The AVP
& Regional Lead, Western Canada Advisory Group provides strategic,
technical, and people leadership for a specialized advisory team supporting
complex commercial lending across Western Canada. Based in either Calgary or
Vancouver, and reporting to the Head of Credit Execution, Western Canada, the role is
accountable for advancing underwriting quality, consistency, and sound risk
judgment across large and complex borrowing arrangements, while serving as a
key partner to Commercial Banking deal teams, Risk Management, and Western
Canada leadership.
The Western
Canada Advisory Group is a growing specialized advisory function. The AVP &
Regional Lead is responsible for leading the existing team and building the
Group's continued expansion across Western Canada, including talent
development, recruitment, and establishing scalable priorities, structures, and
operating practices.
Your Role
As the
senior leader of the Western Canada Advisory Group, you will lead a growing
team of experienced advisory professionals, support the structuring and
execution of complex commercial lending transactions, deliver portfolio
insights and strategic recommendations, and drive the continued development of
advisory practices across Western Canada. Success in the role requires strong
commercial banking judgment, proven leadership capability, and the technical
credibility to contribute from day one.
Leadership Accountabilities
- Lead the strategic direction,
priorities, operating model, and ongoing development of the Western Canada
Advisory Group, providing recommendations on organizational design, resource
requirements, and future growth opportunities - Build, develop and expand a team of
Regional Directors and advisory professionals, including talent planning,
recruitment, coaching, performance management, and succession development - Promote consistency across Western
Canada Commercial Banking teams by facilitating the sharing of market insights,
emerging risks, and underwriting best practices among regional teams - Build a collaborative team culture
grounded in expertise, responsiveness, constructive feedback, knowledge
sharing, and continuous improvement - Represent the Western Canada
Advisory Group with Commercial Banking, Credit Execution, Risk Management, and
Western Canada leadership, fostering collaboration, sharing portfolio and
market insights, and driving alignment on underwriting practices, emerging
risks, and strategic priorities
Complex Transaction Leadership
- Provide
senior oversight and guidance on the structuring and underwriting of large and
complex borrowing arrangements, including business transfers, cash flow
lending, mergers and acquisitions, and transactions in specialized or
higher-risk industries, ensuring Advisory Group involvement occurs early enough
to influence transaction structure, underwriting strategy, risk identification,
and approval outcomes - Review
transaction committee materials, approve Discussion Papers and Term Sheets
within established accountabilities, and oversee the review of boardsheets and
deal documentation to ensure accuracy, consistency, completeness, and clear
articulation of risk - Provide
senior advisory support on complex credit matters, guiding deal teams through
transactions involving material structural complexity, elevated risk, differing
stakeholder perspectives, or issues requiring escalation - Maintain accountability for the
quality and consistency of the Advisory Group's advice while ensuring Regional
Directors retain ownership of their respective regional mandates
Portfolio Oversight and Strategic Insight
- Maintain a current, region-level
view of the Western Canadian Commercial Loan Portfolio, including oversight of
risk-rating migration and financial health by industry and region - Translate portfolio and transaction
trends into practical recommendations for senior leadership and underwriting
teams, highlighting strengths, concentrations, emerging vulnerabilities, and
areas requiring attention - Use portfolio insights to shape
Advisory Group priorities, underwriting guidance, learning initiatives, and
discussions with Risk Management - Provide forward-looking perspectives
on emerging risks and industry developments that may affect underwriting
quality, portfolio performance, or future capability requirements
Standards, Governance and Continuous
Improvement
- Own the consistency, governance, and
ongoing improvement of credit advisory practices across Western Canada,
including the establishment of decision rights, escalation protocols,
engagement expectations, and quality standards - Oversee the maintenance and ongoing
enhancement of transaction databases, boardsheet templates, underwriting
guides, transaction committee materials, and other advisory tools to support
consistency, knowledge sharing, and effective execution across regions - Promote best practices through
practical guidance, feedback mechanisms, and continuous enhancement of advisory
and underwriting practices - Identify recurring process barriers,
quality gaps, or emerging needs and lead practical improvements that strengthen
execution, consistency, and technical rigor while maintaining appropriate risk
discipline
Capability Building and Knowledge Leadership
- Create and lead the Advisory Group's
learning and development agenda, partnering with underwriting leaders and
subject matter experts to strengthen expertise in transaction structuring,
underwriting, credit risk, specialized industries, and NBC lending programs - Translate lessons from transactions,
portfolio trends, and Risk Management feedback into practical coaching,
development programs, and reusable best practices - Build bench strength by developing
Regional Directors and advisory professionals, identifying capability needs,
and supporting the progression of underwriting and advisory talent - Identify current and future
capability requirements and implement recruitment, succession, and
talent-development strategies that support the continued growth and
sustainability of the Western Canada Advisory Group
Stakeholder and Business Partnership
- Build trusted relationships across
Commercial Banking, Credit Execution, Risk Management, and Western Canada
leadership, acting as a credible partner who can influence, challenge, and
align stakeholders on complex matters - Provide balanced and well-supported
recommendations on complex transactions and portfolio matters, balancing
technical credit considerations, risk stewardship, business priorities, and
client needs - Promote effective communication and
engagement across regions and functions, ensuring alignment on material issues
and building awareness of the Advisory Group's mandate and specialized
capabilities
Requirements
- Bachelor of Commerce, or equivalent
professional experience; a Master of Business Administration is considered an
asset - 15+ years of progressive commercial
banking experience, including substantial experience in underwriting or
combined sales and underwriting roles, supported by a strong record of success - Deep technical credit and
credit-risk expertise, including transaction structuring, underwriting,
covenant design, risk mitigation, and the ability to provide senior oversight
on large and complex commercial lending transactions - Strong knowledge of commercial
credit risk principles and demonstrated credibility working with Credit Risk
partners to achieve sound, appropriately structured credit outcomes - Demonstrated leadership success,
including experience building, scaling, and developing high-performing teams,
specialized advisory functions, or underwriting platforms - Demonstrated ability to establish or
enhance governance frameworks, underwriting practices, service models, and
advisory processes, with a track record of translating experience and feedback
into practical improvements in execution and risk management - Strong executive communication,
judgment, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders,
challenge constructively, and balance technical, business, and client
considerations - Experience balancing direct
involvement in complex transactions with accountability for people leadership,
portfolio oversight, governance, and business growth
Languages: English
Required skills: Commercial Banking, Credit & Lending, Credit Risk, Credit Underwriting, Governance, Risk and Compliance, Loan Underwriting, Performance Management, Portfolio Management, Risk Mitigation, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Leadership, Team Building
Your benefits
In addition to competitive compensation, upon hiring you’ll be eligible for a wide range of flexible benefits to help promote your wellbeing and that of your family such as:
* Health and wellness program, including many options
* Flexible group insurance
* Generous pension plan
* Employee Share Ownership Plan
* Employee and family assistance program
* Preferential banking services
* Involvement in community initiatives
* Telemedicine service
* Virtual sleep clinic
We have an offer that keeps up with trends as well as your needs and those of your family.
Our dynamic work environments and cutting-edge collaboration tools foster a positive employee experience. We value employees’ ideas. Whether through our surveys or programs, regular feedback and ongoing communication are encouraged.
Making a bold move in a people-first environment
We’re a bank on a human scale that stands out for its courage, entrepreneurial culture, and passion for people. Our mission is to have a positive impact on people’s lives. Our core values of partnership, agility, and empowerment inspire us, and inclusion is central to our commitments. We aim, wherever possible, to provide a barrier-free and accessible environment to all employees.
We strive to provide accessibility measures throughout the recruitment process within the limits of our available resources. If you require accommodations, feel free to let us know during our initial conversations. We welcome all candidates! What can you bring to our team?
Join us!