Head of Transaction Approval & Advice – ING Netherlands

About the role

The Head of Transaction Approval & Advice (TA&A) is the most senior 2nd Line leader responsible for safeguarding the integrity, quality, and consistency of ING NL’s transaction‑level decisioning. This role ensures that ING NL only enters into transactions that align with the bank’s risk appetite, regulatory obligations, strategic priorities, and long‑term franchise value.

The function provides independent expert advisory, challenge, and approval across the full transaction spectrum, corporate & SME lending, structured and leveraged finance, specialised transactions, and other non‑standard or high‑risk exposures. It anchors clear, consistent, and credible risk decisions. The Head of TA&A also plays a pivotal role in modernising ING NL’s deal‑approval and risk‑advisory environment, championing the responsible adoption of automation, advanced analytics, and AI‑enabled decision support. The role ensures that digital tools enhance the quality and consistency of risk decisions while safeguarding explainability, model integrity, and regulatory compliance.

Reports directly to the Chief Risk Officer, ING Netherlands, operating with substantial independence as part of the 2nd Line of Defence. Close collaboration with Credit Risk, NFR, Portfolio Management, Compliance, Group Risk, and relevant business lines is essential.

Roles and responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high‑performing team of senior credit‑risk experts
• Build a culture of excellence, challenge, transparency, and craftsmanship in deal assessment
• Ensure effective talent development, succession management, and workload planning
• Independently challenge the 1LoD on credit analysis, borrower viability, structural soundness, mitigants, covenants, collateral, and risk‑return trade‑offs
• Ensure that risk judgment remains professional and independent
• Ensure all automated or AI‑supported decisioning complies with ING’s appetite, model‑risk standards, explainability requirements, and regulatory expectations
• Responsible for prudent and active management of exposures with first sign of deteriorating credit worthiness in line with developed EWS standards
• Active participation in Watchlist meetings and early detection of potentially problematic exposures
• Ensure consistent adoption of ING’s global credit‑risk framework and relevant non‑financial risk requirements within the transaction lifecycle
• Partner with Model Risk, Data Management, Compliance and NFR domains to guarantee data quality, model monitoring, fairness, explainability, and documentation
• Represent TA&A in key risk committees, ensuring a clear, independent voice on deal governance and transaction risk
• Recommend structural improvements to risk appetite, underwriting standards, and portfolio strategies
• Collaborate with Financial Risk, NFR, Compliance, and Group stakeholders to ensure integrated and forward‑looking risk views
• Role‑model a risk‑aware, integrity‑led, challenge‑friendly culture across ING NL
• Help create a resilient risk organisation that balances trust, empowerment, accountability, and innovation

How to succeed

We are looking for the following knowledge and experience:

• 10+ years in credit risk management, structured finance, corporate lending, or similar domains.
• Very strong strategic skills with ability to focus on high impact elements, detect and address challenges efficiently
• Strong track record of 2LoD challenge and high‑stakes risk decisioning.
• Experience with data‑driven risk decisioning, model‑based underwriting, and automated or AI‑enabled risk tools (preferred).
• Deep understanding of prudential regulation, ECB expectations, underwriting frameworks, and deal‑governance standards.
• Ability to make clear, defendable decisions under pressure.
• Skilled at balancing commercial momentum with responsible risk taking.
• Ability to bridge human expertise with machine intelligence, understanding where automation adds value and where human oversight is essential.
• Independent mindset with strong ethical grounding.

Rewards and benefits

• 25-28 vacation days depending on contract
• Pension scheme
• 13th month salary
• 8% Holiday payment
• Hybrid working
• Personal growth and challenging work with endless possibilities
• An informal working environment with innovative colleagues