Senior Portfolio Manager - Principal Finance & Capital Markets

Senior Portfolio Manager - Principal Finance & Capital Markets
Sydney | Challenger Limited

Challenger Investments is seeking a Senior Portfolio Manager to join our Principal Finance & Capital Markets team in Sydney. The role spans two functions:

The Principal Finance function is responsible for originating, executing and managing transactions where Challenger Investments, acting as principal, acquires mortgage and other loan portfolios from banks, non-banks and corporates. The Principal Finance function also oversees strategic equity investments linked to asset origination partnerships. 

The Capital Markets function provides enterprise‑wide leadership and support across origination, investment structuring, financing and strategy implementation, executing effectively alongside asset class teams as well as the Investment Strategy team while ensuring alignment to funding sources, return on capital objectives and balance sheet, funds & mandates constraints.

About The Team

You'll sit within Challenger Investments, alongside the broader Credit Team, Investment Strategy and Asset Liability Management, as well as Risk, Legal, Compliance and Finance - a collegiate, commercially minded environment where senior people are given real ownership.

About The Role 

Transaction Origination & Execution

• Contribute to building a pipeline of whole loan portfolio acquisitions, whether static portfolios or forward flow transactions, including opportunities to expand and deepen existing partnerships 

• Lead the origination and execution of new whole loans transactions end-to-end: 

• Conducting extensive investment due diligence in partnership with Challenger Group Line 2 teams 

• Structuring and pricing 

• Cashflow modelling and scenario analysis 

• External stakeholder management including originator, servicer, senior funder, rating agency, trustee and other transaction counterparties   

• Preparing investment papers for internal approvals 

• Transaction legal documentation

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with issuers, banks and counterparties

Portfolio Management& Oversight

• Actively contribute to portfolio construction for the Principal Finance strategy 

• Closely manage existing investments, including compliance with transaction covenants and risk limits, performance monitoring, driving amendments or restructureswhere needed

• Design and implement upgrades to the internal operational framework, with particular emphasis on execution efficiency, rigorous ongoing transaction management, and timely, accurate reporting

Structuring & Financing  

• Contribute to portfolio- and deal-level decision-making, as required, by providing structuring and funding insight, testing feasibility against funding, capital and balance‑sheet constraints 

• Lead initiatives to design efficient structures and financing packages and work with the relevant stakeholders to implement. 

Leadership & Internal Engagement

• Act as a senior representative for the team 

• Expand capabilities across the team by supporting and developing talent with strong technical skills, commercial judgement, risk awareness and enterprise thinking 

• Collaborate closely with the ANZ and Offshore ABS teams to ensure coordination and drive the continued growth of Challenger’s asset-backed credit platform 

• Work closely with internal stakeholders across Legal, Credit Risk, Finance, Compliance and Operations

Enterprise Integration & Governance 

• Ensure structuring, financing and strategy implementation activities meet board- and committee‑approved governance frameworks and risk limits, regulatory expectations, and best‑practice governance standards 

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to continuously uplift risk governance activities 

What We're Looking For

• 10 years+ of experience across structured credit or asset-backed finance markets 

• Strong understanding of securitised credit, mortgage lending and consumer credit asset classes

• Deep network and relationships across Australian non-banks and banks

• Highly numerate with advanced financial modelling skills, with the ability to quickly interpret data/figures

• Ability to work independently, take initiative and manage own tasks effectively

• Familiarity with corporate regulatory environments, governance principles and risk management within an investment management context

• Relevant tertiary qualification (Finance, Commerce, Mathematics or similar)
  

Why Challenger?

Working at Challenger means being part of a connected team that enjoys what they do. We’re small enough to move quickly, and big enough to make meaningful change.We support your growth and development, offer flexibility, and value the unique contributions people bring.

We provide access to a range of exclusive employee benefits that will support you both personally and professionally and a hybrid work environment including.

• Competitive Discretionary bonus scheme. 

• Employee share plan. 

• Eighteen weeks paid leave for all new parents with flexibility on when, and how, parental leave is taken. 

• Challenger Day – one extra day off every year in recognition of the effort our people make. 

• Subsidised on-site café and fantastic central location a stone's throw from Martin Place Metro 

• Additional support leave (fertility treatment leave, gender affirmation leaves). 

• Extra superannuation contributions. 

• Access to Fitness Passport

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