Credit risk is the risk of loss of principle if a borrower defaults on a loan repayment obligation. It arises whenever an individual or company expects to use future income to pay a current debt. Through the preparation of credit proposals and credit reviews, which provide the business with independent assessments about the financial standing of prospective and existing borrowers, Credit risk analysts help to limit the risk of financial loss.

To ensure that credit proposals or extensions are approved or declined in accordance with both the firm's internal credit policies and local regulations, credit analysts work closely with the lending team. Most lenders use their own models (credit scorecards) to rank potential and existing customers according to risk. Factors taken into account include operating experience, management expertise, asset quality, and leverage and liquidity ratios.

The aim is to ensure high credit quality through the structuring, sanctioning, monitoring and control of credit applications, as well as ongoing maintenance of credit standards. Performing regular reviews of clients whose credit portfolios require close monitoring is another job of the credit analysts. This helps to ensure that any deterioration is quickly recognised and that credit risk is mitigated.

Credit professionals, especially senior ones, maintain close working relationships with the business and must understand their portfolio and risk capabilities. Another important responsibility is tostay up to date with the financial analysis and the risk profiles of their assigned sectors, borrowers and counterparties throughout their credit careers. Ultimately, they must balance the desire of front-office sales staff to expand the business, with the need to lend prudently and make sound credit decisions.

There are credit risk issues within different types of transactions - including corporate banking, project finance, structured trade and syndications. As well as banks, private equity firms, for example, recruit credit professionals use them to manage the credit risk of counterparties and investment-related service providers.

Credit jobs can also be quite specific, such as roles which focus only on counterparty risk and involve due diligence visits to financial institutions to collect credit information. Financial records are analysed on excel spreadsheets so that the bank has a realistic assumption of future operating performance.