financial Analysis: Direct experience drafting comprehensive credit papers, analyzing complex financial statements, and assessing construction/development risks.
- Industry Experience: Proven background in relationship management, portfolio management, or credit analysis within property development finance or commercial real estate lending.
- Commercial Acumen: Strong focus on responsible lending practices, balancing commercial drive with prudent risk management.
- Soft Skills: High self-motivation, excellent stakeholder communication skills, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively across multi-disciplinary bank teams.
Role Benefits & Perks
- Health & Well-being: Day-1 access to market-leading family-friendly policies (Maternity, Adoption, Paternity), free access to the Headspace (mindfulness) and Peppy (fertility, parenting, menopause) apps, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and gym discounts.
- Financial Security & Lifestyle: Contributory pension scheme, death-in-service coverage, Cycle to Work scheme, and corporate high-street discount schemes.
- Generous Leave: Minimum of 27 days of annual leave per year, plus a flexible holiday buy-or-sell scheme.
- Performance Rewards: Participation in Shawbrook’s annual discretionary bonus scheme and eligibility for the Proudly Shawbrook colleague recognition program.
Salary Insight
- Estimated Base Compensation: Based on regional banking benchmarks in Glasgow for Assistant Relationship Directors and Commercial Banking Portfolio Managers, base compensation typically ranges between £48,000 and £62,000 per year, plus discretionary annual bonuses and full benefits coverage.
Career Guide Tips for Development Finance Professionals
- Master Development Appraisal Models: Familiarize yourself with detailed property development appraisal metrics—such as Gross Development Value (GDV), Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC), build costs, and developer profit margins.
- Understand Construction Risk Mechanics: Deepen your knowledge of construction contracts (JCT/NEC), initial monitoring surveyor reports, draw-down schedules, and contractor creditworthiness.
- Build Your Broker Network: Developing strong working relationships with commercial finance brokers and regional real estate consultants is key to long-term career progression in banking origination.
How to Prepare a CV for This Position
- Highlight Credit Paper Experience: Explicitly state the size, structure, and total facility values (e.g., “Drafted credit proposals for £2M–£15M residential development loans”) on your resume.
- Detail Property Sector Exposure: Specify the types of development projects you have worked on (e.g., ground-up residential, student accommodation, commercial conversions, refurbishment schemes).
- Demonstrate Analytical Skill Sets: Call out proficiency in financial modeling, balance sheet analysis, cash flow forecasting, and stress-testing developer sensitivity models.
How to Prepare for the Interview
- Brush Up on Credit Analysis Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you evaluate developer track records, contractor solvency, inflation risk in build costs, and planning permission conditions.
- Prepare STAR Technique Examples: Formulate structured responses (Situation, Task, Action, Result) illustrating how you managed complex deal completions, handled difficult credit committee queries, or resolved deal bottlenecks.
- Study Shawbrook’s Lending Focus: Research Shawbrook’s recent public property finance deals and understand their target market positioning relative to traditional high-street banks.
Top 3 Interview Questions & How to Answer Them
1. “How do you evaluate key risks when reviewing a property development credit proposal?”
- Explain your approach to analyzing developer track records, location/GDV realistic valuations, build cost volatility, contractor solvency, pre-sale/pre-let commitments, and sensitivity testing interest rate or schedule overruns.
2. “Walk us through a scenario where a valuation report or monitoring surveyor’s report came back lower or more complex than expected.”
- Highlight how you communicated transparently with the Relationship Director and client, adjusted LTV/LTC parameters objectively, and proposed risk mitigants (such as increased equity contribution or additional security) to the Credit function.
3. “How do you balance high deal volumes and tight client funding deadlines while maintaining strict regulatory compliance and accuracy?”
- Discuss time-management and prioritization strategies, leveraging loan support resources, maintaining structured checklists, and keeping open channels of communication with all internal stakeholders.
How to Apply
To express interest, submit your application directly through the Shawbrook Careers Portal by searching for Employer Reference REF1653X (Assistant Relationship Director – Structured Lending / Development Finance, Glasgow). Attach an up-to-date CV highlighting your property finance, credit writing, and real estate risk assessment background.
Disclaimer
This summary is an independent document created for informational, educational, and career development purposes only. It does not constitute an official offer of employment or contract from Shawbrook Bank Limited. Compensation structures, job duties, and requirements remain subject to final confirmation by the employer.