Expand+L7 and L8 Key Dates
Autumn Trimester
September 2021 – January 2022
Closing date for applications* 13/09/2021

Spring Trimester
January 2022 – May 2022
Closing date for applications* 28/01/2022

Summer Trimester
June 2022 – September 2...

Hide-L7 and L8 Key Dates
Autumn Trimester
September 2021 – January 2022
Closing date for applications* 13/09/2021

Spring Trimester
January 2022 – May 2022
Closing date for applications* 28/01/2022

Summer Trimester
June 2022 – September 202
Closing date for applications* 27/05/2022

* Places may be available after this date depending on availability.
Key dates:
https://assets.ctfassets.net/19hllh2ssa3x/60iIiNlGEyKehWk7NYgVVn/d8982b4b4aeaa07c76c5c1eae1444abd/IOB_Prospectus_21-KeyDates-Level_7-8_V2.pdf

Expand+Entry Requirements
Individuals seeking admission to the Professional Diploma in SME Credit will:
a) have 3 years’ experience (full time) in a relevant Banking role and have completed the Professional Diploma in Financial Advice or equivalent 30 E...

Hide-Entry Requirements
Individuals seeking admission to the Professional Diploma in SME Credit will:
a) have 3 years’ experience (full time) in a relevant Banking role and have completed the Professional Diploma in Financial Advice or equivalent 30 ECTS Special Purpose Award/s at Level 7, or
b) have an Honours degree (min. H2.2, Level 8 NFQ), or
Admission will also be considered from experienced professionals who do not meet the minimum admission requirements as set out above, who can demonstrate learning based on work and training experience e.g. Individuals employed in a Credit role with responsibility for Credit decisions in Financial Services.

Professional Body Membership
You must be a current member of IOB, or become a member, to undertake this programme.

Expand+Overview
At a glance
This programme is designed to provide students with core credit analytical skills while enabling them to specialise in trading, property, agri and distressed credit.

Outcomes
The programme will equip participants with an an...

Hide-Overview
At a glance
This programme is designed to provide students with core credit analytical skills while enabling them to specialise in trading, property, agri and distressed credit.

Outcomes
The programme will equip participants with an analytical framework for identifying and conducting the credit risk assessment.

Who is this programme for?
This programme is designed to provide students with core credit analytical skills while enabling them to specialise in trading, property, agri and distressed credit. It is designed to meet the needs of:
• SME relationship managers and their lending portfolio support staff
• SME Property specialists
• SME Agri specialists
• Credit underwriters
• Loan administration and credit policy officers
• Accountants, lawyers and other professionals who provide SME advisory services
• Credit review staff who are responsible for ensuring that lending and credit delivery standards are complied with
• Internal audit staff who assess whether the credit management standards are fit for purpose and are being complied with
• Credit portfolio managers who are responsible for identifying and managing excessive credit concentrations in the loan book, forecasting loan losses and estimating provisions
• Marketing staff who design and promote credit products
• Financial control staff with responsibility for budget setting, capital allocation, financial performance evaluation and financial/regulatory reporting.
How you will benefit
The programme is a specialist education programme that offers a unique, independent, university-level qualification.

The programme will equip participants with an analytical framework for identifying and conducting the credit risk assessment of:
• Viable and sustainable trading, property, and agri SME businesses focusing on the principal SME exposure sectors of the banks
• Fundamentally viable trading SME businesses burdened with an overhang of property-related debt that is non-core to the business.

It will also:
• Introduce the structuring options which are specific to the case studies
• Enhance the skills of relationship managers and credit analysts in managing credit risks to help mitigate potential loan losses
• Support the banks’ strategic plans for addressing their SME distressed businesses.

CPD
If you are a QFA, CPD member, LCOI or Chartered Banker, you may be awarded formal CPD hours when you successfully complete this qualification.

Expand+Modules and learning outcomes:
Core:
Principles of Credit Risk
(NFQ Level 8, 5 ECTS)
On completion of this module, students will be expected to be able to: Explain the components of the credit risk management framework, including credit risk and ...

Hide-Modules and learning outcomes:
Core:
Principles of Credit Risk
(NFQ Level 8, 5 ECTS)
On completion of this module, students will be expected to be able to: Explain the components of the credit risk management framework, including credit risk and how it links to the Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and the customer. Explain the cannons of lending and apply to credit risk assessment. Understand the concepts of Basel bank’s capital, stress testing, impairment provision and how loan losses and capital are linked. Appreciate the key credit lessons arising from the Irish banking crises.

SME Credit Risk Assessment
(NFQ Level 8, 10 ECTS)
On completion of this module, students will be expected to be able to: Describe and explain the main features, characteristics of SMEs and various legal trading entities available to SMEs in Ireland and the features of the main sectors in which SMEs operate. Describe and discuss the features and characteristics of the main types of security for SME lending. Use a framework for SME credit analysis (adhering to the canons of lending to undertake a complete credit assessment of an SME credit proposal, including detailed financial analysis of financial accounts including sensitivity analysis, repayment capacity, security analysis, and an analysis of the business’ competitive position, its management and its core competences to form a judgement of whether to approve, defer or decline the request. Prepare and interpret Cash Flow Statements. Explain working capital management and its importance to an enterprise’s profitability and liquidity. Communicate clearly to pertinent stakeholders (internal and external) the bank’s credit policy and requirements for SME’s.

Specialist (select one):
SME Financing and Distressed Credit Analysis
(NFQ Level 8, 10 ECTS)
On completion of this module, students will be expected to be able to: Assess the credit risk in proposals, negotiate, structure and write up a credit proposal considering alternative financing options to meet the needs of different types of SME customers from start-ups, family businesses and established SMEs in compliance with the credit policy and credit risk appetite of the bank. Establish a platform for monitoring, control and management of existing credit facilities and credit risk key aspects being (i) the facility letter (ii) the role of covenants (iii) the role of conditions. Identify the early warning signs of distress, assess the viability of a business, identify bad debts (and report for provisioning) and where appropriate restructure facilities to mitigate credit risk while ensuring sustainability of the SME business. Communicate effectively over the life of the facility to ensure the banks credit policy is transparent and supports the customer relationship.

Evaluate and recommend the different recovery options for distressed SME credit primarily;
(i) examinership
(ii) receivership
(iii) liquidation.

SME Property Credit Assessment and Financing
(NFQ Level 8, 10 ECTS)
Please contact the programme manager at education@iob.ie for details on this module.

SME Agri Credit Assessment and Financing
(NFQ Level 8, 10 ECTS)
Please contact the programme manager at education@iob.ie for details on this module.