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Senior Credit Officer, Director - US Insurance

BMO · Chicago, IL · $130,000–$270,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a credit you declined that the business badly wanted.

What they are checking: Whether they will decline a credit the business wants and stand by it, because that independence protects the bank.

The posting asks you to provide credit coaching and training to your team and other stakeholders. How do you bring along a junior analyst whose write-ups aren't landing?

What they are checking: Whether they can coach a struggling analyst patiently and specifically, since developing people is a stated duty at this level.

How do you write a credit recommendation for a committee that will decide in fifteen minutes?

What they are checking: Whether they can write a short, clear recommendation that lets a busy committee make a sound decision quickly.

What would you do

The role partners with investment banking and capital markets. How do you stay independent while working that closely with the people bringing the deals?

What they are checking: Whether they keep their credit judgment independent while working closely with the bankers who bring the deals.

You're asked to network with industry contacts for competitive insights. Where's the line between market intelligence and information you shouldn't have?

What they are checking: Whether they know where useful market intelligence ends and improper information begins, which matters in a regulated firm.

This is described as a highly visible role based at 320 South Canal Street in Chicago. What do you want to know about the portfolio size and the committee structure before you'd take it?

What they are checking: Whether they ask what actually determines if the job works

About the work

This role provides independent review and adjudication of credit for an insurance portfolio, reporting to the Counterparty Credit Executive. Walk me through how you underwrite an insurance counterparty.

What they are checking: Whether they can underwrite an insurance counterparty specifically, since this portfolio needs sector judgment rather than general lending skills.

What makes analyzing an insurance company different from analyzing an ordinary corporate borrower?

What they are checking: Whether they understand insurer specifics like reserves, capital and claims risk, which proves the specialization is real.

How do you decide when something is inside your credit limits and when it has to go up for a recommendation?

What they are checking: Whether they know exactly where their own authority ends, because acting beyond credit limits is a serious control failure.

What do you watch for in a portfolio that tells you a name is deteriorating before the financials say so?

What they are checking: Whether they spot early warning signs before the financials do, since catching deterioration early limits the bank's losses.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at BMO from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by BMO.

Application Deadline: 10/29/2026 Address: 320 S Canal Street Job Family Group: Audit, Risk & Compliance Reporting directly to the Counterparty Credit Executive, this highly visible leadership role in the second line of defence is responsible for the independent credit risk assessment, adjudication, and portfolio management of a portfolio of U.S. Insurance clients, with a primary focus on Life Insurance and Property & Casualty (P&C) Insurance companies. The successful candidate will partner closely with Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, and Capital Markets teams to evaluate and approve complex lending, trading, and counterparty credit exposures while ensuring alignment with the Bank's risk appetite, regulatory expectations, and credit policies. This role requires deep expertise in the U.S. insurance sector, including insurance company financial analysis, capital structures, statutory reporting, investment portfolios, liquidity management, reserving practices, and regulatory frameworks. The role also requires strong knowledge of lending products, derivatives, and trading-related credit exposures. Credit Risk Adjudication & Portfolio Management • Provide independent credit assessment and adjudication of lending, trading, and counterparty credit exposures involving U.S. Life Insurance and P&C Insurance companies. • Approve transactions within delegated authority and provide recommendations for transactions requiring escalation. • Assess borrower and counterparty creditworthiness through detailed analysis of financial performance, capital adequacy, liquidity, asset quality, profitability, and risk profile. • Evaluate and approve a broad range of products, including corporate lending facilities, derivatives, securities financing transactions, repo, and other capital markets products. • Monitor portfolio quality and emerging risks to ensure exposures remain within the Bank's risk appetite and established credit policies. • Recommend transaction structures, covenants, collateral arrangements, and credit risk mitigants to appropriately manage risk. Insurance Sector Expertise • Serve as the subject matter expert for the U.S. Insurance sector, including Life, Annuity, Reinsurance, and Property & Casualty Insurance companies. • Analyze statutory and GAAP financial statements, RBC capital metrics, reserving adequacy, investment portfolio composition, liquidity, and enterprise risk management frameworks. • Maintain a current understanding of industry trends, regulatory developments, market conditions, and competitive dynamics affecting insurance companies. • Identify emerging risks and opportunities across the insurance portfolio and communicate implications to senior leadership. Strategic Partnership & Stakeholder Management • Partner with Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, Trading, and Capital Markets teams to support client activities while maintaining strong independent risk oversight. • Act as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders on complex credit and risk matters. • Influence transaction structures and risk outcomes through effective negotiation and stakeholder engagement. • Present credit recommendations and portfolio views to senior management and credit committees. • Build strong relationships across Risk, Front Office, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and Regulatory functions. Leadership & Governance • Provide credit coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance to junior credit professionals and broader stakeholder groups. • Support strategic initiatives, process enhancements, credit policy development, and risk management projects. • Lead or participate in regulatory reviews, audits, and governance activities as required. • Contribute to the development of portfolio reporting, risk analytics, and management information systems. Qualifications: • 10+ years of experience in credit risk, counterparty credit risk, insurance credit, or financial institutions. • Significant coverage experience across U.S. Life Insurance and/or Property & Casualty Insurance sectors. • Strong lending, credit underwriting, and counterparty credit risk expertise, including capital markets products. • Experience presenting complex credit recommendations to senior executives and credit committees. • Proven ability to manage large, complex portfolios and credit exposures. • Deep knowledge of the U.S. insurance industry, including Life, Annuities, Reinsurance, and P&C sectors. • Strong understanding of insurance financial analysis, capital adequacy, reserving practices, and regulatory frameworks. • Advanced credit structuring, portfolio management, and risk mitigation skills. • Expertise in lending products, derivatives, and capital markets-related credit exposures. • Strong executive presence with exceptional stakeholder management and influencing abilities. • Superior analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. • Ability to communicate complex credit concepts clearly to diverse audiences. • Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and talent development experience. • Thrives in fast-paced environments and effectively manages ambiguity. • CFA, FRM, CPA, MBA, or similar professional designation. • Experience within a major bank, rating agency, insurance company, or global financial institution. • Experience with regulatory reviews, stress testing, or portfolio analytics. Salary : $130,000.00 - $270,000.00 Pay Type: Salaried The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type. Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position. BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards About Us At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world. As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset. To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to BMOCareers.Support@bmo.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.

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