Credit & Lending Services Legal Officer

• Support lending transactions from initial documentation through to completion, drawdown and ongoing administration.
• Draft, finalise and issue facility documentation for new loans, renewals, extensions and amendments.
• Liaise with relationship managers, clients and external solicitors to ensure lending transactions progress efficiently.
• Instruct and work with external legal advisers on loan facilities and related security matters where required.
• Identify and escalate legal, credit, operational or completion issues, helping to resolve matters in a timely manner.
• Manage post-drawdown requirements, including outstanding conditions, client correspondence and record updates.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date loan, security and client records in accordance with internal procedures.
• Support the management of legal, credit and operational risk, ensuring transactions remain within agreed approvals and lending parameters.
• Review lending documentation and completed transactions prepared by other team members where appropriate.
• Provide progress updates and respond to lending-related queries from colleagues and external parties.
• Support portfolio and transaction reporting, including completion status and outstanding matters.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls and increase efficiency across the lending function.

The ideal candidate will have experience as a paralegal or legal assistant, or relevant experience within credit operations, lending administration or deal management. Experience in property transactions, banking and finance, secured lending or loan administration would be advantageous. You'll be highly organised and detail-focused, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines. A proactive, client-focused and commercial approach is essential, alongside the confidence to take ownership and progress matters through to completion. Familiarity with lending documentation, security and completion processes would be beneficial, although a willingness to develop this knowledge is equally important.