Vice President - Model Validation - Credit Risk / Stress Testing

Vice President - Model Validation - Credit Risk / Stress Testing (gn)

For our client, a leading global universal bank with its European headquarters in Frankfurt, we are currently looking for a Vice President - Model Validation Credit Risk / Stress Testing (gn) to strengthen the team.

Purpose of the job

The role is responsible for providing independent oversight and validation of credit risk and stress testing models, including credit rating models, PD/LGD/EAD, IFRS 9/ECL, loss reserve models, credit portfolio models, capital, ICAAP and related forecasting and scenario models. It combines quantitative and model risk expertise with strong governance and stakeholder engagement to promote consistent validation standards, effective follow-up of identified findings, and transparent communication to relevant governance, assurance and regulatory stakeholders.

Tasks

• Lead independent validation of credit risk and stress testing models, including credit rating, PD/LGD/EAD, IFRS 9/ECL, loss reserve, credit portfolio, capital, ICAAP and forecasting/scenario models, ensuring consistent quality, remediation oversight and effective reporting.
• Ensure robust, independent and clear validation conclusions, findings and recommendations, including timely escalation, tracking and senior stakeholder communication.
• Oversee the full validation findings lifecycle, including severity assessment, remediation tracking, closure review, overdue escalation and governance reporting.
• Support the development of the model validation function through recruitment, onboarding, coaching, work allocation, quality assurance and consistent validation standards, while communicating key risks and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Ensure effective alignment and collaboration with relevant model risk and validation teams to promote consistent practices and knowledge sharing.
• Support model risk governance and oversight activities for models within the relevant scope.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in a quantitative field such as Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or Computer Science, combined with 5+ years of relevant experience in model risk, validation, development or quantitative risk disciplines.
• Proven practical expertise in model validation, credit risk modelling, stress testing, capital modelling or quantitative risk analytics, including analysis of large and complex datasets.
• Comprehensive understanding of credit risk and stress testing methodologies, including credit rating, PD/LGD/EAD, IFRS 9/ECL, loss reserve, credit portfolio, ICAAP, stress testing and forecasting/scenario models.
• Sound knowledge of relevant regulatory and supervisory frameworks, including IFRS 9/ECL, ICAAP, EBA/ECB stress testing, CRR/CRD, MaRisk, ECB/BaFin/Bundesbank requirements and applicable international model risk standards.
• Strong quantitative capabilities across benchmarking, sensitivity and outcome analysis, back-testing, performance monitoring, segmentation, calibration and data quality assessment.
• Proficiency in quantitative programming and data analysis tools such as Python, R, SQL or SAS is advantageous.