Rekha Chawla
Milton Keynes
Summary
Experienced in commercial lending, specialising in Owner Occupied business, BTL, HMOs, and MUFBs. Proficient in financial analysis, underwriting, and credit risk management. Expertise in cash flow lending, fintech solutions, and SME banking operations. Skilled in credit analysis, post completions processes, and AML/KYC compliance. Career goal: to leverage extensive knowledge in the SME sector to drive financial innovation and operational excellence.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
Assistant underwriter
Allica Bank
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
02.2023 - Current
- Underwrote and approved 300 cases commercial lending requests for UK SMEs and investors, ensuring adherence to bank policies.
- Conducting detailed analysis of UBO's credit worthiness, security quality, financial accounts, overall deal structure.
- Ensured compliance with FCA and PRA regulations throughout the lending process.
- Liaise with origination team Brokers/ BDMs.
- Conducted valuation overviews and signed off on offers, verifying all conditions before drawdown.
- Managed applications from diverse customer segments, including commercial investments and specialist buy-to-let properties, HMO's-House in Multiple Occupation, MUFB (Multi Unit Freehold Blocks).
- Collaborated with data and technology teams to enhance loan review portal and develop required management information reports.
- Monitored early warning indicators for borrowers, managing alerts to mitigate risks effectively.
- Contributed to AI/ML testing in underwriting by drafting financial analysis questionnaires.
- Play key role training new team members & drafting underwriting manual for asst. underwriters.
- Opportunity to work in asset finance secondments and training.
Underwriting manager
Indian Overseas Bank
MUMBAI, INDIA
06.2018 - 07.2022
- Structured, negotiated, and underwrote new lending opportunities while managing existing portfolio of 200 reviews and renewals.
- Provided recommendations for credit approval, ensuring compliance with policies and mandate authority.
- Ensured adherence to documented covenants and terms of sanction, verifying financial covenants were met and reported.
- Reviewed credit limits and monitored collateral to balance portfolio risk and return effectively.
- Maintained oversight of portfolio risks and trends in line with regulatory requirements and internal controls.
- Liaised with panel valuers and solicitors to obtain necessary reports and ensure compliance.
- Conducted credit checks by acquiring external rating agency reports (Experian, D&B, Equifax), maintaining clients' internal ratings.
- Extracted various reports and submitted them in timely manner, ensuring audit compliance with internal and external standards.
Credit risk manager
Indian Overseas Bank
Mumbai
07.2015 - 06.2018
- Conducted credit reviews and analyses to manage credit risk effectively.
- Covenant monitoring financial/non-financial performance of borrowers & ensuring client continue to timely comply with terms & conditions of banking facilities sanctioned.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry developments for benchmarking purposes.
- Arranged and participated in regular client meetings to enhance relationships.
- Collaborated with relationship managers to support diverse customer service functions.
- Ensured adherence to regulatory procedures as mandated by FCA and PRA.
- Assisted relationship managers in providing value-added guidance to clients and prospects.
- Managed administrative and operational risks within assigned portfolio, focusing on identification and control.
Credit manager
Indian Overseas Bank
Mumbai
06.2012 - 05.2015
- Credit approvals & annual reviews for SME's, Corporates borrowers.
- Conducted credit investigations and checks using Experian, Equifax, and D&B ratings reports.
- Ensured compliance with sanction covenants and loan documentation in facility letters.
- Monitored credit portfolio for late payments and escalated issues to senior management.
- Resolved queries from internal and external stakeholders efficiently.
- Analysed branch performance to ensure target achievement within set timelines.
Credit risk analyst
Indian Overseas Bank
Mumbai
09.2009 - 06.2012
- Conducted comprehensive credit assessments and financial reviews, initiating credit application evaluations with SLA adherence.
- Ensured compliance of offer letters through rigorous four-eye checks.
- Managed all credit operations, liaising with brokers, BDMs, valuers, and bank solicitors to uphold offer letter conditions.
- Approved loan drawdowns by verifying compliance with all stipulated conditions.
- Executed post-completion duties, addressing requests for changes in company structure or business operations.
- All post completion duties, any requests for change in structure of company, business. Part release of security or capital repayment, early repayment/ release of securities.
Education
Diploma in Banking & Finance - Banking & Finance
Institute of Banking & Finance
Master in Accounting & Finance - Accounting & Finance
University of Mumbai
IndiaMaster of Business Administration - Finance
University of Mumbai, India
IndiaSkills
- Commerical lending/ Specialist BTL/ HMO's/MUFB's
- Financials Analysis & risk
- Underwriting
- Credit Risk
- Credit Analysis & risk
- Cash flow lending
- ECG
- Fintech
- SME Sector
- Credit Operations
- Post completions
- AML/KYC
- SME Banking
Custom
Reference available on request
Timeline
Assistant underwriter
Allica Bank
02.2023 - Current
Underwriting manager
Indian Overseas Bank
06.2018 - 07.2022
Credit risk manager
Indian Overseas Bank
07.2015 - 06.2018
Credit manager
Indian Overseas Bank
06.2012 - 05.2015
Credit risk analyst
Indian Overseas Bank
09.2009 - 06.2012
Diploma in Banking & Finance - Banking & Finance
Institute of Banking & Finance
Master in Accounting & Finance - Accounting & Finance
University of Mumbai
Master of Business Administration - Finance
University of Mumbai, India
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